Devicescape's "Easy Wi-Fi" Connects Handsets, PCs, Devices

Devicescape, which develops solutions for simplifying the process of connecting to various Wi-Fi networks, introduced the latest version of its software targeted at three market segments: handsets, laptops and PCs, and other Wi-Fi-enabled devices.


Devicescape Easy Wi-Fi can be integrated into a variety of service-enabled device designs to provide secure, reliable and easy-to-use Wi-Fi network access. Devicescape Easy Wi-Fi is suitable for OEM and ODM embedded devices, PC OEM applications, and semiconductor reference designs. Key capabilities include:

• Robust security: support for WEP, WPA/WPA2 Personal and Enterprise, and a broad set of EAP modes. In addition, compatibility with the large base of Cisco enterprise WLAN installations is assured with optional support for the Cisco Compatible Extensions version 4 and 5 (CCXv 4 and 5).



• Easy device setup: Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS) from Devicescape makes the configuration of secure personal wireless networks as simple as pushing a button or entering a PIN code.



• Simple connectivity: Devicescape's Connection Manager Framework handles setup, management and termination of Wi-Fi connections. It automatically manages the priority of networks to be selected and manages the security settings for those networks.



• Seamless mobility: Devicescape's Hotspot Login allows users to seamlessly connect to hotspots without having to constantly re-enter information. Once users have entered their username and password the first time, they will then be able to connect automatically and hassle-free in subsequent sessions.

Devicescape's three new market-specific solutions include:

• Devicescape Easy Wi-Fi for Handsets -- includes a Wi-Fi solution that is compatible with any operator network. It also offers flexible configuration for automatic network access, so a handset can work with a specific operator and roaming partner or be unlocked for access to multiple operators. Easy Wi-Fi for Handsets also provides a connection manager framework for client and service updates.



• Devicescape Easy Wi-Fi for PCs -- includes a Wi-Fi solution that provides security and is compatible with all operator networks. The solution can be integrated with the PC OEM connection manager and offers out-of-the-box access to hundreds of thousands of free hotspots. The solution can be configured to support single or multiple operators by the manufacturer and offers an optional Web-based control panel for users as well as enabling operators to provision service.



• Devicescape Easy Wi-Fi for Devices -- provides manufacturers with security, automatic login capabilities and a small footprint. The Devicescape client enables manufacturers to support sales to all markets and geographies as well as dramatically simplify the user experience. Easy Wi-Fi for Devices also offers an optional Web-based control panel for users that can be re-branded and hosted at the service provider's Web site.

Devicescape also cited growing customer traction, including relationships with HTC, Fujitsu, Intel, Nokia, and RIM as well as service providers such as British Telecom, Deutsche Telekom and The Cloud. The company said it now has more than 90 customers, hundreds of design wins and millions of units shipping.


For iPhone and iTouch users, a consumer download version of Easy Wi-Fi is available on Apple's App Store.http://www.devicescape.com

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MSF's GMI 2008 Testing Event Gets Underway at Carrier Labs

The biennial Global Multiservice Interoperability testing event, which is sponsored by the MultiService Forum, is being held October 20-31 in the test labs of Verizon, the National Communication System (NCS) and the UNH-IOL in North America, British Telecom and Vodafone in the United Kingdom, and China Mobile in Asia. The carriers are linking their labs to create a global ecosystem for testing standards for a variety of service configurations, including those developed by the ATIS IPTV Interoperability Forum (IIF).


In 2006, the MultiService Forum's Global Multiservice Interoperability (GMI) event promoted the refinement of IMS in multi-supplier, multicarrier deployments. This year, GMI 2008 features product implementations supporting the MSF Release 4 architecture. Interoperability of critical NGN elements will be tested in practical scenarios supporting IMS-based fixed/mobile convergence. Specific service capabilities such as Quality of Service (QoS), Location Management, IPTV and Service Oriented Architecture (SOA) will be included to validate key NGN concepts.


