Via Licensing Builds LTE Patent Pool with Major Players

Via Licensing announced an LTE patent pool that includes the contributions of some major players:  AT&T, Clearwire Corporation, DTVG Licensing, HP, KDDI Corporation, NTT DOCOMO, SK Telecom, Telecom Italia, Telefónica, and ZTE Corporation.

The patent pool aims to accelerate innovation by providing efficient, transparent, and cost-effective access to LTE standard essential patents.  Participation in the LTE licensing program is open to all owners of LTE essential patents. Any party that believes they hold a patent essential to the LTE standard is encouraged to submit the patent for evaluation and, once qualified, to participate in this valuable offering.

“We are delighted to have been able to participate in a truly collaborative effort from a broad spectrum of industry players to provide one-stop shop access to LTE standard essential patents that the pool provides,” said Dr. Toru Otsu, Managing Director of Intellectual Property at NTT DOCOMO. “We feel confident that the pool will play a huge role in accelerating growth of the LTE ecosystem by meeting both the needs of licensors and licensees.”

http://www.vialicensing.com

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Integra Telecom Powers Hosted Voice Service with Metaswitch

Integra Telecom has selected Metaswitch Networks as the infrastructure and application partner powering its new Hosted Voice Service.  Integra is also using Metaswitch for its SIP-based services.

The new Hosted Voice Service provides a fully managed and feature-rich integrated voice, data and equipment solution for business customers of all sizes. 

Integra owns and operates an enterprise-class network consisting of a 5,000-mile long-haul fiber-optic network, 3,000–miles of metropolitan fiber and a nationwide IP/MPLS network across the western U.S.  Its fiber network connects directly to more than 2,000 enterprise buildings and data centers.

www.integratelecom.com

www.metaswitch.com

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XO's Coast-to-Coast 100G Links Equinix Data Centers

XO Communications is deploying nodes of its new, national 100G optical backbone in Equinix International Business Exchange (IBX) data centers across the United States.

XO Communications and its partners, Nokia Siemens Networks and Ciena, deployed the 100G service inside Equinix, leveraging Equinix’s Solution Validation Center.

The 100G connection already links Equinix data centers in Silicon Valley and Washington DC.

XO said 100G availability from Equinix’s data centers provides customers with:

• High-capacity access to public, hybrid, private cloud providers
  
• The ability to optimize their network for increased performance and lower latency
  
• High-speed content distribution to improve end user experience
  
• Access to Carrier Business Ethernet services across metros and regions

http://www.xo.com

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Thinking Phone Raises $16.5 Million for Cloud Services

Thinking Phone Networks, a start-up based in Cambridge. Mass., raised $16.5 million in venture funding for its enterprise cloud communication services.

Thinking Phone Networks developed a multi-tenant cloud software platform that fosters ready integration of third-party off-the-shelf and “home grown” business applications such as CRM and ERP. In addition, the platform addresses the multi-faceted needs of service providers, PBX vendors, and channel partners seeking to easily deploy and scale differentiated cloud UC services. 

Thinking Phone Networks provides extensive back office service deployment, management, and billing tools that speed time-to-market and time-to-revenue.

The new funding was led by Advanced Technology Ventures (ATV) and Bessemer Venture Partners.

http://thinkingphones.com

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MetroPCS + T-Mobile USA Looks to Accelerated LTE Rollout

MetroPCS agreed to merge with T-Mobile USA (a subsidiary of Deutsche Telekom) in a deal that creates a much strengthened No.4 mobile operator in the U.S. market with deeper network coverage and the need for an accelerated path to one common LTE network.


 Despite operating incompatible legacy networks (CDMA and GSM), the companies said rapid handset turnover (60% - 65% per year) will make for a relatively quick migration of MetroPCS customers to LTE.   MetroPCS customers will also benefit from T-Mobile's much more extensive network.

The basis for the merger will be to re-farm MetroPCS spectrum to create capacity services.  Specifically, the spectrum migration plan for the merged company will be:

1. GSM will become the merged company's “universal” technology for roaming, M2M and legacy device
2. MetroPCS PCS spectrum will be migrated to HSPA+
3. T-Mobile AWS will be repurposed from HSPA+ to LTE over time
4. Available MetroPCS AWS spectrum will be migrated to LTE
5. AWS will become NewCo's primary LTE band across Americas

Some other key points of the deal:

• The merged company will use the T-Mobile name and brand.  It will be traded on the NYSE.
• The combined company is projected to have 2012 Pro Forma Revenue of $24.8 billion
• The combined company will have 42.5 million subscribers
• 
  The annual CAPEX budget for the combined company would be approximately $4.2 billion at current level
• Deutsche Telekom will receive a 74% stake
• MetroPCS Shareholders will receive $1.5 billion in cash and 26% ownership in the combined company
• The new company will continue to position itself as "the best value in wireless" in the U.S. market
• The combined company will have ~70,000 total points of distribution, including 50,000 retailers
• The cost synergies are projected $6 - $7 billion over 5 years, including both CAPEX and OPEX on network infrastructure
• The company’s headquarters will be in Bellevue, Washington and it will retain a significant presence in Dallas, Texas.

“The combination with MetroPCS is another logical and significant step that will accelerate our Challenger Strategy and enable us to deliver amazing, affordable and trusted 4G services, while providing opportunities to expand geographic territories and serve more customers. Our enhanced spectrum position will be the foundation for a faster and more reliable network, and will allow us to deploy a deeper and more robust LTE rollout, particularly in major metropolitan areas. We will be a stronger, value-focused competitor, providing customers with offerings such as our Unlimited Nationwide 4G Data and ‘bring your own device’ plans," stated John Legere, President and Chief Executive Officer of T-Mobile.

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