Vodafone Germany offers Ethernet Business Services with Alcatel-Lucent

Vodafone Germany has introduced new Ethernet services throughout Germany based on Alcatel-Lucent's IP/MPLS platform. The services allow enterprise customers to connect multiple sites via Ethernet point-to-point or point-to-multipoint as an alternative to leased lines and IP VPNs.


Alcatel-Lucent provided a turnkey IP/MPLS solution including its 7x50 Service Routers and the 5620 Service Aware Manager (SAM), as well as Customer Premise Equipment (CPE). In addition to supplying hardware, Alcatel-Lucent will provide a full range of professional services including network design, installation, integration, testing and system maintenance.
http://www.alcatel-lucent.comhttp://

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Cisco Outlines "Security Without Borders" Architecture

Cisco outlined its plans for a new enterprise network security architecture aimed at enabling business users to access information from any device and any location.


The Cisco Secure Borderless Network architecture focuses on four critical anchors: enterprise endpoints (mobile or fixed), the Internet edge, the data center, and policy that is context- and location-aware.


Key components of this architecture include the Cisco AnyConnect Secure Mobility client, which is a little sliver of software that runs on every PC, laptop and mobile device. Its job is to make sure that every connection coming on or off a device is connected to a security-scanning element somewhere in the network. The solution is designed to provide automatic security gateway detection, trusted network detection, and a hghly secure application access for both managed and unmanaged devices.


Cisco is also expanding its "TrustSec" to provide businesses with identity and granular control over security policy. This is especially important as workforces are increasingly mobile and are using new forms of Web-based collaboration and communication, making traditional security approaches insufficient.


Future plans call for extending the Cisco AnyConnect Secure Mobility solution to include hybrid enforcement delivered through the Cisco IronPort S-Series appliances and cloud-based security delivered through Cisco ScanSafe.
http://www.cisco.com

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Alcatel-Lucent Names Stephen A. Carter as Chief Marketing Officer

Alcatel-Lucent announced today the appointment of Stephen A. Carter to the newly created position of Chief Marketing, Strategy & Communication Officer. He will also sit on the company's Management Committee.


Most recently, Stephen A. Carter served as the Minister in the UK Government for the Communications, Technology & Broadcasting Sector, where he was the author of the Digital Britain Report, and the follow on Digital Economy Bill.
http://www.alcatel-lucent.comhttp://

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EU Opens Consultation on Future of Universal Service

The European Commission has opened a public consultation on the future of Universal Services in the digital age.


Current EU rules on universal service obligations for telecoms date from 2002 and guarantee that Europeans have access to public telephone networks and to services like basic internet access.


The new consultation aims to see if these rules and definitions on universal service need to be updated for the digital age, and in particular if they should be extended to cover broadband access. The consultation will run until 7 May 2010.


Among the questions the consultation aims to address are: Should universal service principles help to reach the EU's goal of 'broadband for all', or would competition on the open telecoms market or other policy options be more effective? With regard to the Digital Divide, what is the right balance between a coordinated EU-wide response and the need for national flexibility? How should universal service be financed in the future?http://www.europa.euhttp://

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Solera Networks Partners with EMC on Network Forensics Storage

Solera Networks, which specializes in network forensics, will resell a scalable storage area network solution from EMC.


Solera said its DS SAN solution, powered by EMC, breaks the single-system storage barrier by providing incident responders instant assess to the full detail of historical network activity in up to one petabyte of captured network data. Unlike competitive solutions, which require the use of multiple standalone systems to scale to the needs of modern networks, DS SAN simplifies and consolidates hardware deployments while reducing management costs. DS SAN is available immediately in configurations starting at 100 TB of capture storage for network speeds ranging from 100 Mbps through 10 Gbps.


The companies said enterprises need the ability to store network data in a single scalable location, with redundancy built in, without sacrificing instant access to that data. Network forensic tools can then be used to defend against unidentified, persistent threats to the network.
http://www.soleranetworks.com

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Altor Raises $10 million for its Virtualized Data Center Technology

Altor Networks, a start-up based in Redwood Shores, California, closed a $10 million Series B funding round to support its work in securing virtualized data centers and clouds.