"IMS is more than a platform; it is a system that will enable the true convergence of services, using some very interesting blends of network and Internet functions," said Mark Wegleitner, Verizon senior vice president of technology.


IPTV is a key focus of the testing. Currently, most IPTV implementations do not use IMS but it is expected there would be great benefit in doing so. Non-IMS implementations create silos of proprietary infrastructure, limiting the potential for IP video to interact with other services. For example, there would be limitations on how users move video to a mobile phone or play games on multiple platforms. GMI participants will work to test early IMS-capable IPTV products, as well as IPTV service-management solutions that are able to analyze the quality of the IPTV service.


In addition, there will be substantial work on the nuts and bolts of IMS functions, including quality of service standards and inter-platform contact setup and tear-down processes. Many additional services besides IPTV will be tested as well.


Participating this year will be 22 equipment companies: Acme Packet, Alcatel-Lucent, Codenomicon, Empirix, Fujitsu, Huawei, Ixia, JDSU, Motorola, Mu Dynamics, NEC, Nokia-Siemens Networks, Nortel, OSI, Sonus, Spirent, Starent, Tekelec, Tektronix, Telchemy, Teles and ZTE.


"Early critics described IMS as a wonder technology in search of a killer application" said Roger Ward, Office of the CTO, BT Group and president of the MSF. "That killer application turns out to be service integration, and IMS will provide network services the flexibility to move with the market just as nimbly as with the Internet. IPTV is just one example of a new wave service that operators seek to deliver on a variety of underlying infrastructures and we anticipate major media interest in our GMI 2008 IPTV-related scenarios that compare IMS and non-IMS based solutions"


Results of the testing will be published some time after the event, after which the standards for interoperability would be applied, and services created and launched.http://www.msforum.org/

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Sparkplug Deploys Exalt for Backhaul

Sparkplug, which offers business-class broadband services across six states (Illinois, Arizona, Iowa, Tennessee, Nevada, New Mexico), has selected Exalt Communications' microwave radio systems for its backhaul requirements. Sparkplug's services offer dedicated and symmetrical bandwidth up to 1 Gbps. Financial terms were not disclosed.


Exalt's licensed and license-exempt microwave radios cover all popular bands in the 2 - 40 GHz range. The product family now includes Gigabit Ethernet interfaces and a high-capacity 5 GHz radio. The radios feature guaranteed throughput, software upgradeable capacity, low latency and native TDM and native Ethernet support. Exalt radio systems are available in three configurations: all-indoor, all-outdoor, and split-mount.http://www.exaltcom.comhttp://www.sparkplug.ne

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Telcordia Develops 100 Gbps Optical Code-division Multiplexed Photonic Security

Telcordia is developing an all optical code-division multiplexed (OCDM)-based photonic layer security (PLS) system for very high data rate systems, where electronic encryption becomes increasingly expensive and difficult.


Encryption for Telcordia's OCDM-based PLS system, which is aimed at emerging 100 Gbps fiber networks, is accomplished by coding and scrambling the optical signal in such a way that the bits cannot be recovered nor be recorded for subsequent decryption. Telcordia has devised novel coding schemes and a compact, programmable coder, working with industry and university partners.


Telcordia said its approach makes use of sophisticated optical processing, in which optical frequency and phase are manipulated with high precision. In initial lab tests, OCDM-based PLS systems have demonstrated 40 Gbps optical encryption over distances up to 400km; researchers expect to demonstrate longer distances and higher bit rates (100 Gbps and beyond) in the near future. This protocol independent approach has also been shown to be compatible with conventional DWDM and optical networking.


