Sun Unveils its Latest Energy-Efficient Datacenter

Sun Microsystems opened its latest energy-efficient datacenter in Broomfield, Colorado. datacenter. The facility incorporates the latest in Sun's portfolio of energy-efficient systems and expertise, including new datacenter design and power and cooling technologies. Sun estimates it will save more than $1 million in electricity costs and 11,000 metric tons of CO2 per year in Broomfield, helping the company reduce its carbon footprint by 6 percent in the U.S.


The new Broomfield datacenter follows similar Sun projects completed in Blackwater, UK, Santa Clara, Calif. and Bangalore, India in August 2007.


The Broomfield datacenter is based on Sun's Pod Architecture and energy-efficient SPARC and x64 servers, Open Storage and tape products and the OpenSolaris Operating System. In one example, Sun consolidated 63 servers and 30 direct attached storage devices to two Sun servers.


Features of the new Sun Broomfield datacenter include:

• Greater space efficiency: A scalable, modular datacenter based on the Sun Pod Architecture led to a 66 percent footprint compression, by reducing 496,000 square feet from the former StorageTek campus in Louisville, Colo. to 126,000 square feet;



• Reduced electrical consumption: By 1 million kWh per month, enough to power 1,000 homes in Colorado;



• Reduced raised floor datacenter space: From 165,000 square feet to less than 700 square feet of raised floor datacenter space, representing a $4M cost avoidance;



• Greener, cleaner architecture: Including flywheel UPS that eliminates lead and chemical waste by removing the need for batteries, and a non-chemical water treatment system, saving water and reducing chemical pollution;



• Enhanced scalability: Incorporated 7 MW of capacity that scales up to 40 percent higher without major construction;



• Innovative cooling: The world's first and largest installation of Liebert advanced XD cooling system with dynamic cooling controls capable of supporting rack loads up to 30kW and a chiller system 24 percent more efficient than ASHRAE standards;

Partners in the Broomfield datacenter construction include Winter Street Architects, Inc. and TeamQuest Corporation.


"The Broomfield datacenter showcases revolutionary datacenter design with the latest in modularity, scalability and flexibility to drive incredible efficiencies in cost, electricity and overall carbon savings," said Dave Douglas, senior vice president of cloud computing and chief sustainability officer, Sun Microsystems. "As a company we've achieved our first 20 percent reduction in electricity usage since 2002, and the Broomfield datacenter is a great step forward in meeting our goal of another 20 percent reduction."


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http://www.sun.com/datacenterdesignhttp://www.sun.com/eco

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Deutsche Telekom ICSS Launches CDN with Edgecast

Deutsche Telekom's international wholesale division (ICSS) is launching a content delivery network (CDN) service in partnership with EdgeCast Networks. The new service, which delivers both live and on-demand media, is targeted at premium video, audio and content publishers, gaming companies, advertisers or service or hosting provider.


"The combination of Deutsche Telekom's powerful global network and EdgeCast's cutting edge content delivery technology offers a tremendous value proposition to publishers" says James Segil, President of EdgeCast Networks, "we are delighted to be partnering with Deutsche Telekom as they introduce this service to both their existing and new customers."htp://www.deutschetelekom.com/icsshttp://www.edgecast.com

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Wintegra and PMC-Sierra Team on T1/E1 Transport over Carrier Ethernet

Wintegra introduced its first platform dedicated to Carrier Transport applications that include essential support for the emulation of up to 336 T1/E1 circuits with independent clock domains. Wintegra's new Multi-Service Access Platform includes PMC-Sierra's PM8310 TEMUX 336 framer solution plus its own UFE3 and WinPath2 access processor.


The fast deployment of Carrier Ethernet and MPLS networks requires means of transporting SONET and SDH data using pseudo-wires. Wintegra said this can be achieved in two ways, either using one pseudo-wire for each Synchronous Payload Envelope / Virtual Container (like STS-3c or STS-12c), as described in RFC4842 (Synchronous Optical Network/Synchronous Digital Hierarchy Circuit Emulation over Packet), or by using multiple pseudo-wires that each transport one T1 or E1, using SAToP (Structure-Agnostic Time Division Multiplexing over Packet), as suggested in RFC 4553, RFC 5086, Y.1413 and Metro Ethernet Forum Technical Specification 8 (MEF 8).


The second method, implemented by Wintegra, has the advantage that the packet network can implement an implicit Add-Drop Multiplexer functionality, where individual T1 or E1 circuits can be easily inserted or removed in the Synchronous Payload Envelope / Virtual Containers, by switching them in the packet domain. With the first method, to achieve this, it is necessary to interwork from packet to SONET/SDH, use an Add-Drop multiplexer and then interwork back to packet.


However, the second method is also more challenging to implement, since each T1/E1 can have an independent clock. The need for independent clocks comes from applications where customers lease one or more T1/E1 lines and use asynchronous clock sources to drive the T1/E1 line clocks. In some cases, as an example when the T1/E1 lines are used for Wireless Backhaul, many lines can share the same clock source, since many of them can be connected to the same Radio Network Controller. However in other cases, like Enterprise Access, it is possible for each T1/E1 line to be leased by a different user and hence have an asynchronous clock.


