Dell Intros Hybrid Cloud Gear Tuned for Microsoft Azure

Dell announced a new hybrid cloud solution featuring technology jointly developed with Microsoft.

The Dell Hybrid Cloud System for Microsoft, which is built around the new Microsoft Cloud Platform System Standard, is an integrated, modular hybrid cloud solution that targets simplified, automated deployment and maintenance capabilities; a unique payment solution to reduce customer investment risk; and hybrid cloud governance, control, and policy-based automation for Microsoft Azure and other cloud environments.

The system was highlighted in a Dell World keynote discussion between Michael Dell and Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella.

Some highlights:

• On-premises private cloud, with consistent Azure public cloud access in less than three hours, and minimized downtime with unified system updates that are non-disruptive, fully automated, dependency-aware and smart-sequenced.
• The ability to build and provision workload templates and flexibly deploy business services and governance models of multiple cloud environments from one management construct, via out-of-the-box integration with Dell Cloud Manager (DCM).
• Unified, simplified private-with-public cloud management and consumption control across Windows Azure Pack (WAP), Azure and other cloud services.
• The Dell Hybrid Cloud System for Microsoft is built around CPS Standard, which combines optimized Dell modular infrastructure with pre-configured Microsoft CPS software, including Microsoft’s proven software stack and Azure Services for back-up, site recovery and operational insights. Additional services from Dell include ProSupport and Managed Cloud Services.

“The challenges most customers face on their cloud journey are clear. They tell us it’s too complex, the cost-risk is too high, and control isn’t transparent,” said Jim Ganthier, vice president and general manager of engineered solutions and cloud at Dell.

“Customers want to simplify and accelerate their journey to the cloud, and today Microsoft and Dell are extending their collaboration to remove many of the traditional barriers to hybrid cloud,” said Scott Guthrie, Executive Vice President, Cloud and Enterprise, Microsoft. “With CPS Standard, which is at the heart of the Dell Hybrid Cloud System for Microsoft, we’ve worked together to deliver a solution that goes beyond other integrated systems on the market today, by providing Azure-consistent hybrid cloud services and a fast time to value to help customers enable their hybrid cloud strategy.”

http://www.dell.com

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Equinix and Rackspace Collaborate on Hybrid Cloud

Equinix and Rackspace announced a collaboration to offer private access to Rackspace cloud services from Equinix International Business Exchange (IBX) data centers across North America.

Equinix will offer direct access to Rackspace dedicated data centers via direct cross connects, as well as through Equinix Cloud Exchange, the interconnection solution that provides direct access to leading cloud providers from a single port. This provides enterprises the benefits of hybrid and multi-cloud solutions with access to leading cloud service providers in a secure and high-performing environment.  In addition, existing Equinix customers will now be able to add Rackspace managed services to their hybrid or multi-cloud deployments.  Initially, access will only be available to Microsoft Azure™ via Rackspace, with the possibility of adding additional cloud service providers.

"Today's cloud applications require higher performance than ever before. Together with Rackspace, we are making it easier for customers to access and deploy the cloud infrastructure that makes the most sense for them. RackConnect Global inside Equinix will give our customers new hosted cloud services, and Rackspace customers will benefit from access to any cloud provider on the Cloud Exchange, thus making multi-cloud a reality," stated Mark Adams, Chief Development Officer, Equinix.

http://www.equinix.com/newsroom/press-releases/pr/?prId=123411

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Trend Micro to Acquire's HP's Tipping Point Intrusion Prevention Business for $300M

Trend Micro agreed to acquire HP TippingPoint, a leading provider of next-generation intrusion prevention systems (NGIPS) and related network security solutions, for approximately $300 million.

The deal encompasses security technology, intellectual property, industry expertise, as well as a large, loyal enterprise customer base.

Since 2014, Trend Micro and TippingPoint have had a strategic partner relationship. HP and Trend Micro will continue to be strong partners post transaction. The two companies will form a strategic partnership with TippingPoint around re-sale, managed services and OEM activities, as well as security intelligence, app security and data security.

Trend Micro said the acquisition positions it as the go-to enterprise security provider of dynamic threat defense solutions spanning endpoints, network, data center and the cloud. Trend Micro will also combine current and acquired capabilities to create a Network Defense business unit, serving more than 3,500 enterprise customers.

“This acquisition complements Trend Micro’s current threat defense expertise, extending its strength in endpoint, cloud, data center and breach detection to the network,” said Mike Spanbauer, vice president of research, NSS Labs. “By combining two strong brands, this move accelerates Trend Micro’s enterprise position into a non-competing segment, and provides a single, complete threat defense solution for enterprises seeking to make a critical security investment.”

http://www.TrendMicro.com

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Sprint Gains Wi-Fi Calling for iPhones with iOS 9.1

Sprint's iPhone customers will gain access to Apple’s enhanced Wi-Fi calling feature with the newly released iOS 9.1.

The capability, which is supported on iPhone 5c and later, enables users to make and receive calls from multiple devices with a single number.

Other countries/carriers supporting Apple's Wi-Fi calling include: Canada (Bell, Rogers), Hong Kong (EE, Vodafone), UK (EE, Vodafone), Saudi Arabia (Zain), Switzerlan (SALT, Swisscom), US (T-Mobile)

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT203032
http://www.sprint.com

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Saudi Telecom Picks Ciena for International Mesh Network

Saudi Telecom Company (STC) has selected Ciena's packet/optical for a resilient, next-generation mesh network designed for maximizing the potential of STC’s existing global submarine and terrestrial investments by enabling flexible, high-capacity wholesale and enterprise Carrier Ethernet and OTN for Internet connectivity, datacenter interconnect and high-bandwidth cloud services.