"The ability of fiber-optics to support extremely high data rates is a double-edged sword because as these rates increase, existing electronic encryption schemes struggle to keep up. Furthermore, as the cost to purchase, deploy and manage protocol-dependent electronic encryptors increases dramatically, the value of an all-optical protocol-agnostic solution becomes obvious," said Shahab Etemad, Chief Scientist Director, Advanced Technology Solutions, Telcordia. "OCDM-based PLS systems provide a graceful yet powerful solution for securing fiber optic networks, even those with the most demanding throughput and security requirements."http://www.telcordia.com/innovation/index.html

• In 2003, Telcordia envisioned such an overlay security solution for transparent DWDM networks and is currently establishing relationships with partners to further develop and deploy its OCDM-based PLS technology for the government, CSP and enterprise markets. The underlying research was funded by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency's (DARPA) Microsystems Technology Office (MTO). A detailed article about OCDM-based PLS systems, authored by Dr. Etemad, is available in the August 2008 issue of IEEE Communications Magazine, available at http://www.comsoc.org/livepubs/ci1/index.html.

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Juniper Targets Intelligent Services Edge with Junos, M-, MX Enhancements

Juniper Networks introduced its Intelligent Services Edge, a integrated set of new hardware and software features aimed at helping service providers align network capabilities with business goals. Specifically, Juniper's Intelligent Services Edge combines advanced features in JUNOS software with its M- and MX-series edge routing platforms, enabling service providers to deliver a comprehensive range of services over a single operating system with maximum scale. The advancements facilitate intelligent convergence at the edge, which drives network monetization by speeding deployment of new services and reducing operational costs and complexity.

Enhancements to JUNOS software include:

• Broadband Services Routing: extends subscriber management technology from the E-series Broadband Services Routers to the M- and MX-series platforms



• Dynamic Application Awareness: leverages Juniper's expertise in security and policy management to provide stateful, subscriber-aware application monitoring, enabling advanced, application-specific service levels and QoS treatments



• Intrusion Prevention: provides application layer security leveraging Juniper Networks advanced Intrusion Detection and Prevention (IDP) technology



• Session Border Control functionality: manages VoIP and multimedia sessions to ensure quality of service and security for VoIP and multimedia applications

Juniper said these integrated features will greatly simplify the network edge for service providers by reducing the number of network elements and operating systems within the network. This simplification creates an environment where services can be implemented more rapidly since integration among network devices and with back office systems is minimized. Additionally, by decreasing the need for service-specific appliances, the Intelligent Services Edge can reduce power, space and cooling requirements.

Juniper is also introducing new hardware for its M- and MX-series portfolio as part of the Intelligent Services Edge. The new hardware improves the performance, scalability and efficiency of these widely deployed platforms, and can be added non-disruptively to existing systems. These include:

• MultiServices DPC, a high performance, purpose-built processing engine for the MX-series Ethernet Services Routers that will enable customers to run the new JUNOS services (above) without impacting the routers' forwarding performance. The MultiServices DPC will provide a dedicated services engine that ensures consistent, high performance for these advanced services. The MultiServices DPC also enables security features such as stateful firewall, NAT and IPSec directly on the MX-series router, as well as routing and switching capabilities.
  
  
  In addition to powering the new JUNOS services listed above, the MultiServices DPC can also host innovative applications developed by customers and partners through Juniper's Open IP Solution Development Program (OSDP).



• a new Flexible PIC Concentrator for the MX-series that provides packet over SONET capabilities, leveraging the same OC-48 and OC-192 Physical Interface Cards (PICs) used for M- and T-series platforms. This will enable providers to use the MX-series to connect to traditional, non-Ethernet-based networks for the first time, providing maximum investment protection and reducing sparing costs by leveraging M- and T-series PICs.



• Extending next generation packet processing hardware to its M7i and M10i systems -- available on a new forwarding engine board, which can be purchased separately and added non-disruptively to existing chassis, the new hardware will enable customers to leverage existing investments to keep costs at a minimum. With the upgraded processing board, the M7i and M10i can deliver up to 68 percent more capacity, while using 57 percent less power per Gigabit, when compared with competitively sized systems.

The first capabilities in the Intelligent Services Edge portfolio are currently available. The full suite of Intelligent Services Edge hardware and software enhancements are expected to be available by Q309.


http://www.juniper.net

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Mzima Expands POPs in CRG West Facilities

Mzima Networks will deploy POPs in six CRG West data centers across the United States, including Chicago, New York, Northern Virginia, the San Francisco Bay Area and Los Angeles.


