Monday, October 3, 2016

AT&T Builds its FlexWare Portfolio of VNFs

AT&T is adding Palo Alto Networks' next-generation security platform to its catalog of virtual network functions (VNFs) available to global business customers on-demand.

AT&T FlexWare, formerly called AT&T Network Functions on Demand, is available globally through the AT&T Network on Demand platform.

AT&T FlexWare now offers two device form factors, a small device that can run up to two VNF applications and the previously available larger version that runs up to four. The service lets business customers set up multiple virtual network functions (VNFs), such as a router and a firewall, on a single FlexWare device and deploy them in different countries. Management is done via an online portal.

The portfolio also includes Cisco and Juniper Virtual Routing, Fortinet Virtual Security, and Riverbed Virtual WAN Acceleration.

“AT&T FlexWare offers businesses flexible networking options,” said Roman Pacewicz, senior vice president, Offer Management and Service Integration, AT&T Business Solutions. “One size fits all doesn’t allow businesses to compete. Our software-centric ecosystem allows businesses to start with one set of network functions and add as they go. We’re empowering businesses to control and change their services to match their needs across the world.”

AT&T also noted that it now has more than 1,700 businesses across multiple industries using the AT&T Network on Demand, which was launched in 2015.

https://www.business.att.com/enterprise/Family/network-services/virtual-network-functions/

AT&T Launches Network Functions on Demand Internationally

AT&T announced the launch of its Network Functions on Demand service in 76 countries and territories, including:


AMERICAS – Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Curacao, Dominican Republic,Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico, Panama, Peru, Puerto Rico, United States, Uruguay, U.S. Virgin Islands and Venezuela

ASIA PAC – Australia, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Philippines,Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan and Thailand

EMEA – Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland,France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania,Luxembourg, Morocco, Netherlands, Norway, Pakistan, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Slovakia,Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey and the United Kingdom

The service uses a single universal piece of equipment at the customer premise to deliver virtualized functions via the AT&T Network on Demand platform. AT&T Network Functions on Demand is the third service on the platform.

AT&T Commits its ECOMP Service Orchestrator to Open Source

AT&T confirmed that it is committed to releasing into open source its current Enhanced Control, Orchestration, Management and Policy (ECOMP) platform, which is the service orchestration system that powers the AT&T software-defined network (SDN).

AT&T said ECOMP is mature, feature-complete, and tested in real-world NFV deployments. The company believes open source ECOMP will bring maturity to SDN and become the industry standard for orchestration, management and policy control.

By releasing the ECOMP code as open source, AT&T said other service providers will be able to use this software to meet non-stop network demands as data-hungry technologies like autonomous cars, augmented and virtual reality, 4K video and the Internet of Things (IoT) take off.

“In March, we opened the hood of our network, showed you the engine and the industry responded asking to join us,” said John Donovan, Chief Strategy Officer and Group President, Technology and Operations, AT&T. “Over the last few years, AT&T invented what we believe to be the most sophisticated, comprehensive and scalable software-centric network in the world. Today, we’re letting anyone use and build upon our millions of lines of software code by committing to releasing it into the open source community.”

Telefónica Launches Open Cloud in Brazil, México and Chile

Telefónica Business Solutions launched Open Cloud and Cloud Server services in Chile, Brazil and Mexico.

The new services, which are based on Open Stack and hosted in Telefónica's data centers in Chile, Brazil and Mexico, are powered by Huawei's solution.

Telefónica's said Open Cloud reflects its commitment to an open and secure cloud and provides a broad range of services ranging from computing, storage, networks and databases to more advanced application development, security and analysis services. One of the main advantages of Open Cloud is the ability to connect to customers’ private networks, as well as the connectivity to additional Telefónica's data center services. All of this enables customers to have hybrid cloud environments in a fast and easy manner in accordance with countries’ local laws and regulations.

José Luis Gamo, B2B Products & Solutions Director at Telefónica Business Solutions, said: "The launch in record time of the Open Cloud and Cloud Server services in Chile, Mexico and Brazil is a huge joint milestone for Telefónica and Huawei. A strategic technology partner for Telefónica that enables us to provide a better Cloud solution in the market with the best features at the best price and with the latest technology. With this release, which represents Telefónica's commitment to an open and secure cloud, we are moving towards our goal of providing the best products for Cloud services, while driving our customers’ digital transformation."

Yelai Zheng, President of Huawei IT Product Line, said: “We are honored to have the global cloud strategic partnership with Telefónica, the strategic alliance aims at delivering advanced public cloud services for all Telefónica enterprise customers. By combining Huawei ‘s long-term and sustained investment in global information and communications technology, with Telefónica‘s leading B2B market development capabilities, both companies aim to transform the traditional industries by providing high-quality, innovative, and industry-oriented cloud services, to enterprises and SME customers. Cloud is a key strategic new business for Huawei, and we are committed to grow more and more our investment in this area. Working together, Telefónica and Huawei can build key differentiators to succeed in the market."

http://www.telefonica.com
http://www.huawei.com

BroadSoft Powers One Talk by Verizon

BroadSoft confirmed that its BroadWorks platform is integrated in One Talk by Verizon – the company's VoLTE business communications solution.

One Talk delivers advanced business features within the native mobile dialer, BYOD applications for smartphones and tablets, and on state-of-the art desk phones that seamlessly and securely integrate with the Verizon 4G LTE mobile network.

