Monday, September 13, 2004

Wavesat's WiMAX Chipset Enters Production

Wavesat, a developer of OFDM Broadband Wireless (BW) silicon, completed the design of its WiMAX DM256 chip and transferred it to Atmel Corporation for production. Wavesat plans to have both WiMAX chipsets and subscriber (CPE) reference design available by October 2004. The company said its DM256 chip is optimized to facilitate the transition of existing systems (both Base Station and Subscriber unit) to become WiMAX compliant. http://www.wavesat.com
  • Wavesat is based in Montreal. Key investors include Skypoint Capital Corporation, BDC Venture Capital, Innovatech du Grand Montreal and Monet Capital.

Airgo Hires Sales Team for MIMO Wireless Chipsets

Airgo Networks, a start-up developing MIMO (multiple input/multiple output) chipset technology, announced that Bob DeMartino and Bob Twomey have joined the company as the vice president of worldwide sales and the vice president of North America sales, respectively.



Prior to joining Airgo, DeMartino was with Sun Microsystems for more than 15 years. In his most recent position, at Sun, he served as vice president of Asia Pacific sales.



Twomey previously served at Agere Systems, where he was recognized as the top worldwide sales manager and his group was the leading revenue generator for the company's WLAN chipsets. He was directly responsible for Agere's WLAN chipset engagements with major wireless OEMs and for managing the North American ODM partners. In his new position at Airgo, he will report directly to DeMartino.



Airgo Networks also named John Quigley as vice president of hardware engineering. Quigley, previously with Motorola, managed the planning, design execution, validation and production launch for 2G, 3G and WPAN radio chipsets and point solutions. http://www.airgonetworks.comAirgo Networks is based in Palo Alto, California.

Proxim Settles WLAN Patent Lawsuit with Symbol

Proxim reached a settlement and cross-licensing agreement with Symbol Technologies. Under the deal, Proxim has agreed to pay Symbol $22.75 million over the next 2 1/2 years, or 10 quarters, commencing in the current quarter. Proxim also has agreed to pay Symbol a two percent (2%) royalty on future sales of certain wireless LAN products. The two companies have cross-licensed certain patents and Proxim has assigned certain intellectual property to Symbol. Finally, Proxim and Symbol have entered into a mutual covenant not to sue with respect to patent infringement covering networking products through September 2009. http://www.proxim.com

D-Link Offers Public/Private Wi-Fi Gateway

D-Link introduced a business-class Wi-Fi gateway solution designed for enterprise-level hot spot management. The new gateway features two built-in WAN ports for network load balancing while providing firewall, DHCP server and router functions for both public and private Internet access in a single rack-mountable device. The product provides management capabilities for monitoring and controlling up to 400 active public user accounts while maintaining a private LAN for employees behind a physical firewall. The MSRP is $3,500. http://www.dlink.com

UPC Launches chello Broadband VoIP, Boosts Cable Modem Speed

UPC, a division of UnitedGlobalCom, is set to launch VoIP services over its "chello" broadband cable network in The Netherlands, which serves 2.4 million customers. After an initial launch in Rotterdam and Amsterdam, the rest of The Netherlands will follow in early 2005. This follows the company's launch of VoIP telephony services in Hungary last week.



UPC said a basic VoIP subscription will cost almost 50% less than the basic subscription of Dutch incumbent KPN, while tariffs per minute are 10%-15% cheaper. UPC is also planning several advanced capabilities, including fax-to-email, voicemail-to-email and conference calling.



At the same time, UPC is boosting the cable modem speed of chello broadband. chello's top-line service tier for the whole of The Netherlands will be upgraded to an 8Mbps downstream capability. UPC will also start a market trial in October with a 30Mbps downstream service, to be followed by commercial deployment soon thereafter. A separate market trial with a 50 Mbps service is envisaged for Amsterdam in the coming months. http://www.unitedglobal.com
  • Based on UGC's operating statistics at June 30, 2004, the Company's networks reached approximately 12.3 million homes passed and served over 9.3 million RGUs, including approximately 7.6 million video subscribers, 756,900 telephone subscribers and 1,032,000 broadband Internet subscribers.

Mitel to Resell SpectraLink's Wi-Fi Phones

Mitel will resell SpectraLink's NetLink Wireless Telephones to offer its customers a Wi-Fi telephony solution. SpectraLink licensed Mitel's MiNET protocol, which will be incorporated in NetLink Wireless Telephones to enable interoperability with Mitel's SX-2000 PBX and 3300 Integrated Communications Platform (ICP). http://www.spectralink.comhttp://www.mitel.com/

BorderWare Debuts SIP Firewall

BorderWare Technologies introduced a firewall specifically designed to protect the flow of VoIP-specific SIP communications. Designed to sit alongside SIP-based IP PBXs such as Cisco CallManager and Avaya Communications Manage rmanages all inbound and outbound SIP sessions. The company said its firewall prevents voice spam and voice mail bombing (vbomb), while offering oDoS/DDoS protection (RTP, SIP REGISTRAR), and packet-level intrusion prevention.