Mzima Networks, founded in 2002, delivers Internet bandwidth via its proprietary NetAlive network architecture and wide-area backbone network, and specializes in high-bandwidth applications by leveraging native 10 Gigabit Ethernet technologies. The company operates metropolitan optical rings connected to multiple Tier-1 backbone providers coupled with extensive private peering with numerous broadband ISPs and content providers.
http://www.mzima.nethttp://www.crgwest.com

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NEC and Juniper Partner on Converged Solutions in North America

NEC Unified Solutions and Juniper Networks are expanding their relationship to provide network infrastructure and communications solutions and support in North America. The Unified Infrastructure offerings, which support NEC's UNIVERGE 360 approach to unifying business communications through role-based solutions, will be available through NEC's national direct and indirect sales channels in North America.


NEC said the combined Unified Infrastructure include:

• An application layer gateway (ALG) that enables tight and secure interoperability between Juniper's networking products and NEC's UNIVERGE communications servers, desk phones and UC applications



• A secure remote office solution for voice over IP (VoIP) which eliminates the necessity for implementing a Virtual Private Network (VPN).

http://www.necunified.com/partner/juniperhtttp://www.juniper.net

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TI Reports Q3 Revenue of $3.39 Billion, Plans to Trim Wireless Baseband

Texas Instruments reported Q3 revenue of $3.39 billion, net income of $563 million and earnings per share of $0.43. TI's revenue declined 8 percent compared with the third quarter of last year as growth in Embedded Processing was more than offset by declines in Wireless and Other revenue. Revenue was about even with the prior quarter.


"We entered the third quarter with a cautious view of the economy and its impact on our markets. Revenue was weak, as expected, because consumers and corporations reduced their spending in this uncertain economy. Even so, the soundness of our strategic direction was underscored by results from our core businesses. Revenue for our Analog business was steady and revenue for our Embedded Processing business grew 9 percent compared with a year ago. Although not immune to near-term economic pressures, these are two of the best long-term opportunities in our industry," said Rich Templeton, TI chairman, president and chief executive officer.


TI also announced plans to reduce expenses by about one-third, or more than $200 million annualized, in its Wireless business, especially in its cellular baseband operation. The company is also actively pursuing the sale of the merchant portion of this operation and is in discussions with potential buyers. In the custom portion of this operation, TI will continue to support select programs. TI will focus its remaining Wireless investments in OMAP applications processors, which are at the heart of many smartphone products.



http://www.ti.com

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Alcatel-Lucent Supplies WiMAX Rev-e network in Armenia

iCON Communications (iCON), a provider of IP-based services in the Republic of Armenia, has selected Alcatel-Lucent to design, deploy and maintain a commercial WiMAX 802.16e-2005 (Rev-e) network in Armenia. The new network will enable the operator to introduce innovative wireless broadband services in the country by the end of 2008. Yerevan, the country's capital, will be the first city covered by the services. Financial terms were not disclosed.


The deployment by iCON will feature Alcatel-Lucent's end-to-end WiMAX Rev-e solution, including base stations, wireless access controllers, and an operations and maintenance center (OMC) as well as customer premises equipment (CPE). The core IP network will be based on the Alcatel-Lucent 7710 Service Router to provide resilient IP/MPLS networking network management, and powerful, service-oriented quality of service (QoS) enabling innovative new mobile IP services. Alcatel-Lucent will also provide the 9500 Microwave Cross Connect (MXC) and 9400 AWY Microwave systems to support the backhaul requirements for the network, as well as network- planning and engineering, integration optimization and commissioning services.http://www.alcatel-lucent.com

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Nominum Unveils DNS-based Solution for Internet Security Threats

Nominum introduced an Internet security and trusted content solution for ISPs that leverages its Vantio caching DNS platform. The problem is the estimated 150 million malicious Internet hosts -- a number that appears to be spiking as the as number of phishing sites explodes due to the financial crisis.