Altor Networks is pioneering a new class of virtual security solutions to secure production-oriented virtualized data centers. The company's initial product line includes a purpose-built virtual firewall, a software security appliance that runs in a virtualized environment and enforces security policy on a per virtual machine basis or for groups of VMs.


The new funding came from new investors DAG Ventures, Juniper Networks , Accel Partners and Foundation Capital, Altor's founding investors.
http://www.altornetworks.comhttp://

• Altor Networks is headed by Amir Ben-Efraim (CEO and co-founder), who previously was head of business development at Check Point Software.

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Sourcefire and Immunet Partner on Cloud-Based Antivirus

Sourcefire and Immunet, a developer of antivirus technologies, announced a partnership to deliver a free, Windows-based version of the ClamAV antivirus solution that leverages Immunet's "Cloud-based Collective Immunity" technology, linking together a user's network of friends to identify new threats in real-time, and providing protection across the product's user-base.


Immunet's unique, cloud-based approach links Windows users to a global community, including their friends, family and colleagues to harness a collective knowledge-base for securing their PC. Every time someone in this community encounters a threat, all global ClamAV users gain protection instantly.


ClamAV is an open source anti-malware solution that is installed on over two million gateway devices downloading updates daily from 121 mirror servers located in 43 countries.
http://www.sourcefire.comhttp://http://www.immunet.com

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Force10 Networks Files for IPO

Force10 Networks filed SEC papers for an initial public offering (IPO). The San Jose, California-based company specializes in high performance switches and routers for data center and other network deployments. In fiscal 2009, the company's products were shipped to more than 1,100 end customers in 63 countries. The company reported revenue of $43 million for the year but has not yet attained profitability.
http://www.force10networks.comIn 2009, Turin Networks merged with Force10 Networks. The deal combined leading equipment suppliers for the service provider and enterprise data center markets. Turin Networks was a leading provider in the wireless backhaul aggregation market with products deployed in more than 60 thousand North American cell sites. Force10 Networks offered high-performance equipment for data centers.

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Level 3 Wins $14 Million in Federal Broadband Stimulus Funds

Level 3 Communications has been awarded $13.7 million in federal grant funding from the National Telecommunications and Information Association (NTIA) under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Level 3 will commit an additional $4.2 million in matching funds to the NTIA grant for the expansion of rural broadband.


Level 3 said it will use the NTIA grant funding and its own capital to create dozens of new high-speed network access points or middle mile connections in rural areas across six states: California, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Tennessee and Texas.


Each new access point on the Level 3 network will have the capabilities to provide local telephone, cable and wireless companies more efficient access to Internet, voice, data and video services with national and international reach.
http://www.level3.com
http://www.ntia.doc.gov/press/2010/BTOPgrants_03022010.html

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Accenture Opens Cyber Security “Threat Analysis Center�? in San Antonio

Accenture has opened a threat analysis center in San Antonio, Texas. Accenture said its Threat Analysis Center is designed to help federal, state and local government and commercial clients achieve regulatory compliance, protect data, and make informed decisions that translate into timely action to address cyber threats. The company also plans to use the center to provide clients with assistance in areas such as technology infrastructure, identity management, malware analysis, cyber forensics, mission resilience, business continuity, and Federal Desktop Core Configuration compliance.
http://www.accenture.comhttp://

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Comcast Releases Remote DVR iPhone App

Comcast released a new version of its iPhone app,which now includes a remote DVR programming service (rDVR) that is being rolled out across the country. With the Comcast Mobile app 2.0, customers program their DVR at any time, from anywhere. The app also serves as a single access point to some of Comcast's most popular services including Comcast.net email; visual voice mail, which enables customers to view and select which voice mail messages they want to hear; address book sync; real-time TV listings and trailers of On Demand movies.
http://www.comcast.comhttp://

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Accenture Joins AT&T Business Exchange with Telepresence

Under a non-exclusive agreement, Accenture is gaining access to the AT&T Business Exchange, an inherent feature of the AT&T Telepresence Solution that allows multiple companies in different locations to connect to one another using Cisco TelePresence.


Accenture already has 50 rooms around the world equipped with telepresence. The locations, which Accenture refers to as "telepresence rooms," are widely used to facilitate meetings between employees in remote locations. With access to the AT&T Business Exchange, employees are now also able to link with parties outside of Accenture for business-to-business video conferencing.


