Monday, October 1, 2007

Poland's Netia Deploys Juniper E320

Netia, Poland's largest alternate telecommunications operator, has deployed Juniper Networks' E320 Broadband Services Router (BSR) as the basis of its national broadband services rollout. Netia has selected the E320 to enable the efficient aggregation of subscribers accessing the network over a wide range of technologies including ADSL, Bit Stream and WiMax. Financial terms were not disclosed.

http://www.juniper.net


OPNET Service Resolves Application Performance Problems

OPNET Technologies has launched a new "STAR 24" rapid-response service for troubleshooting application performance issues.



The STAR 24 (Special Team for Application Responsiveness) service leverages OPNET's analytics-based solutions and best practice methodologies to quickly diagnose problems. For a fixed fee, OPNET will dispatch expert consultants to a customer site within 24 hours of receiving the service order. If OPNET is unable to successfully identify the root cause of the problem, the full service fee is waived.



The service is available in North America.

http://www.opnet.com

Broadcom's New VideoCore Processor Aims for HD Video Mobiles

Broadcom has begun sampling its new VideoCore III multimedia processor, which targets high definition (HD) video camcorder and playback in cell phones and portable media players.

The Broadcom VideoCore III multimedia processor also supports an up to 12 megapixel digital camera and delivers ultra-low power 3D graphics for a world-class gaming experience. Broadcom says its VideoCore III can deliver this quantum improvement in mobile audio, video, imaging, navigation and gaming experiences -- with similar battery life and size to current generation compact multimedia handsets.



The new BCM2727 mobile multimedia processor provides 720p HD video encode and decode with H.264 main profile compression at low power levels. This will enable consumers to capture video on their cell phones with the same quality as 720p HD television. Broadcom estimates handsets can support more than 5 hours of high definition video playback or around 3 hours of HD recording using a standard-sized cell phone battery. Content on the handset up to HD resolution can be played back on televisions via an integrated HDMI 1.3 or analog interface.



In addition to HD camcorder functionality and camera processing of up to 12 megapixels, the BCM2727 features on-chip advanced 2D and 3D graphics accelerators and efficient audio technology. The graphics pipeline is optimized for efficient Open VG 1.0 and Open GL ES 1.1/2.0 operation and is capable of 32 million triangles per second peak performance.

http://www.broadcom.com

NTT DoCoMo Tops 40 Million Subscribers for 3G FOMA

NTT DoCoMo's 3G FOMA service surpassed 40 million on September 29, 2007, 11 months after topping 30 million in November 2006 and six years since the service's launch in October 2001.



DoCoMo is the world's largest operator of 3G mobile service based on W-CDMA technology. The company attributes the popularity of its 3G service to a variety of discounts, such as "Pake-hodai" and "Pake-hodai Full" flat-rate data-communication billing plans, diverse content and services, such as "Deco-mail" e-mails decorated with pictograms and other formatting and intuitive-motion "Chokkan Games", as well as FOMA's large lineup of handsets, broad coverage area and high-quality calls.

http://www.nttdocomo.com

Limelight Supports Adobe Flash Player Video Media Delivery

Limelight Networks announced the latest version of its global Adobe Flash Media content delivery infrastructure and services.



Limelight claims to be the first CDN in the industry to implement Adobe Flash Media Server in true edge-origin CDN architecture. Edge-origin architecture separates edge server functions from origin server functions, incorporates support for tiered library management, improves network performance and scalability, increases storage efficiency, and provides architectural and implementation flexibility. Edge-origin architecture contrasts with typical Adobe Flash Media Server implementations where each server acts as a separate origin connected to local storage arrays.



Limelight is the first CDN to deploy Adobe Flash Media Server edge servers at every CDN location worldwide.

http://www.llnw.com/

Nokia Signs CNN, IBN, Jamba, Sony as Content Partners

Nokia announced content partnerships with CNN, IBN, Jamba, Sony Pictures, RooftopComedy, ROK and Versaly Entertainment for its Nokia Video Center. The new partners join YouTube and Reuters in providing mobile video content for Nokia Nseries users. Content is delivered of the N95's 3G or WiFi connection.

http://www.nokia.com

Centillium Targets Multi-Service Access with Entropia III-C

Centillium Communications released its "Entropia" III-C system-on-chip (SoC) VoIP solution targeting multi-service access applications such as POTS replacement and Digital Loop Carrier (DLC) environments. Entropia solutions power voice and media gateways, wireless infrastructure gateways, Class 4 and 5 switches, DLC, voice-enabled IP routers, and IP-PBX systems.



