Fujitsu to Reorganize Photonics Business

Fujitsu Limited and its subsidiary Fujitsu Access Limited plan to merge and reorganize their photonic systems businesses in July in order to strengthen their photonics systems development, manufacturing and sales operations for the Japanese market. The plan was approved today at a meeting of Fujitsu Limited's Board of Directors.


Fujitsu is a global supplier of WDM and SONET backbone network systems.


Fujitsu Access is a supplier of GE-PON access network solutions for customers in Japan.


The company said as the boundary between backbone and access networks has become increasingly blurred, it necessary to generate greater collaboration between these divisions by combining their capabilities and know-how, particularly for the development of next-generation photonic systems for the Japanese market.


The photonics divisions to be merged and reorganized are as follows:


1. Photonics Sales Divisions -- the Japan sales divisions of Fujitsu Limited and Fujitsu Access Limited will be merged into one Fujitsu Limited sales division for the Japanese market.


2. Photonics Development and Manufacturing Divisions -- the Japan product development divisions of Fujitsu Limited and Fujitsu Access Limited, and all the companies' photonics manufacturing divisions will be merged and reorganized. Fujitsu Limited will continue to develop products for markets outside Japan. The power electronics(5) business of Fujitsu Access, including its sales division, will continue to be managed by Fujitsu Access.


Details on the merger and reorganization will be announced in the middle of May.http://www.fujitsu.com

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RMI Rolls Out Dual Core Processor for the SMB Market

RMI Corporation has released its newest XLS Processor, a 1 GHz Dual-Core Multithreaded device for accelerating packet-oriented and control plane applications in the SMB market. The XLS208 Processor offers eight parallel processing elements and advanced application
acceleration techniques for systems solutions sensitive to cost and power.


Built on TSMC's 90nm LP Process, the XLS208 Processor extends RMI's multicore multi-threaded XLS Processor Family. The XLS family of processors is pin compatible and provides the ability to combine control plane, data plane and security operations into a single Super System-On-a-Chip (SuperSOC) solution.


The XLS208 integrates eight vCPUs (fine-grain H/W processing threads using single-clock, zero overhead, context switching) from two MIPS64 compatible CPU cores with 32KB instruction and 32KB data level-1 caches. Also included are three high speed on-chip interconnects, a 512KB level-2 banked cache, 1Gbps Autonomous Security Acceleration Engine technology, an on-chip memory controller supporting 32/36/72b DDR2
memory allowing low-cost commodity DIMM memories, Quad Gigabit Ethernet MACs
with network accelerators, and Quad PCI-Express controllers.
http://www.RMICorp.com

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Foundry Expands Data Center Portfolio with High Density 10GbE and Gigabit Ports

Foundry Networks has expanded its next generation data center portfolio with two new high-density interface modules for its BigIron RX Series switches and the NetIron MLX Series routers, enabling a density of up to 512 ports of 10GbE and 1536 ports of GbE in a single system.
The BigIron 16-port 10GbE SFP+ module (RX-BI16XG), and NetIron MLX 48-port GbE MRJ21 module (NI-MLX-1Gx48-T), which deliver more than twice the 10GbE and GbE density of their nearest competitors, are aimed at data center expansions and HPC clusters.


The product launches are part of Foundry Network's new vision for data center evolution. Key requirements for driving the next wave in data design are capacity, performance, flexibility and convergence. Foundry anticipates the migration of many mainstream servers from gigabit Ethernet (GbE) to 10GbE connectivity. This drives the need for data center network capacity, including the capacity of the data center interface to the backbone/Internet. In addition, virtualization is driving the consolidation of applications and services into fewer servers and network devices. Foundry's advanced data center vision and products enable IT managers to utilize virtualized network services, such as virtual LANs, multiple virtual routing, switching and security domains, and advanced application switching and service abstraction to extend the benefits of virtualization into the network, thereby accelerating consolidation of applications over a unified virtualized infrastructure.





Foundry's new 16-port 10GbE module offers advanced Quality of Service (QoS) functionality, Virtual Output Queue (VOQ) and the lossless Clos fabric-based architecture of the BigIron RX series. The 10GbE module augments the current BigIron RX series GbE capacity of up to 1,536 GbE ports per system. The module has a U.S. list price of $34,995 and general availability is expected in August 2008.