More than 50 companies with hundreds of telepresence sites are now connecting with each other using the AT&T Business Exchange, which runs over the carrier's MPLS network.


The exchange also allows Accenture to establish direct connections with more than 1,000 other Cisco TelePresence meeting endpoints deployed worldwide for either intra-company or inter-company meetings.
http://www.att.comhttp://

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Charter's ARPU Reaches $117.43, up 8.1% YoY

Charter Communications, which emerged from Chapter 11 bankruptcy in November 2009, reported that its 2009 revenues increased 4.5% on a pro forma basis and 4.3% on an actual basis compared to 2008.


Notably, Charter's total average monthly revenue per basic video customer (ARPU) for Q4 2009 increased 8.1% year-over-year to $117.43, driven by increased sales of "The Charter Bundle".


Some highlighted operational data from Charter:

• As of December 31, 2009, Charter served approximately 5.3 million customers, and the Company's 12.7 million RGUs were comprised of 4.8 million basic video, 3.2 million digital video, 3.1 million HSI and 1.6 million telephone customers.



• Charter served approximately 12.7 million revenue generating units (RGUs).



• Approximately 57% of Charter's customers subscribe to a bundle, up from 53% in the fourth quarter of 2008.



• Digital video customers increased by approximately 43,300 and basic video customers decreased by approximately 56,900 during the fourth quarter. Video ARPU was $62.06 for the fourth quarter of 2009, up 4.7% year-over-year.



• HSI customers grew by approximately 51,800 during the fourth quarter of 2009. HSI ARPU of $41.48 increased approximately 3.0% compared to the year-ago quarter, driven by customer upgrades to higher speeds of service and increased penetration of home networking service.



• Fourth quarter 2009 net gains of telephone customers were approximately 60,600. Telephone penetration is now 14.9% of approximately 10.7 million telephone homes passed as of December 31, 2009. Telephone ARPU of $41.73 increased approximately 1.6% compared to the year-ago quarter.

http://www.charter.com

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T-Mobile to Launch 42 Mbps HSPA+ in German Network

At CeBIT 2010, Deutsche Telekom announced plans to launch HSPA+ running at up to 42 Mbps downstream in its German T-Mobile network. Specifically, T-Mobile will first launch HSPA+ at up to 21 Mbps within Germany. Its first 21 Mbps USB modem will launch next month. During the course of 2010, transmission speeds are to be increased to 42 Mbps. Nokia Siemens Networks and QUALCOMM are participating in an HSPA+ demonstration at CeBIT.

Deutsche Telekom is also showcasing the potential of LTE. The company will have a high-speed connection between its CeBIT stand and transmitter and receiver units in Innsbruck and Bonn. The demonstration will feature mobile Internet at maximum speeds of up to 100 Mbps. The company will also feature a huge multi-touch desk, where visitors can select and control various LTE test applications. Deutsche Telekom's strategic partners Huawei and Samsung will play a significant role in the execution of this showcase. Huawei is involved in setting up the network infrastructure, whereas Samsung will provide the LTE mobile communications devices.
http://www.telekom.de

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Verizon Supports FCC's Spectrum Proposal for National Broadband Plan

Verizon voiced its support for FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski's recent proposal to free up 500 Megahertz of new spectrum over the next decade as part of the upcoming National Broadband Plan.


Verizon said it agrees that newly identified spectrum should be subject "to market-based policies that will promote innovation, speed the delivery of advanced wireless products and services, and ensure that commercial spectrum flows to uses the market values most."

http://www.verizon.comhttp://

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Apple Sues HTC for iPhone Patent Claims

Apple filed a patent infringement lawsuit against HTC relating to the iPhone's user interface, underlying architecture and hardware. Apple said HTC infringes 20 patents it holds in these areas. The lawsuit was filed concurrently with the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) and in U.S. District Court in Delaware.


"We can sit by and watch competitors steal our patented inventions, or we can do something about it. We've decided to do something about it," said Steve Jobs, Apple's CEO. "We think competition is healthy, but competitors should create their own original technology, not steal ours."http://www.apple.com

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