NTT Com Launches its Arcstar Universal One Virtual

NTT Com announced the global launch of Arcstar Universal One Virtual, which allows users to easily create, use and control overlay networks on-demand via existing corporate networks or the Internet using software-defined network (SDN) technology. An online portal facilitates real-time service activation and greatly reduces the time to add or change network configurations. NTT Com is planning to further enhance Arcstar Universal One Virtual with APIs.

To minimize latency, NTT Com has established Arcstar Universal One Virtual platforms on the East Coast of the United States and in the United Kingdom, joining existing platforms in Japa. Additional platforms will be established on the U.S. West Coast, Hong Kong and Singapore after July.

Arcstar Universal One Virtual is now available in 27 countries, including 12 in the Asia Pacific, 11 in the EU, Middle East and Africa, and 4 in the Americas.

http://www.ntt.com/aboutus_e/news/data/20150526.html

Earlier in May, NTT Communications announced three new SDN-powered capabilities for its Arcstar Universal One virtual private network (VPN) service, which is available in nearly 200 countries.

By the end of May, NTT Comm will add:

• Multi-cloud - enterprise customers will be able to connect to services on private clouds other than NTT Com's Enterprise Cloud, such as Microsoft Azure or Amazon Web Services.
• Asset Light - the Arcstar Universal One Advanced Option menu will offer an application acceleration function that does not require additional hardware at the enterprise's locations. End-to-end communications via the cloud, including from customer endpoints and applications on mobile devices, can be rapidly deployed by the enterprise via a portal for accelerated performance and on a reduced cost basis.
• Multi-client - Arcstar Universal One Virtual, a virtual network service first launched in Japan, will now be introduced on a global basis. Global customers will use this function for highly secure cloud connection via various devices, such as PCs, smartphones and tablets, and various networks, such as Arcstar Universal One, the Internet and the networks of other service providers. This function will also be a world's first.

NTT Com said it is able to leverage SDN to shorten the provisioning time for these new services, as well as lower operational costs.

http://www.ntt.com/universalone_e/vpn

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EMC to Acquire Virtustream for $1.2 Billion - Hybrid Cloud Mgt.

EMC Corporation agreed to Virtustream, a start-up headquartered in Washington, D.C. with offices in San Francisco, Atlanta, London and Dubai, for approximately $1.2 billion in cash.

Virtustream offers a consumption-based hybrid cloud software and IaaS platform capable of providing commercial application latency performance guarantees for running mission-critical enterprise class applications on modern multi-tenant cloud architectures.Virtustream’s xStream software features consumption-based billing and embedded µVM (micro-VM) technology for assuring application-level SLAs. The company owns data centers in the U.S. and Europe with service provider partner data centers in Latin America, the Middle East and Asia.

EMC said the acquisition represents a transformational element of its strategy to help customers move all applications to cloud-based IT environments.  Virtustream will form EMC’s new managed cloud services business.

“This acquisition is great news for our customers, VMware and the EMC Federation of businesses.  With the addition of Virtustream, we will be able to offer customers a comprehensive set of hybrid cloud offerings, including private, managed and public cloud solutions. As we deliver VMware vCloud Air to our customer base to help them continue their journey to the cloud, Virtustream complements and expands our value proposition,” stated Pat Gelsinger, Chief Executive Officer, VMware.

SAP, which has a long-term partnership with Virtustream, stated that it looks forward to continuing the alliance with EMC.

http://www.virtustream.com/
http://www.vmware.com
http://www.emc.com

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HP to acquire ConteXtream for NFV/SDN Controller

HP agreed to acquire ConteXtream, a provider of OpenDaylight-based, carrier-grade SDN fabric for NFV, and a current HP OpenNFV partner. Financial terms were not disclosed.

ConteXtream, which is headquartered in Mountain View, California and has development offices in Israel, offers a Carrier-SDN framework that dynamically and elastically connects subscribers to services and enables carriers to leverage standard, low-cost server hardware and hypervisors to virtualize functions and services. The solution controls traffic flows through the
network using a distributed controller and virtual switches to efficiently load balance traffic on all resources, whether virtual or physical. The company was established in 2007 and has been deployed at tier-one telcos and MSOs. ConteXtream is headed by Nachman Shelef, who previously was a general partner of Benchmark Capital and a co-founder of the Benchmark Israel venture fund. Nachman's background also includes founding and heading NiceCom, a company acquired by 3Com.

HP said ConteXtream’s open SDN controller platform complements its own NFV expertise and telecommunications and IT experience.   HP has been a global reseller of ConteXtream technology solutions and ConteXtream is an HP AllianceOne partner.