“BroadSoft bMobile capabilities are impressive and have been integrated in our custom-built business solution that delivers one service, one experience, one bill and one business number – all backed by America’s largest and fastest 4G LTE network. We believe One Talk is a game changer for businesses of all sizes,” said Mike Lanman, SVP, Enterprise & IoT Products, Product and New Business Development Team, Verizon.

http://www.broadsoft.com/news/press-releases/broadsoft_technology_integrated_in_one_talksm_by_verizon

Mellanox Adds Linux Support to its Open Ethernet Switch

Mellanox Technologies released a standard Linux kernel driver for its Open Ethernet, Spectrum switch platforms. The driver enables standard Linux Operating Systems and off-the-shelf Linux-based applications to operate on the switch, including L2 and L3 switching.

Mellanox Technologies’ Open Ethernet switch platforms, which currently support multiple operating systems, such as Cumulus Linux, MLNX-OS and more, now also support any native Linux operating system.

“The eco-system effort currently underway to enable Open Ethernet switch infrastructure is gaining strong momentum, as it enables IT managers to fully optimize their data centers for maximum performance and lower cost of ownership,” said Dror Goldenberg, vice president of software architecture at Mellanox Technologies. “The community endeavor to enable the native Linux operating system will further simplify the adoption of Open Ethernet across a variety of data centers. As the market leader in this arena, we expect to continue to lead the Open Ethernet adoption.”

http://www.mellanox.com

Mellanox Sets Out an Open Composable Network Framework

Mellanox Technologies unveiled its next-generation Open Composable Networks (OCN) platform aimed at helping enterprises and service providers to unlock performance and unleash innovation with predictable application performance and the efficiency of Web-Scale IT.

Mellanox said its OCN framework leverages the network disaggregation model pioneered by the hyperscale cloud operators, where functional independent modules are combined with open, clearly-defined abstraction interfaces.

Some highlights:
  • The Mellanox end-to-end 25/50/100 Gb/s Ethernet portfolio includes Spectrum switches, ConnectX adapters, and LinkX cables.
  • Mellanox has been a key contributor to the development open networking initiatives including OCP ONIE and SAI, and Linux switchdev, where Spectrum is the first switch supported upstream in Linux
  • The Mellanox NEO management package enables network automation and software defined intelligence. Through integration with other cloud management platforms and Software Defined Networking (SDN) controllers, NEO helps to enhance network operational efficiency, and make network infrastructure easy to deploy, manage, and scale.

AT&T Signs Daimler Trucks North America

Detroit Diesel Corporation, a subsidiary of Daimler Trucks North America (DTNA), has selected AT&T to provide IoT connectivity for the new Detroit Connect Truck Data Center platform, which provides capabilities such as over-the-air engine programming and power train electronic firmware updates and third-party telematics applications. Microsoft will support all Detroit Connect services with the Microsoft Azure cloud platform.

“Our collaboration with technology leaders such as AT&T and Microsoft further enhance our ability to provide advanced connected vehicle solutions that will deliver vehicle performance insights and update capabilities to our customers,” said Matt Pfaffenbach, director, connectivity for Daimler Trucks North America. “With the enhancements to Detroit Connect, we’re able to deepen the connection between our customers and their vehicles more than ever before.”

The connectivity platform will be available with start-of-production of the new Freightliner Cascadia in January 2017.

AT&T also noted that it now offers connectivity with 19 of the top auto brands and more than 50% of the new connected cars on the road in the U.S in 2015.

http://www.att.com

Silicon Labs Acquires Micrium for IoT RTOS

Silicon Labs has acquired Micrium, a leading supplier of real-time operating system (RTOS) software for the Internet of Things (IoT). Financial terms were not disclosed.

This strategic acquisition helps simplify IoT design for all developers by combining a leading, commercial-grade embedded RTOS with Silicon Labs’ IoT expertise and solutions. Micrium’s RTOS and software tools will continue to be available to all silicon partners worldwide, giving customers a wide range of options, even when using non-Silicon Labs hardware. Micrium will continue to fully support existing as well as new customers.

Founded in 1999, Micrium's widely deployed RTOS software has been ported to more than 50 microcontroller architectures and has a global footprint with more than 250,000 downloads across all embedded vertical markets, with solutions certified to meet safety-critical standards for medical electronics, avionics, communications, consumer electronics and industrial control.

“With an installed base of millions of devices, Micrium’s RTOS software has established itself as one of the most reliable and trusted platforms over the last 10 years,” said Jean-Michel Orsat, Chief Technology Officer, ICT Standards and Connectivity Solutions at Somfy. “Micrium has been a rock-solid RTOS solution partner for Somfy, and we look forward to using Micrium’s RTOS software family for years to come, delivering the reliability and performance we need for our IoT applications.”

“By combining forces with Silicon Labs, the Micrium team will drive advances in embedded connectivity for the IoT while giving customers a flexible choice of hardware platforms, wireless stacks and development tools based on the industry’s foremost embedded RTOS,” said Jean J. Labrosse, Founder, CEO and President of Micrium. “We will continue to provide our customers with an exceptional level of support, which is a Micrium hallmark.”

http://www.micrium.com
http://www.siliconlabs.com