For this reason, and to simplify the management of the SONET/SDH to packet interworking function by not having to define different clock domains, it is necessary to support as many as 336 Differential Clock recovery domains for an OC12 interface.
http://www.pmc-sierra.com/wirelinehttp://www.wintegra.com

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T-Mobile USA Teams with Meru for FMC

T-Mobile USA is teaming up with Meru Networks to offer fixed-mobile convergence (FMC) to enterprise customers using unlicensed mobile access (UMA) technology.

The solution lets users of T-Mobile GSM/GPRS devices roam between outdoor cellular infrastructures and indoor Wi-Fi networks without interruption to the call.
T-Mobile has also joined Meru's WINS (Wireless Interoperability and Network Solutions) Partner Program, and the two companies have completed interoperability testing of UMA-equipped T-Mobile devices with Meru enterprise WLANs. The testing verified seamless "handoffs" between Meru WLANs and the T-Mobile cellular network. The companies have also agreed to conduct joint marketing and sales activities.
http://www.merunetworks.com

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ZyXEL Wins Powerline Contract with Chunghwa Telecom

ZyXEL Communications has won the procurement tender of Chunghwa Telecom's Digital Home project. Chunghwa Telecom (CHT) serves over 12.7 million fixed lines throughout Taiwan and connects 4.3 million broadband access customers. ZyXEL has been a frequent winner of CHT's Central Office and Customer Premise Equipment (CPE) tenders including a recent 480,000 port VDSL2 tender.


Chunghwa Telecom's MOD (Media-on-Demand) is expected to reach 1.2 to 1.4 million users early next year -- surpassing its first million customers in 2008. Every MOD customer receives a set-top box required for service. With this latest tender CHT will also provide ZyXEL Powerline network kits. ZyXEL's Powerline network kits enable users to link their Internet connection to convenient locations anywhere within the home to watch MOD programs at their leisure. In addition to home power lines, the ZyXEL equipment included in this tender also delivers data through coax cables providing multiple ways for extending the network connection from home broadband routers.
http://www.zyxel.com

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Nigeria's ECAS Selects DragonWave for IP Backhaul

ECAS Telecommunications & Systems Ltd., which serves an array of leading network operators, service providers, enterprises, governments and state agencies in Nigeria, has selected DragonWave's the Horizon Compact for IP backhaul of WiMAX, 3.5G, Evolution Data Only (EVDO) and Long-Term Evolution (LTE) services in Nigeria. The Horizon Compact -- a single, 9-inch-square all outdoor unit integrating all traditional indoor and outdoor backhaul functionality -- provides transport of up to 800 Mbps per link for ECAS's customers. It operates in licensed radio frequencies in the 6 to 38 GHz range.


In 2009, WiMAX licenses are expectedt to be issued in Nigeria.


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http://www.ecas-tele.com
http://www.dragonwaveinc.com

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Motorola to Include Starent's Platform in its LTE Portfolio

Motorola will resell Starent Networks' multimedia core networking solutions as part of the Motorola LTE (Long Term Evolution)/SAE (System Architecture Evolution) portfolio. The Starent Networks products fulfill the functional requirements defined in the SAE or Evolved Packet Core (EPC) standards.


The companies said Starent's solutions help smooth migration to LTE for both CDMA 1X/DO-A and GSM/UMTS operators. Mobile operators are looking for solutions that deliver on today's requirements for 3G mobile broadband, while also positioning them for a migration to mobile ultra broadband networks. Starent's solutions are capable of supporting multiple functions in a single node, allowing a single platform to concurrently act as a 2G/3G and 4G node.
http://www.starentnetworks.com
http://www.motorola.com

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Sprint Nextel to Cut 8,000 Jobs

Sprint Nextel will eliminate approximately 8,000 jobs this quarter, a move that is expected to reduce internal and external labor costs by approximately $1.2 billion on an annualized basis. The reduction total includes approximately 850 positions expected to be eliminated under a voluntary separation plan started late last year. The company expects to recognize a charge in excess of $300 million in the first quarter of 2009 for severance and related costs associated with the reduction. Sprint will also suspend its 401(k) match for 2009, extend a 2008 suspension of annual salary increases through 2009, and suspend its tuition reimbursement program for 2009.


Sprint noted that it has seen a notable reduction in calls per subscriber to customer care and increased customer satisfaction resulting from customer service improvements. The company is committed to these high standards of customer care and innovation. In line with this commitment, the headcount reductions in these functions will be less than in non-customer facing groups.


"Labor reductions are always the most difficult action to take, but many companies are finding it necessary in this environment," said Sprint CEO Dan Hesse. "We continue to improve the customer experience and these improvements are reflected in much higher levels of satisfaction in customer surveys and in independent performance tests. Our commitment to quality will not change."

http://www.sprint.com

• Sprint traces is origins back to the "Brown Telephone Company, which was founded in 1899 in the town of Abilene, Kansas.