After the transaction closes, ConteXtream will become part of HP’s Communications Solutions Business. ConteXtream’s current CEO, Chairman, and co-founder Nachman Shelef will continue to lead the ConteXtream business within HP and will report to me.

http://www8.hp.com/hpnext/posts/hp-contextream-accelerate-nfv#.VWTkac_49_A

http://youtu.be/VbX95Cty4-E

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Charter to Acquire Time Warner Cable, Bright House

Charter Communications agreed to acquire Time Warner Cable in a deal valued at $78.7 billion.  In addition, Charter and Advance/Newhouse Partnership amended an earlier merger deal (announced March 31) to allow for the three-way combination reate a leading broadband services and technology company serving 23.9 million customers in 41 states.  Liberty Broadband has agreed to purchase, upon closing of the Time Warner Cable transaction, $4.3 billion of newly issued shares of New Charter.

The companies said their mega-merger will drive investment in their advanced broadband network, allowing for wider deployment of new competitive facilities based Wi-Fi networks in public places, and the footprint expansion of optical networks to serve the large marketplace of small and medium sized businesses.

"With our larger reach, we will be able to accelerate the deployment of faster Internet speeds, state-of-the-art video experiences, and fully–featured voice products, at highly competitive prices. In addition, we will drive greater competition through further deployment of new competitive facilities-based WiFi networks in public places, and the expansion of the facilities footprint of optical networks to serve the large, small and medium sized business services marketplace. New Charter will capitalize on technology to create and maintain a more effective and efficient service model. Put simply, the scale of New Charter, along with the combined talents we can bring to bear, position us to deliver a communications future that will unleash the full power of the two-way, interactive cable network," stated Tom Rutledge, President and CEO of Charter Communications.

http://ir.charter.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=112298&p=irol-irhome
http://www.timewarnercable.com/

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Akamai Enters Strategic Cloud Services Partnership with China Unicom

Akamai Technologies has formed a strategic partnership agreement with China Unicom' cloud division – CU Cloud, one of the largest cloud computing service providers in China.

As part of the strategic partnership, CU Cloud has agreed to complement its own cloud services for global businesses with Akamai's full suite of industry-leading media delivery, web performance, and cloud security offerings.

Specifically, CU Cloud plans to leverage Akamai for CDN technology that will be available for the delivery of its Cloud services. Akamai enables operators to deploy a highly scalable, completely turnkey CDN that leverages the same technologies found within the Akamai Intelligent Platform.

http://www.akamai.com

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Nimble Storage Hits Revenue of $71 Million, up 53% YoY

Nimble Storage's revenue increased 53% to $71.3 million for its fiscal first quarter 2016, up
from $46.5M in the first quarter of fiscal 2015. Excluding fluctuations in foreign currency, revenue would have been $73.4M representing a 58% increase over first quarter of fiscal 2015.

GAAP net loss for the first quarter of fiscal 2016 was $29.0 million, or $0.38 per basic and diluted share, compared with a net loss of $19.6 million, or $0.28 per basic and diluted share in the first quarter of fiscal 2015.

"As enterprises aim to consolidate storage infrastructure to contain cost and complexity, while still delivering tailored service levels for hundreds of business-enabling applications, we believe that we stand alone in our ability to address the broadest spectrum of requirements among next-generation flash-optimized storage platforms," said Suresh Vasudevan, chief executive officer, Nimble Storage. "Our Q1 results serve as evidence of our continued momentum. During the quarter, we added 542 new customers, more than doubled our bookings from enterprise and service provider customers, and achieved record bookings contribution from current customers expanding their Nimble installations."

http://investors.nimblestorage.com

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Radisys Lands $11 Million VoLTE Order from Asian Carrier

Radisys announced a follow-on order of approximately $11 million for its MediaEngine product from a large Asian carrier in support of its VoLTE network deployment. The order is expected to be fulfilled by Radisys over the course of the second and third quarters of 2015.

“We are energized by the opportunity to continue participating in the VoLTE deployment of this large Asian carrier, in addition to the broad acceleration we are seeing in the adoption of VoLTE and VoWiFi globally,” said Brian Bronson, Radisys President and CEO. “The deployment by this carrier also demonstrates the power of our common MediaEngine strategy, OneMRF, allowing communication service providers to deploy a single media processing platform to support a variety of multimedia services from 3rd party application providers.”

“Finally, this order gives us further confidence in meeting our 2015 financial targets, delivering $0.20 of non-GAAP earnings per share and growing our Software-Systems revenues by 20% year-on-year.”

http://www.radisys.com

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T-Mobile Czech Test 400G with Alcatel-Lucent

T-Mobile Czech Republic completed a trial of 400 Gbps transmission over its existing network using optical equipment from Alcatel-Lucent.  Specifically, Alcatel-Lucent supplied its 1830 Photonic Service Switch (PSS) together with the 400G Photonic Service Engine (PSE) over the 320km.

“Besides our existing commitments, delivering  high-bandwidth access via TeraStream, it’s also key for us to permanently verify new and innovative technology options. We always want to offer our customers the best user experience via technology leadership," stated Vladimir Klein, CTO of T-Mobile Czech Republic.

http://www.alcatel-lucent.com/press/2015/alcatel-lucent-and-t-mobile-czech-republic-complete-400g-network-trial

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