Nobel Prize in Physics Goes to Photonic Researchers

The Nobel Prize in Physics for 2009 was awarded for two separate breakthroughs in photonic research. One half of the prize went to Charles K. Kao for work that led to vast improvement in the data transmission capacity of optical fibers. Kao demonstrated that the high-loss of existing fiber optics arose from impurities in the glass. At the time of his discovery in 1966, Kao was a researcher at Standard Telecommunication Laboratories, Harlow, UK.The other half of the 2009 Nobel Prize in Physics went to Willard S. Boyle and George E. Smith. The...

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Equinix Builds Carrier Ethernet Exchange with Alcatel-Lucent

Equinix announced plans for a pioneering Carrier Ethernet Exchange platform to enable the delivery of high-performance global Ethernet services across multiple carrier networks. Equinix is working with Alcatel-Lucent to define enhanced solutions for the exchange of data traffic between carriers providing Ethernet services. The Equinix Carrier Ethernet Exchange platform will use Alcatel-Lucent's service router portfolio.The companies said the Equinix...

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BNP Paribas Backs Alcatel-Lucent Financial Services for Enterprise Leases

Alcatel-Lucent and BNP Paribas Lease Group (BPLG) announced the launch of Alcatel-Lucent Financial Services, a multi-country financing program designed to support the communication solution needs of the Enterprise market, and more specifically small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs). Alcatel-Lucent Financial Services will offer a full range of financial products through the current network of Alcatel-Lucent Business Partners. Customers will benefit...

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Procera Secures Multimillion Dollar Order from Tier-1 Mobile Operator

Procera Networks, which supplies a high-performance "Evolved" Deep Packet Inspection (DPI) platform, announced a follow-on order of $4.5 million to the $5.4 million order from a Tier-1 mobile operator that was announced in August.This Tier-1 service provider will use Procera's PacketLogic systems to gather network intelligence to maximize the service quality for its subscribers. Procera Networks expects to recognize the majority of this revenue within...

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Aricent Adds Middleware for RMI's Ultra Low Power Processors

Aricent has expanded its collaboration with RMI Corporation to provide a highly optimized development solution for connected media device designers and manufacturers. The Linux-based solution features Aricent's Media EXP Software Suite running on RMI's Ultra Low Power Processors. Target applications include connected media platforms such as home gateways, set top boxes and media phones across various form factors.http://www.aricent....

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Microsoft Releases Windows Mobile 6.5, Marketplace for Mobile

Microsoft and an array of handset manufacturers rolled out the latest generation of phones based on the Windows Mobile operating system, version 6.5. The new phones are available with a wide variety of styles and features, including full physical QWERTY keyboards, touch screens or both. Windows phones offer more choices of mobile operators and phone styles than any other mobile platform on the market. Manufacturers include Acer, HP, HTC Corp., LG...

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Alloptic Gains RUS Acceptance for RFoG

Alloptic received USDA Rural Development acceptance for its RFoG products, including its MicroNode RFoG ONUs, Return Path Receivers and Transmitters, and its EDFA and DCF optical amplifiers.The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Rural Utilities Service (RUS) provides low-interest financing to rural telephone companies for telecommunications infrastructure in smaller communities throughout the United States. Listed products are qualified to receive financing on projects funded by the Rural Telecom Infrastructure and the Broadband Loan and Loan Guarantee...

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Sprint Forms M2M Business Unit

Sprint has formed a new Emerging Solutions business unit to focus on the delivery of machine-to-machine (M2M) and mobile computing solutions to businesses and consumers. The new strategic business unit consolidates resources into one team with common goals and a sharp focus on Sprint's overall open device and M2M strategy and business development. Sprint noted it already has numerous M2M partners and has certified hundreds of machine-to-machine and...

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Verizon Wireless and Google to Launch Open Android Handsets

Verizon Wireless and Google announced a strategic partnership to support the Android open platform for mobile applications, services and devices. The companies agreed to devote substantial resources "to accelerate delivery of leading-edge innovation that will put unique applications in the hands of consumers quickly."Verizon Wireless and Google plan to co-develop several Android-based devices that will be pre-loaded with applications from both parties...

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AT&T Agrees to Allow iPhone VoIP over 3G

AT&T has decided to allow iPhone users to use VoIP over its 3G network. The company will take necessary steps so that Apple can enable VoIP applications on the iPhone. Previously, VoIP applications on iPhone were enabled for Wi-Fi connectivity only. "iPhone is an innovative device that dramatically changed the game in wireless when it was introduced just two years ago," said Ralph de la Vega, president and CEO, AT&T Mobility & Consumer...

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ITU: 4.6 Billion Mobile Phones, 67% Global Penetration

Mobile cellular has been the most rapidly adopted technology in history, according to the ITU, with global mobile subscriptions expected to reach 4.6 billion by the end of the year. This equates to roughly 67% of the world's population. Mobile broadband subscriptions are expected to top 600 million in 2009, having overtaken fixed broadband subscribers in 2008.Mobile technologies are making major inroads in developing countries, however the ITU's...

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Russia's Yota Deploys DragonWave for Backhauling Mobile WiMAX

Yota, the first mobile WiMAX network in Russia, has deployed DragonWave's Horizon Compact to create 400 Mbps capable links for backhauling traffic on its network. The Yota began commercial operations in June 2009 with service in in Moscow, St. Petersburg and Ufa. The Horizon Compact, a small, 22.86cm-square, all-outdoor unit integrating all traditional indoor and outdoor backhaul functionality, provides transport of up to 800 Mbps per link."Within...

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Zhone Introduces 24 New FTTx ONTs

Zhone Technologies rolled out 24 new optical network terminals (ONTs) covering a wide range of possible FTTx deployment scenarios.The new Zhone "zNID" models are optimized to support the shift to unicast media streams that require enormous amounts of dedicated bandwidth. Highlighted capabilities include:Zhone Auto Provisioning -- streamlining installs and cutting deployment times.Smart OMCI -- Zhone's standard's based GPON ONT management interface...

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BroadSoft to Acquire Packet Island for Cloud-based Monitoring

BroadSoft agreed to acquire Packet Island, a privately held start-up focused on SaaS-based quality of service (QoS) assessment and monitoring tools for VoIP and video networks and services. Financial terms were not disclosed.BroadSoft said the acquisition enables it to address the critical need in the market of ensuring QoS, and quality of experience (QoE), for real-time communications. BroadSoft's expanded solutions portfolio will now enable service...

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Emerson to Acquire Avocent Data Center Mgt.

Emerson agreed to acquire Avocent, a leading supplier of KVM (keyboard, video and mouse) switches and consoles, in an all-cash tender offer of $25 per share, or approximately $1.2 billion. Companies expect the deal to close around January 1, 2010.Avocent blends hardware, software and embedded technologies in a unified platform that simplifies monitoring, managing and problem solving in data centers. The products allow a network manager to control...

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Bharti Airtel and Cisco Form Strategic Business Alliance

Bharti Airtel, and Cisco announced a strategic business alliance to help drive growth for Indian enterprises. The alliance will combine Airtel's network services with Cisco's IP technologies and expertise. The partnership targets managed data services, hosted unified communications, connected branch services and Cisco TelePresence. Airtel and Cisco will appoint a dedicated team to develop and manage these services to fulfill the requirements of...

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