The BorderWare SIPassure SIP Firewall will be available in two models, aimed at enterprises and carriers. http://www.borderware.com

Hughes Network Systems Introduces Satellite-based VPN

Hughes Network Systems introduced a satellite-based virtual private network (VPN) acceleration technology based on IPsec. The DIRECWAY VPN Accelerator, which is available across the U.S., is designed to interoperate seamlessly with Nortel IPsec VPN solutions, and in later releases, with Check Point and Cisco systems. Hughes Network Systems said its accelerator technology eliminates the latency constraints of prior satellite-based VPNs. http://www.hns.com

Telecom Egypt Selects Ericsson Multi-Service Network

Telecom Egypt selected Ericsson to supply of a multi-service network in the region of Alexandria, Egypt. The new network will provide both traditional narrowband services and broadband services. The installation includes Ericsson's multi-service softswitch, Engine Integral Network and Engine Access Ramp products. Financial terms were not disclosed. http://www.ericsson.com

Nuvio Sees Potential Discriminatory Practices in Broadband VoIP

Nuvio, a provider of business and residential broadband VoIP services, filed an ex-parte letter with the FCC to combat what it sees as "potential discriminatory practices by broadband Internet access providers."



Nuvio is seeking government regulation to preserve competition in the VoIP market by preventing "any discriminatory against unaffiliated VoIP providers in favor of affiliated providers." Nuvio, which is based in Kansas City, is especially concerned that rural ILECs will use discriminatory practices to artificially keep VoIP competition from reaching rural customers. Nuvio is urging the FCC to exercise its Title I jurisdiction to prohibit discriminatory practices of vertically integrated broadband/VoIP providers.



"Broadband providers have nothing to lose and everything to gain from degrading the connection quality of their customers who are using unaffiliated VoIP providers," said Jason Talley, president and CEO of Nuvio Corporation. "The few customers they lose from discrimination is drastically offset by the substantial increase in its VoIP subscribers, market share and revenues from the practice. http://www.nuvio.com

Enertel Selects ECI Telecom for Optical Network in Holland

Enertel, one of the largest Dutch data and telecom operators, selected ECI Telecom to supply its XDM MSPP (Multi Service Provisioning Platform) solutions for metro and backbone networks throughout the country. ECI Telecom was named the sole transmission and optical provider for Enertel's network. The new contract is valued at several million dollars.



ECI's XDM MSPP platform enables Enertel to utilize SDH, Gigabit Ethernet and CWDM capabilities on the same platform. It can also be expanding with DWDM and CWDM. http://www.ecitelecom

Mexico's Iusacell Migrates to Packet Voice with Nortel Networks

Mexico's Grupo Iusacell has migrated its circuit switches to a packet infrastructure using Nortel Networks Succession Communication Server (CS) 2000 Superclass softswitch. Iusacell has also deployed Nortel Networks Passport 15000 and Passport Packet Voice Gateways in Mexico's main cities as the basis for its new IP-based core data infrastructure. The core VoIP network support the operator's long-distance traffic, and positions the carrier to expand and deploy 3G services. Financial terms were not disclosed.



"Iusacell has now moved all of its long-distance traffic to an IP network," said Gustavo Guzmán, managing director of Iusacell.

OPNET to Acquire Altaworks for Application Analysis

OPNET Technologies, agreed to acquire Altaworks Corporation, a developer of advanced correlation and analysis technologies designed to enable enterprises to improve the performance and quality of mission-critical applications, for an undisclosed sum. OPNET is a provider of management software for networks and applications. Altaworks is based in Nashua, New Hampshire. http://www.opnet.com/

Sunday, September 12, 2004

Maryland's Sailor Network Replaces Leased Lines with BWA

Maryland Public Libraries' Sailor Project, which connects libraries statewide into a common private network, is deploying Alvarion's point-to-multipoint broadband wireless access systems to extend the network to additional schools, libraries and agencies across the state. A wireless backbone is being installed by Business Information Group (BIG) to delivers 100 Mbps of capacity to each connected county. Un the state. Each participating county then provides the funds to extend the infrastructure from the backbone location to various public agencies. The wireless broadband links will replace costly leased lines. Counties taking advantage of the Sailor network will leverage Alvarion's BreezeACCESS platform to access the new Sailor backbone free of charge, in exchange for hosting Sailor backbone equipment and antennas at county-owned radio towers. In addition, some counties have elected to extend the network to connect public safety vehicles for mobile access. So far, more than $1 million worth of Alvarion network solutions have been installed for the first eight of Maryland's 24 counties. http://www.alvarion.comhttp://www.soc.lib.md.us