Unlike brute force approaches such deep packet inspection (DPI), the Nominum approach uses the DNS look-up process involved in every Internet transaction to verify the target site against multiple, independent reputational databases. When a dangerous URL is entered into a browser, the user is automatically diverted to an ISP web page warning them about the target site.


Nominum said its Trusted Response and Universal Enforcement (TRUE) architecture can be used to wide range of Internet threats and malicious, illegal and inappropriate content in real-time without impact the user's privacy. Key points for the TRUE architecture include:

• New revenues through paid subscriber services


• Reduce cost of helpdesk calls from users victimized by Internet threats


• Network-wide protection (all users, devices and applications)


• No impact to users, browsers and applications


• No privacy issues unlike intrusive approaches


• Hundred times better price / performance of alternatives


• No network re-architecture and no new hardware


• Scales up to a billion malicious Internet destinations


• Supports multiple threat data sources (best-of-breed)

The following Vantio enhancements and new products are the first in a series to utilize the new TRUE architecture:

• Vantio Base Server is an advanced caching DNS platform that now features a modular design for on-demand addition of new services. Vantio offers DNS security, including protection against the Kaminsky cache poisoning attack.



• Vantio Malicious Domain Redirection (MDR) Service Delivery Module -- a new add-on software module for the Vantio Base Server with real-time enforcement of threat data and security policies to safe guard Internet interactions. It acts as a self-learning enforcement point in the network and redirects user requests for malicious destinations to a helpful provider-managed notification page.



• Centris Server -- a new threat aggregation and provisioning platform capable of tracking up to a billion malicious Internet destinations. It complements the Vantio MDR module by synchronizing with a wide range of threat information feeds in real-time and making the data instantaneously available to MDR enforcement nodes.

http://www.nominum.com

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Ericsson Reports Strong Sales for Q3, up 13% YoY

Ericsson reported strong financial results for Q3 2008. Sales were up 13% year-over-year to 49.2 billion, mainly driven by healthy growth in Networks across all regions except Western Europe. In constant currencies, growth amounted to some 17%. However, the company said it is planning for a "flattish" market in 2009 and also planning in case tougher market conditions develop.


"Our business in the quarter has not been impacted by the financial turmoil. Our customers are generally financially strong. In addition, networks are loaded and traffic shows strong increase. In the present financial turmoil, it is however hard to predict how operators will act and to what extent consumer telecom spending will be affected," said Carl-Henric Svanberg, President and CEO of Ericsson. "Gross margin increased year-over-year and was stable sequentially. We are seeing initial positive effects from our ongoing cost adjustments. Our financial position is strong with healthy net cash and high payment readiness".


Some highlights for the quarter:

• Gross margin, excluding restructuring charges, amounted to 37.0% (35.6%) and was stable sequentially. The year-over-year improvement reflects a better business mix outside Western Europe and improved margins in Professional Services.



• Operating expenses, excluding restructuring charges, amounted to SEK 12.9 (12.0) b. in the quarter. Operating expenses decreased sequentially affected by seasonality and some initial effects of the cost adjustments.



• Operating income, excluding restructuring charges, amounted to SEK 5.7 (5.6) b. in the quarter. Sony Ericsson showed a small profit, excluding restructuring charges. Excluding Sony Ericsson, Group operating margin improved year-over-year to 11.5% (9.0%).



• Sales in Networks were up 16% year-over-year and 5% year-to-date. Network rollout services grew in line with equipment sales. Build-out of new networks as well as network expansions across all markets except Western Europe continues with particularly strong growth in India, Indonesia, Russia and Brazil,. Margins improved sequentially as well as year-over-year due to improved business mix and lower operating expenses.



• Redback shows strong sales growth as a result of increased international sales while sales in the US were down.