The new 48-port gigabit Ethernet (GbE) MRJ21 interface module is designed specifically for all four chassis types of the NetIron MLX Series routers. Each interface module will have eight MRJ21 connectors, with each connector supporting six ports of GbE interface. The 48-port module will more than double the GbE density on the NetIron MLX routers giving them the highest GbE capacity and lowest power consumption for routers in their class. In addition, the NetIron MLX routers offers network scalability with up to 32 10GbE links per link aggregation and sophisticated link aggregation and equal cost multi-path (ECMP) load sharing algorithms. The module has a U.S. list price of $34,995 and general availability is expected in Q4 2008.http://www.foundrynet.com

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Marvell Debuts "CarrierSpan" for Carrier Ethernet Networks

Marvell unveiled its "CarrierSpan" technology designed to ensure line rate service delivery with enhanced packet processors based on new and emerging standards (TR101, Mac-in-Mac, IP-VPN, VPWS, VPLS) in Metro Ethernet and carrier networks. Marvell said its CarrierSpan technology provides hardware assistance to insure five 9's uptime with reduced overhead in Operations, Administration and Management (OAM) of the network. Integrated timing and synchronization capabilities enable inter-working with existing circuit switched networks. Additionally, CarrierSpan provides flexible uplink capabilities with hardware hooks for quality of service (QoS) interoperability to the access nodes, enabling a variety of service delivery architectures (xDSL, GPON, GEPON, Ethernet FTTx).

"Our CarrierSpan technology creates a solid foundation and flexible infrastructure for service delivery over carrier Ethernet and metro networks to better meet the needs of service providers," said Dr. Simon Milner, vice president and general manager, enterprise business unit, communications and consumer business group at Marvell.


Marvell also announced the availability of its new Prestera 98DX2100 and 98DX4100 chips powered by the new CarrierSpan technology. Marvell's new 98DX2100 and 98DX4100 family of processors is targeted for the various flavors of high-speed broadband access including PON, VDSL and native Ethernet, by including versatile sets of programmable interfaces. To support future scalability, the devices integrate four resilient FlexUplink ports programmed for any speed to support network upgrades from 1G to 2.5G to 10G. To minimize power dissipation and save on overall system cost, the integrated service processor has a built-in controller for high-speed 800M DDR2 memory and low-cost NAND flash. Sampling is underway.http://www.marvell.com

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Marvell Unveils Gigahertz-Scalable ARM-Compliant Processors

Marvell introduced three system-on-chip (SoC) devices that integrate single- or dual-core gigahertz-capable ARM instruction set-compliant processors along with a host of I/O peripherals.


Marvell said the new devices are fully optimized to consume very low power at 1 GHz plus speeds enabling "green" system design for a wide range of enterprise applications ranging from routers, base stations, storage and single board computers to high volume laser printer products.


The Discovery Innovation Series family is comprised of three devices -- the MV78200 with dual ARM instruction set compliant cores, a pin-compatible single core version, the MV78100, and the MV76100, a single core SoC specially designed for cost-sensitive applications. These devices support processor speeds ranging from 800 MHz to 1.2 GHz and incorporate up to 512KB of L2 cache per core, integrated x4 PCI-Express interfaces, multiple USB 2.0 ports, multiple Gigabit Ethernet ports, SATA and security engine -- setting new technology benchmarks for performance and integration. With this unparalleled integration and low power consumption, the MV78K and MV76K families of SoCs are ideally suited for a broad range of applications across various enterprise markets.http://www.marvell.com

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Motorola Announces MOTOwi4 Wireless Ethernet Bridges

Motorola has expanded its MOTOwi4 Fixed Point-to-Point (PTP) portfolio with a new PTP 500 Series of Wireless Ethernet Bridges for secure, high-performance backhaul or broadband connectivity in obstructed, long-distance and harsh weather environments. The PTP 500 operate in the 5.4 and 5.8 GHz bands at Ethernet data rates up to 105 Mbps and distances up to 155 miles (250 km). Motorola said its PTP 500 series delivers up to 99.999% availability in virtually any environment, including NLOS, long-distance line-of-sight (LOS), over water or open terrain and in extreme weather conditions.