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Ikanos Supplies Gateway Processors and VDSL2 Chipsets in Taiwan

Ikanos Communications' high-performance processors and VDSL2 chipsets have been qualified by Chunghwa Telecom for mass deployment in its next generation network. The Ikanos chipsets will be incorporated into residential gateways supplied by TECOM Co. Ltd. and IP DSLAMs that enable the Chunghwa Telecom's Multimedia-on-Demand (MOD) triple play services across Taiwan.




Specifically, Chunghwa Telecom has qualified for use residential gateways that incorporate Ikanos' Fusiv Vx180 residential gateway processor. The Vx180 features a distributed accelerator processor (AP) architecture that offloads broadband wireless network bridging, routing, switching and firewall functions from the host central processing unit (CPU), so that the maximum possible processing power is preserved for advanced triple play and quality of service (QoS) functions. The multi-mode VDSL2/ADSL/ADSL2/ADSL2+ capability also enables seamless connectivity to legacy networks.


The service provider will also use IP DSLAMs that include Ikanos' Fx 100100-5 and Fx 10050-5 central office (CO) chipsets, which are optimized for IPTV delivery with features such as integrated QoS capabilities and enhanced impulse noise protection (INP) schemes.
http://www.ikanos.com

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Reliance Globalcom Extends Ethernet-based FinancialConnect!

Reliance Globalcom has extended its Ethernet-based financial extranet FinancialConnect! to the multilateral trading facilities (MTFs) Chi-X Europe, NASDAQ OMX Europe and BATS Europe.


Reliance Globalcom's secure extranet FinancialConnect! provides clients of the MTFs with high-speed, low-latency connectivity to real-time quote and trade information for the pan-European equities market. The Ethernet-based service is delivered of the company's global, fiber-based network.


Reliance Globalcom has provided Ethernet connectivity services to BATS electronic communications service (ECN) since 2006. NASDAQ Stock Market Inc. has been a customer of Reliance Globalcom since January 2007.


"As the number of MTFs increases, so does our FinancialConnect! provider list, with three to four new MTFs joining in the next few weeks," said Punit Garg, president and CEO of Reliance Globalcom. "Reliance Globalcom has effectively delivered a financial extranet that leverages unsurpassed Ethernet connectivity to serve MTFs, algorithmic traders and main markets -- all of whom are acutely aware of the value of a millisecond when executing trades. As fragmentation in the European equities market continues, our innovative and customer-focused offering appeals to all firms that are looking to service multiple venues."http://www.relianceglobalcom.com

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Google: Spam levels are up by 156% since November 2008

According to Google and its Postini Message Security network, the volume of global spam traffic has risen by 156% since November 2008, when a large source of the world's spam, the McColo network, was taken offline. Some other trends, noted in the Google blog entry:

• Spam volume peaked in April 2008



• Spam has not yet recovered to its November 2008 but may do so soon



• During the second half of 2008, virus volume increased six-fold from the first half of the year.

http://googleenterprise.blogspot.com/2009/01/2008-year-in-spam.html

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Senate Approves Delay in DTV Transition to June 12

The U.S. Senate voted to approve a delay to push back the mandatory transition to digital TV from February 17 to June 12.

The U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee is expected to consider a similar bill later this week.
http://www.senate.gov

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TI reports Q4 Results, Cuts Jobs by 12%

Texas Instruments reported Q4 2008 revenue of $2.49 billion, net income of $107 million and earnings per share (EPS) of $0.08. These financial results include restructuring charges of $0.13 per share. Without the charges, EPS would have been $0.21, considerably better than the company's mid-quarter expectations.


TI also announced that it will cut its employment level by 12% through 1800 layoffs and 1600 voluntary retirements and departures. Charges for these employment reductions will be about $300 million. Annualized savings from these reductions, plus those announced in October for the restructuring of the company's Wireless business, will be about $700 million after all reductions are complete in the third quarter of 2009.


"We are realigning our expenses with a global economy that continues to weaken," said Rich Templeton, TI chairman, president and chief executive officer. "By reducing expenses now, we keep TI financially strong and able to invest for future growth.


"Most of the reductions will come in our internal support functions and non-core product lines so that a greater percentage of the dollars we spend will go directly toward developing and supporting Analog and Embedded Processing products. We believe these are the areas that will drive TI's future growth and allow us to achieve our financial objectives.


"We are not counting on a near-term economic rebound for improvement. The actions we are taking to reduce expenses and inventory will position TI to deliver solid financial results, even in a period of prolonged economic weakness. When the economy strengthens, we'll be pleased that we focused aggressively on our core product lines."


For the first quarter of 2009, TI expects revenue of $1.62 - 2.12 billion and earnings per share: $0.11 loss - 0.03 profit.
http://www.ti.com

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