Centillium said Entropia" III-C's high degree of integration minimizes external component counts and PCB layers to reduce overall system bill-of-materials (BOM) costs. It delivers 72 LBR channels of voice independent of the codecs in use. While other solutions achieve up to 72 channels with bandwidth-friendly compressed codecs, their capacity degrades to levels as low as 30 channels per card when bandwidth-intensive uncompressed codecs are processed. In contrast, Entropia III-C offers available support for all wireline and wireless codecs while assuring the maximum 72-channel capacity regardless of the mix of codecs in routing.



Entropia III-C also features a MIPS 300MHz bootable host processor and an integrated security engine. Interface options include 16/32 bit DDR1, dual GigE interfaces, optional Utopia2/POS Phy, 2 UARTs, TDM and SPI.



Centillium noted that its Entropia software fully supports IMS architecture, enabling on-demand delivery of rich media services over wireless and wireline networks.



http://www.centillium.com

ZigBee PRO Targets Larger, Ultra Low Power Mesh Networks

The ZigBee Alliance has approved new features for the ZigBee specification that significantly expand the capabilities of this short range wireless technology. ZigBee uses self-organizing and self-healing mesh networking over the globally available 2.4 GHz frequency, with 868/915 MHz technology available in select countries. The technology is designed for ultra low-power nodes, such as sensor networks.



The original set of features published in 2006 is now known as the ZigBee Feature Set. An expanded set of features known as ZigBee PRO maximizes all the capabilities of ZigBee and facilitates ease-of-use and advanced support for larger networks. The newly released Feature Sets are designed to interoperate with each other, ensuring long-term use and stability.

Highlights of the expanded ZigBee PRO Feature Set include:

  • Network Scalability -- Improved support for larger networks offering more management, flexibility, performance choices

  • Fragmentation -- New ability to divide longer messages and enable interaction with other protocols and systems

  • Frequency Agility -- Networks dynamically change channels should interference occur

  • Automated Device Address Management -- Optimized for large networks with added network management and configuration tools

  • Group Addressing -- Offers additional traffic optimization needed for large networks

  • Wireless Commissioning -- Enhanced with secure wireless commissioning capabilities

  • Centralized Data Collection -- Tuned specifically to optimize information flow in large networks
http://www.zigbee.org/

Sipera Secures $10 Million for VoIP/UC Security

Sipera Systems, a start-up based in Richardson, Texas, raised $30 million in Series C funding for its VoIP/UC security solutions.



The Sipera IPCS products combine VPN, Firewall/SBC, Intrusion Prevention, Anti-Spam, Compliance and Troubleshooting functionality for VoIP systems in a single device. The solution is targeted at IP PBXs, VoIP remote users, SIP trunks, data/voice VLANs, hosted VoIP services and IMS or UMA-based networks.



Sipera also runs a "VIPER" Lab that concentrates its efforts towards identifying VoIP vulnerabilities, and offer "LAVA" tools to verify networks' readiness to resist attacks.



The new financing was led by Duchossois Technology Partners (DTEC), and includes a full participation by existing investors Austin Ventures, Sequoia Capital, and STAR Ventures. The funding brings Sipera's total amount raised to $29.5 million.

http://www.sipera.com

TI Advances its DOCSIS 3.0 Solution in Certification Tests

Texas Instruments (TI) announced a milestone in the effort to bring DOCSIS 3.0-based (Data Over Cable Service Interface Specification) solutions to market. TI's Puma 5 family of DOCSIS 3.0-based cable modem chipsets are supporting CableLabs DOCSIS 3.0 testing in Certification Wave 56.



TI's Puma 5 family has been developed to support DOCSIS 3.0 enhanced performance and features, including channel bonding, which enable downstream bandwidth rates of at least 160 Mbps in the residential data and voice services configuration and 320 Mbps in video and business services configuration. In addition TI's Puma 5 also supports greater quality of service with IPv6 and security with Advanced Encryption Standard (AES).



The Puma 5 architecture includes an advanced multimedia processor and routing accelerator along with a high-performance DSP-based voice sub-system and a rich set of LAN interfaces. The routing accelerator provides line rate bridging and routing capabilities and enables quality of service guarantees for voice traffic even in the presence of very high data packet throughput.



TI said its flexible architecture supports 4 upstream and 4 downstream channels (4x4) and is extendable to 8 downstream channels and 4 upstream channels (8x4) to support next generation IP services. In addition, Puma 5 contains a high speed sampling engine that enables a single tuner to be used for 4 channel operation enabling a very cost effective implementation.

http://www.ti.com

Alcatel-Lucent's Board of Director Supports Russo

Alcatel-Lucent's Board of Directors issued a statement affirming support for Pat Russo and her leadership team, and the efforts they are making to adapt the company's plans in light of this year's developments. The Board expressed disappointment the most recent changes in the company's outlook , and said it will review the plan to be developed by management during the next scheduled meeting on October 30th.

http://www.alcatel-lucent.com