In addition to the PTP 500 series, a new Motorola PTP LINKPlanner tool is now available to help operators determine link performance prior to purchase, based on specific path characteristics such as geography, distance and transmit power.


Availability of the PTP 500 Series in the 5.4 GHz band is pending FCC certification in the United States.
http://www.motorola.com

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Fujitsu Shows 26-Port 10-Gigabit Ethernet Switch IC

Fujitsu Microelectronics America (FMA) introduced a new 26-port 10Gbps Ethernet (10GbE) switch IC designed for data center and telecom equipment applications. The chip features the direct support of 10Gbps serial interface for Ethernet backplane standardized as 802.3ap (KR) on all 26 ports, as well as direct SFP+ optical module support. The chip integrates the PHYS and a complete set of Ethernet, Layer-2, Data-Center Bridging features, QoS and Layer-3 capabilities.
http://us.fujitsu.com/micro/10gethernet

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Atheros Expands its GPS Silicon Portfolio

Atheros Communications has expanded its Radio-on-Chip for Mobile (ROCm) family of GPS solutions with a hardware and software combination that targets GPS in mobile phones, Personal Navigation Devices (PNDs) and Personal Media Players (PMPs).


Atheros' new solution consists of its second-generation, single-chip GPS receiver, the AR1511, and companion ORION 3.0 software suite.
New features specifically designed to address the most challenging navigation environments provide considerable performance advances, with Time To First Fix (TTFF) reacquisition times reduced by nearly half, and positional accuracy increased by more than 50 percent.http://www.atheros.com

• In December 2007, Atheros Communications agreed to acquire the assets and certain liabilities of u-Nav Microelectronics, a privately held fabless semiconductor company specializing in global positioning system (GPS) chipsets and software that enable mobile location-based products and services. Financial terms were not disclosed.
  
  
  u-Nav's silicon is designed for embedded GPS applications for the wireless handset, personal navigation device, personal computing, consumer and mobile telemetry markets. Its flagship product, the uN3010, is a single-chip GPS receiver that integrates the company's CMOS high-performance RFIC core with its third-generation baseband IC core. u-Nav's product portfolio also includes single-die solutions, several baseband chips and RFICs, and complete GPS system software solutions providing signal acquisition, tracking, data extraction and GPS navigation.

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Atheros Reports Q1 Revenue of $114.5 Million

Atheros reported Q1 revenue of $114.5 million, compared with $114.3 million reported in the fourth quarter of 2007 and $95.5 million reported in the first quarter of 2007. GAAP net income for Q1 was $3.4 million or $0.06 per diluted share. This compares with GAAP net income of $13.4 million or $0.22 per diluted share in the fourth quarter of 2007.


"We are pleased to report our twelfth consecutive quarter of revenue growth. Revenue from our networking customers was particularly strong in the first quarter, due primarily to the continued adoption of our 802.11n WLAN products by retail and carrier customers," said Craig Barratt, president and CEO.http://www.atheros.com

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Verizon Tops 1.2 million FiOS TV. 1.8 Million FiOS Internet, 67 Million Wireless Customers

Verizon Communications Q1 2008 revenues grew 5.5 percent to $23.8 billion, compared with the first quarter 2007. Verizon reported Q1 earnings of 57 cents in diluted earnings per share (EPS), compared with earnings of 51 cents per share a year earlier. Non-GAAP earnings were 61 cents per share, a 13.0 percent increase year over year. Some highlights from the quarter:

"Verizon has weathered the current economic uncertainty with strong first-quarter results," said Verizon Chairman and CEO Ivan Seidenberg. "I am also confident of our position over the long term because we have further opportunities to drive revenue growth and further opportunities to eliminate costs."

Wireless

• The company added 1.5 million retail customers, of which 1.3 million were retail post-paid customers. At the end of the first quarter 2008, 97 percent of the company's base was retail (post-pay and pre-pay). This gives the company a total subscriber base of 67.2 million.



