TELUS and Bell Canada Consider Merger Possibility

BCE, the parent company of Bell Canada, and TELUS, the incumbent operator in western Canada, confirmed that talks are underway regarding a possible business combination. BCE and TELUS have entered into a mutual non-disclosure and standstill agreement on a non-exclusive basis.In a press statement, TELUS said a combined TELUS/BCE could:Create a combined organization poised for improved growth and returns through the realization of significant operating synergies to the ongoing benefit of TELUS and BCE investorsRetain investment grade credit ratings...

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Nortel Shows Three SIP Applications

Nortel introduced three SIP and IMS-ready applications: Web Services, Fixed Mobile Convergence (FMC), and Web Portal customization. The applications can integrate multiple networks such as wireline, wireless or cable and IP-based communications -- email, video, web-based services, instant messaging. Nortel's SIP applications:Web Services -- an application that leverages Parlay X API standards and allow businesses to enhance their web sites through interactive multimedia communications such as click-to-call, instant messaging and call presence....

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Bell Canada Deploys Nortel's Network Operations Management Solution

Bell Canada is deploying Nortel's Metro Ethernet Manager (MEM) solution to support delivery of new high-bandwidth communications services, such as video and large file sharing, to its business customers. Metro Ethernet Manager (MEM) is Nortel's element and domain management solution. Key features include the ability to quickly and efficiently provision services; monitor, isolate and troubleshoot faults; measure network performance for capacity planning and SLA assurance; view the network topologies from nodal as well as service perspectives; and...

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Sonus and NeuStar Partner on Presence-Enabled IMS Applications

Sonus Networks and NeuStar are working together to create feature-rich IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS)-based consumer applications with presence technology. The new integration effort builds on an existing partnership between the companies.The Sonus IMX Multimedia Application Platform, a key element in the application layer of Sonus IMS-based network architecture, has been successfully integrated with NeuStar's Presence Platform (PSP). Part of NeuStar's suite of next generation messaging services, the PSP incorporates a presence server and group...

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Ellacoya Enables the Personal Internet Plans with New Software for DPI-based Platform

Ellacoya Networks announced two software modules that extend the capabilities of its deep packet inspection (DPI) hardware platforms, the e30 and e100 network platforms, enabling network operators to offer a personalized service plan for each subscriber.Ellacoya's e30 platform and e100 platform (a custom-designed 20 Gbps wire-speed DPI network hardware element) enable service providers to effectively identify and manage network traffic dynamically by subscriber, service type, time-of-day, etc. Ellacoya's platforms provide granular reports on network...

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BT Deploys Ellacoya for Network Visibility and Service Optimization

BT has deployed Ellacoya Networks' broadband optimization platform to support the BT Retail broadband network of more than 3 million subscribers. Financial terms were not disclosed.The Ellacoya solution's network visibility function is being used for capacity planning and traffic analysis; providing visibility into aggregate traffic and specific application usage on both a real-time and historic basis. This enables BT to effectively engineer network capacity to meet all subscriber bandwidth needs as well as to anticipate and plan for future service...

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Pulse~LINK Files Suit Against Tzero for UWB Patents

Pulse~LINK announced a lawsuit against Tzero Technologies of Sunnyvale, California, claiming infringement of Pulse~LINK's patented UWB communications technologies. http://www.pulselink.n...

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NexTone and PortaOne Offer SIP-H.323 Switching and Billing Solution

NexTone announced an interworking initiative with PortaOnec to provide carriers and service providers worldwide with an integrated billing and SIP-H.323 switching solution.PortaBilling100 is a carrier-grade VoIP billing and customer management platform. The NexTone MSX (Multi-protocol Session Exchange), when used together with PortaBilling100 for NexTone, allows service providers to create a flexible and scalable VoIP network while ensuring consistent service quality, protection, and security. By applying its signaling intelligence at the edge...

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YouTube Encodes Video in H.264 for Apple TV, iPhone

YouTube has begun encoding their videos in the advanced H.264 format for viewing on Apple's upcoming iPhone and the Apple TV device. http://www.apple....

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Global Crossing Selects Alcatel-Lucent for Global Maintenance Services

Global Crossing has selected Alcatel-Lucent to oversee the maintenance of its optical and transport equipment by providing technical support, repair, field maintenance and program management services. The outsourcing is expected to reduce their global network maintenance costs and improve network operating efficiencies. http://www.alcatel-lucent....

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Real Time Content (RTC) to Spin Out of BT

BT will spin out a group that is developing an "adaptive media" platform into a new company called Real Time Content (RTC). The RTC platform uses viewer profiles and real time feedback to customize video content that is automatically delivered and controlled by the brand. By analyzing profiles, user criteria, surfing trends, and bandwidth capabilities, brands and content owners can create a personalized information and entertainment experience that speaks directly to each viewer. RTC effectively monitors, measures and adjusts digital content to...

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Cablevision Expects to Carry 500 HD Channels by Year End

Cablevision, which serves the NY metro area, will add 15 new high-definition channels from VOOM HD Networks. The additions will bring Cablevision's iO digital cable customers a total of 40 HD programming services -- the most HD available anywhere in the nation, from any provider. The company also announced that by the end of this year it will have the capability to carry more than 500 channels of HD programming on its advanced fiber optic network. http://www.cablevis...

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Optimum Lightpath Receives MEF 14 Certification

Cablevision's Optimum Lightpath division received the Metro Ethernet Forum's (MEF) MEF 14 Service Provider Certification. As part of the process, the Optimum Lightpath network was certified to support E-Line, V-Line and E-LAN solutions. Testing was completed by Iometrix - the MEF's independent certification lab - to ensure compliance with the Abstract Test Suite for Traffic Management (MEF-14-ATS).Optimum Lightpath was one of only 11 service providers from around the globe to be certified under the inaugural Certification Program.Separately, Optimum...

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Vietnam Tests WiMAX with Motorola

Vietnam Datacommunications Company (VDC), a company within the Vietnam Posts and Telecommunications Group (VNPT), selected Motorola for a technical and commercial WiMAX trial in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. The trial will use Motorola's wi4 WiMAX platform. http://www.motorola....

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AT&T Gains Metro Ethernet Certification

AT&T has been certified by the Metro Ethernet Forum's (MEF) test lab and has passed the industry association's most stringent MEF-14 evaluation for performance. The MEF-14 evaluation includes a set of 170 tests, such as an analysis of service performance for frame delay, frame delay variation and frame loss ratio, as well as bandwidth profile service attributes. AT&T received certification of its Ethernet Private Line, Virtual Private Line, and Private Line for Wide Area Network family of services. http://www.att....

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BigBand Unveils New Video Processing Engine

BigBand Networks unveiled a new video processing engine for its flagship Broadband Multimedia-Service Router. The new video processing engine will form the core of a new family of cards designed to significantly enhance advertising insertion and RateShaping performance. The new engine can also enhance video quality and increase density for BigBand's switched digital video and addressable advertising solutions. http://www.bigbandnet....

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