• Sales in Professional Services grew by 7% both year-over-year as well as year-to-date. Adjusted for the transfer of IPX and local currencies, sales growth amounted to 11% year-to-date. Operating margin improved sequentially, as a result of efficiency gains and a lower proportion of new managed services contracts in early phase.



• Compared to a strong third quarter 2007, managed services sales increased year-over-year by 3% and by 13% year-to-date. During the quarter, six new contracts were signed. The total number of subscribers in managed operations now amount to 225 million, of which 60% are in high-growth markets.



• Sales growth was 10% year-over-year and 16% year-to-date. Organic growth, excluding acquisitions and divestitures, amounted to 23% year-over-year. Revenue management, including LHS, and Tandberg Television showed particularly strong development.

http://www.ericsson.com

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Intel Demos "Moorestown" for Mobile Internet Devices

Intel is demonstrating its "Moorestown" platform for the new class of mobile Internet devices (MIDs) at this week's Intel Developer Forum in Taiwan.


Moorestown comprises of an SOC, codenamed "Lincroft," which integrates the 45nm processor, graphics, memory controller and video encode/decode onto a single chip and an I/O hub codenamed "Langwell", which supports a range of I/O ports to connect with wireless, storage, and display components in addition to incorporating several board level functions. The Moorestown platforms will support a range of wireless technologies including 3G, WiMAX, WiFi, GPS, Bluetooth and mobile TV.


Intel expects that is will be able to reduce Moorestown platform idle power by more than 10x compared to the first-generation MIDs based on the Intel Atom processor.


"As the next billion people connect to and experience the Internet, significant opportunities lie in the power of technology and the development of purpose-built devices that deliver more targeted computing needs and experiences," said Anand Chandrasekher, Intel's senior vice president and general manager of Intel's Ultra Mobility Group.http://www.intel.com

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One Minute Video: Flavors of WiMAX

One Minute Video presented by James Orr, Fujitsu Network Communications -- Flavors of WiMAX


Jargon Buster

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Huawei Develops 100 GE WDM Prototype

Huawei Technologies announced a 100 Gigabit Ethernet (GE) prototype WDM platform. The company said its 100GE prototype "realizes the even distribution of the rate to 10 physical channels to successfully implement the 100GE port technology." In addition, the prototype supports monitoring and protection functions of the 100GE port. Currently, Huawei is actively participating in the development of the 100GE standard 802.3ba.


"Launching the 100GE WDM prototype is hugely significant for us following the launch of the 100G WDM prototype earlier this year," said Christian Chua, president of Huawei Transport Network Product Line. "With these Huawei has become the only supplier in the industry that can provide the end-to-end transport solutions for large-capacity OTN/WDM data services. We will continue to focus on our customers' needs, to innovate, and to strive to alleviate the bandwidth pressure caused by ultra-broadband services."http://www.huawei.com

• In July 2008, Huawei Technologies announced a 100 Gbps WDM prototype platform. Huawei said its design will support a transmission distance of up to 2,000 km without using electrical regenerators, while offering a migration path from 10G/40G technologies. Commercial availability dates were not disclosed.

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Ericsson Collaborates with Intel on HSPA for Mobile Internet Devices (MIDs)

Ericsson is collaborating with Intel to bring HSPA mobile data solutions to Mobile Internet Devices (MIDs). Specifically, the Ericsson HSPA data solution is targeted at Intel's Moorestown platform and is scheduled for release in the 2009/10 timeframe. Based on the Intel Atom processor, Moorestown is Intel's next-generation MID platform which will include HSPA as one of its wireless technologies.


Ericsson said it is optimizing its module for Intel's next-generation Moorestown platform and Moblin-based Linux operating systems. The module will work on both WCDMA/HSPA and GSM/EDGE networks worldwide.


Johan Wibergh, Senior Vice President and head of Business Unit Networks at Ericsson, said: "Ericsson continues to create one Internet and one experience for the consumer, regardless of location or device, fixed or wireless. We see great potential in embedding mobile broadband in MIDs, creating new markets in the industry."http://www.ericsson.com

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