Lucent Names Shen to Head Its China Business

Lucent Technologies named Ivan Shen as Chairman of Lucent China and Vice President of Lucent Technologies. Shen joins the company from the Hong Kong-based marketing consulting firm of Global Pioneer Ltd, where he served as president. Prior to that he worked for AT&T for nearly 14 years in a variety of management and technical positions, including as one of the executive leaders for AT&T's entry into the China market, serving for four years as vice president and managing director of AT&T China. http://www.lucent.com

Kasenna Adds Network-Based PVR to IPTV

Kasenna announced the availability of a network-based Personal Video Recorder (NPVR) feature for its MediaBase XMP video server line and other Linux-based servers running MediaBase. Kasenna's TimelessTV NPVR leverages the company's next generation vForge video service development framework. Network-based PVRs enable viewers to pause and resume live TV broadcasts, as well as to record, pause, rewind, and fast-forward through previously recorded shows, all without having to buy and install set-top boxes with hard disk storage, such as TiVo. Kasenna's NPVR is based in the service provider's own operations center.



Kasenna said NPVR services could be offered by broadband service providers, hospitality chains, MTU/MDU owners, and other organizations. http://www.kasenna.com

BCD Forum Introduces New Business Modeling Tool

The BCD Forum is offering a Flash-based modeling tool aimed at helping network service providers and content providers evaluate basic financials in deploying new broadband-based IP services. The tool, developed and contributed by BCD Forum member company Juniper Networks, provides estimates of key financial metrics including the incremental revenue, costs, margin and cash flow.



The financial tool allows service providers to perform basic ROI assessments for individual services such as online gaming, video and voice services in an incremental manner for different scenarios. Providers can input per subscriber revenues; variable demand profiles; estimated per subscriber partnership and capital costs; sales, general and administration rates and discount rates. A financial summary encompassing incremental revenue, operational and partner expenses, capital investment, operating margin, free cash flow and Net Present Value are projected over a 5-year interval.



The model also offers content providers and network service providers the ability to assess prospective cooperative business models, set objectives for negotiating win-win partnerships, and enables a framework for making sound business decisions.



"The BCD Forum is committed to accelerating the deployment of profitable broadband services and fostering viable collaborative partnerships across the content delivery value chain," stated Derek Kuhn, Chairman of the BCD Forum. http://www.bcdforum.org.

Xten Offers Video SIP Softphone

Xten introduced a video SIP softphone that also supports the H.263
video codec. The new eyeBeam features call transfer/forward,
caller ID, 10-point conferencing, acoustic echo cancellation,
voice activity detection, adaptive jitter buffer and message
waiting indicator. Xten is offering a Rapid Branding program
for service providers. The eyeBeam is also available as an SDK
that includes the following low-level APIs: Audio, Video,
HTTP, STUN, SIP Stack, SIP Call Control, SDP, RTP, ICE and
DNS.


http://www.xten.com

Kagoor Raises $9 Million in New Funding for Session Controllers

Kagoor Networks raised $9 million in new funding for its line of Session Border Controllers. The company offers a carrier-grade session border control solution with a unique 3-way architecture allowing it to address a broad range of network topologies. Kagoor is approaching 100 customers worldwide including: SingTel, Covad, Kintetsu Cable Network, Elitel and a host of other leading carriers, service providers and MSOs. Its partners include Fujitsu, NEC, Siemens, Avaya, Broadsoft and Sylantro.



The latest funding round was led by Accel Partners and Concord Ventures. Kagoor has now raised over $40 million in total funding. http://www.kagoor.com.
  • Kagoor is headquartered in San Mateo, California, and manages an R&D facility in Herzeliya, Israel.


  • In August, Kagoor Networks introduced its Voice over Broadband (VoBB) solution to enable MSOs and carriers to securely and seamlessly deliver VoIP via cable and xDSL. Kagoor' VoiceFlow series of session border controllers are already used extensively in carrier to customer applications. The product line has now been extended to address NAT traversal, security and peering requirements in the rapidly evolving VoBB marketplace. The VoiceFlow VoBB solution for cable providers is compatible with the CableLabs PacketCable network architecture and supports its Call Management Server Signaling (CMSS) protocol specification based on the SIP protocol.

WilTel Offers IP-Enabled, Wholesale Voice Services

WilTel Communications announced new IP-Enabled Voice Services for wholesale customers. The new service provides IP interconnections to carriers, resellers and VoIP providers, alleviating the need for protocol conversion.



WilTel said the addition of an IP-enabled voice architecture to its existing DMS-250 voice network allows it to provide both TDM and IP-based voice services. Customers can connect to WilTel's IP voice services via dedicated Internet access, MPLS IP VPN or peering.



WilTel is using the Lucent Compact (formerly Telica PLEXUS) softswitch. http://www.wiltel.com