The deployment will use Ciena’s 5430 Packet-Optical platform, equipped with the WaveLogic 3 Extreme chipset for 15 Terabit (Tbps) of hybrid packet OTN switching, along with the 6500. E-Suite packet switch modules on both the 6500 and 5430 allow STC to maximize the number of high speed Ethernet services carried on the network. Ciena’s GeoMesh submarine solution ensures survivability even in the case of multiple network outages or submarine fiber cuts, with restoration within 50 milliseconds.

“Transforming our network to deliver comprehensive and reliable services demonstrates STC’s dedication to its customers. Being a customer-centric operator, STC offers innovative and high-quality services over its leading state-of-the-art network infrastructure. STC ICT regional leadership is emphasized by the deployment of NGN solutions like Ciena’s packet-optical and GeoMesh solutions. These give STC the scalability and speed of services deployment, in tandem with lowering operating costs and supporting STC’s fierce evolution toward NGN capabilities,” stated Dr. Homoud Al Kussayer, Vice President for Wholesale at STC.

http://www.ciena.com

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Level 3 Offers a Cellular Backup Option for Branch Offices

Level 3 Communications introduced a Secure Access Cellular Service that uses both cellular and security technologies to provide a redundant and scalable option for Internet connectivity in the event that the primary fiber connection to a remote or branch location is lost.

Level 3 Secure Access Cellular uses multi-vendor cellular connectivity to provide customers a back-up network connection. If a disruption occurs, the solution is designed to switch from a dedicated Level 3 MPLS/IP Virtual Private Network (VPN) connection to cellular backup connectivity through a LTE network. This cellular backup, the Secure Access Site product tunnel (IPsec), runs over a cellular 3G or 4G network instead of a broadband or DSL connection. Level 3 manages the connection with mainstream cellular providers.

Level 3 Secure Access Cellular is now available in North America and will be available winter 2015 in Europe and spring 2016 in Latin America.

http://news.level3.com/2015-10-20-Level-3-Launches-Carrier-Neutral-Secure-Cellular-Service

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Oclaro Raises Forecast

Oclaro updated its outlook for the first quarter of fiscal year 2016 saying it now expects to exceed its previously provided financial guidance.  The company's financial guidance was last provided on August 4, 2015.

For the first quarter of fiscal year 2016, Oclaro expects:

• Revenues to be approximately $87.5 million, at the high end of the range previously provided;
• Non-GAAP gross margin to be in a range of 26 to 27%, above the high end of the range previously provided;
• Adjusted EBITDA to be positive $4.0 to $4.5 million, above the high end of the range previously provided; and
• Cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash, and short-term investments of $107.7 million at September 26, 2015.

"The preliminary results that we are reporting today reflect strong growth in our 100G product portfolio," said Greg Dougherty, Chief Executive Officer, Oclaro. "In addition, we saw higher than expected revenues for our 10G and 40G products, coupled with a much more favorable product mix, resulting in gross margin exceeding our prior guidance."

http://www.oclaro.com

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Mellanox Reports Growing Revenue in Q3

Mellanox Technologies reported Q3 2015 revenues of $171.4 million, up 5.0 percent, compared to $163.1 million in the second quarter of 2015. GAAP net income was $20.0 million, compared to $19.2 million in the second quarter of 2015.

The company said EDR 100 Gbps InfiniBand revenue grew 147 percent quarter-over-quarter.

“We are excited to achieve consecutive record quarterly revenues. Assuming the midpoint of our fourth quarter 2015 guidance, our annual revenues are expected to grow 41 percent year-over year, and gross margins to be above 72.5 percent. We also expect annual operating income to improve substantially from the prior year, to approximately 21 percent of revenue, which is a significant step towards our long-term target profitability,” said Eyal Waldman, president and CEO of Mellanox Technologies. “Today, Mellanox is a diversified company, serving more products, markets, and customers. We are seeing revenues from our 10, 25, 40, 50 and 100 Gigabit Ethernet solutions and traction with large data center customers for these products. We are happy to see our EDR 100 Gigabit InfiniBand revenues growing at a faster pace than FDR did, to approximately 12 percent of InfiniBand revenues. The EZchip acquisition will bring us strategic customers and advanced technologies that will fuel further growth and diversification.”

http://www.mellanox.com

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Brocade Joins Next Gen Mobile Networks Alliance

Brocade has joined the Next Generation Mobile Networks (NGMN) Alliance, an open forum founded by global network operators dedicated to ensuring that the standards for next-generation mobile broadband infrastructure satisfy end-user demands and expectations.

The NGMN Alliance membership now comprises 28 global mobile network operators, 35 major telecom vendors and 28 universities and international research institutions.

"Brocade believes that New IP networking solutions are intricately linked to delivering the performance and scale necessary to support billions more users and devices," said Kevin Shatzkamer, chief technology officer of mobile networking, Brocade. "We are excited to share our strong domain expertise in SDN and NFV to support the development of 5G requirements and design principles."

http://www.ngmn.org/home.html

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