• Total data revenues were up 48.9 percent over the prior year, contributing $2.3 billion. The company had 48.1 million retail data customers in March (nearly 74 percent of the retail customer base), a 33.8 percent increase over the prior year.



• In March, Verizon Wireless held its first Open Development Initiative (ODI) conference to provide minimum technical standards required for creating products that can physically connect to the Verizon Wireless network, and a process to certify that these products will operate on the company's network. Plans call for customers to have the option to use products and services certified through the ODI process by the end of the year.



• In the 700 MHz auction, Verizon Wireless was the winning bidder for a nationwide spectrum footprint in the C-Block group of licenses, as well as 102 licenses for individual markets across the country.



• During the quarter, Verizon Wireless customers sent or received more than 58 billion text messages and 1.1 billion picture/video messages. Customers also completed 34.6 million music and video downloads.



• Total churn was 1.19 percent. Among the company's retail post-paid customers, churn was even lower, at 0.93 percent.



• Revenues totaled $11.7 billion, up 13.2 percent year over year. Service revenues were $10.1 billion, an increase of 12.8 percent year over year, driven by customer growth and demand for data services. This is the first time quarterly service revenues have topped $10 billion.



• ARPU levels (average monthly revenue per customer) increased year over year for the eighth consecutive quarter. Retail service ARPU was $51.40, up 1.3 percent year over year; retail data ARPU was $11.94, up 33.4 percent over the same period last year.



• Wireless operating income margin was 27.9 percent, the highest ever.

Wireline

• Verizon added a net of 263,000 new FiOS TV customers. The company had 1.2 million FiOS TV customers in total as of the end of the quarter, having added more than 850,000 FiOS TV customers since the end of the first quarter 2007. The fiber network passed 10.4 million premises by the end of the quarter.



• FiOS Internet was available for sale to 7.9 million premises by the end of the quarter. Penetration for the service averaged 22.9 percent across all markets. FiOS TV was available for sale to 6.5 million premises by the end of the quarter. Penetration for the service averaged 18.7 percent across all markets.



• Verizon added a net of 266,000 new broadband connections - 262,000 from FiOS Internet service. Total broadband connections were 8.5 million (6.7 million DSL-based Verizon High Speed Internet connections and 1.8 million FiOS Internet connections), an increase of 14.9 percent compared with the first quarter 2007.



• Broadband and video revenues from consumer and small-business customers topped $1 billion, representing year-over-year quarterly growth of nearly 50 percent (56 percent growth in the consumer segment of broadband and video customers).



• Growing revenue from broadband and video services drove consumer ARPU in legacy Verizon wireline markets (which excludes consumer markets served by the former MCI) to $61.02, a 9.6 percent increase compared with last year's first quarter. The ARPU among FiOS customers was approximately $129 per month.



• Wireline data revenues - which now represent nearly 40 percent of total wireline revenues - were $4.9 billion, an increase of 14.8 percent compared with the first quarter 2007. This includes revenues from consumer broadband services, and revenues from wholesale data transport and sales of Verizon Business data services.



• Verizon Business had revenues of $5.2 billion, or growth of 0.4 percent compared with last year's first quarter. This is Verizon Business' sixth consecutive quarter of year-over-year, pro-forma revenue growth (non-GAAP, calculated as if Verizon and MCI had merged on Jan. 1, 2005). Global enterprise revenue, representing retail sales, increased 2.0 percent to $3.9 billion, compared with last year's first quarter.



• IP, managed services, Ethernet and optical ring services - continued to drive Verizon Business' growth. These services generated $1.4 billion in revenue, up 23.5 percent from last year's first quarter.



• Wireline total operating revenues were $12.3 billion, a 1.4 percent decrease compared with the first quarter 2007. Wireline total operating expenses were $11.2 billion, a 1.0 percent decrease compared with the first quarter 2007.



• Verizon Telecom's total revenues of $7.8 billion decreased by 2.5 percent, compared with the first quarter 2007 - an improvement of 30 basis points over the year-over-year quarterly revenue decrease in the fourth quarter 2007. In legacy Verizon consumer markets, year-over-year revenues grew 0.9 percent, comparing first-quarter 2008 with first-quarter 2007.

http://www.verizon.com

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