Taiwan's Chunghwa Telecom Deploys Motorola's Push-to-Talk

Taiwan's Chunghwa Telecom launched commercial Push-to-Talk over Cellular (PoC) service over its General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) network. The deployment uses Push-to-Talk over Cellular (PoC) solution. With CHT, Motorola currently has 18 contracts with customers operating in 23 countries and territories worldwide to supply PoC infrastructure solutions for both CDMA2000 1X and GSM/GPRS networks. http://www.motorola.com

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T-Mobile Rolls Out 802.1x Across Nationwide HotSpot Network

T-Mobile USA announced the implementation of the 802.1x security standard across the nationwide T-Mobile HotSpot wireless network, which encompasses 4,700 hotspots. Customers wishing to take advantage of the enhanced security provided by 802.1x need to download and install the latest version of the T-Mobile Connection Manager software. http://www.t-mobile.com/hotspot

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Allstream Launches Wholesale Hosted IP Telephony in Canada

Allstream (formerly AT&T Canada) announced the first carrier customer for its wholesale IP telephony service in Canada. Allstream's offering provides residential voice services with advanced features such as unified messaging, conferencing, visual call management, along with flexible and custom web portal support tools. Allstream named Ontario's Mountain Cablevision as its first customer. http://www.allstream.com

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Florida Utility Builds Optical Ethernet with Nortel

JEA, the largest municipal utility in Florida, is deploying a 140-node Optical Ethernet network based on Nortel Networks Optical Metro 3500 next generation SONET platforms. The network will consist of 12 Optical Ethernet rings throughout Jacksonville and the surrounding areas to connect substations, treatment plants and switching stations to support electric, water and sewer services in Jacksonville. Financial terms were not disclosed. http://www.nortelnetworks.com

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Microsoft Readies MSN TV 2

Microsoft unveiled its new MSN TV 2 Internet & Media Player designed to bring premium MSN content, PC-stored digital media and e-mail to TV.



MSN TV 2 is a broadband-home-network-enabled device manufactured by Thomson under the RCA brand. The device is powered by an Intel 733 MHz Celeron processor and the Windows CE operating system. It includes 128 MB of RAM and 64 MB of flash memory. It has an Ethernet port and two USB ports for accessories such as digital media card readers, wireless network adapters and printers. The unit also ships with a wireless keyboard and remote control and has an MSRP of $199.95 plus a subscription fee of $9.95 monthly (or $99.95 annually) for users who connect through their own broadband service. Microsoft expects the device to be in major retailers by mid-October.



The MSN TV2 device enables the TV to play Windows Media-compatible music, video and photos on their televisions from the Web or shared from files on their networked PCs. MSN will package content, including hundreds of news, sports and entertainment video clips, updated daily from leading content providers. The MSN service includes access to 200 commercial-free radio stations, a primary MSN e-mail account with 2 GB of storage, 10 secondary e-mail accounts with 250 MB of storage, and constantly updated spam protection.





http://www.msntv.com/

• In July, Microsoft said it was working with Thomson to develop a broadband home-network-enabled version of Microsoft's MSN TV Internet receiver. The new system is a complete overhaul of the existing device and service based on Microsoft technologies and incorporates new advanced technology from Thomson. The product will be available through major retailers in time for the 2004 holiday shopping season.

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Spirent Adds Skinny Support on IP Telephony Test Migration Platform

Spirent Communications announced support for Cisco's SCCP (Skinny) protocol on its Abacus 5000 IP Telephony Test Migration Platform, which is a fully integrated VoIP and PSTN test system for enterprises. In addition to Skinny, Abacus 5000 supports SIP, H.323, MGCP, Megaco, NCS, CAS, PRI, SS7, NFAS, V5 and GR-303. The solution supports multiple payload types such as voice, FAX, modem, tones and video and over a wide range of physical interfaces. http://www.spirentcom.com

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MetaSwitch and Kagoor Partner on Softswitch/Session Border Control Solution

Kagoor Networks and MetaSwitch announced a joint solution that facilitates deployments of VoIP services between carriers and their broadband customers. The partnership, which combines Kagoor's session border controller with MetaSwitch's Class 5 softswitch, allows carriers to deliver VoIP signaling and media seamlessly and securely across network borders and firewalls. The companies have completed interoperability testing to resolve issues such as firewall traversal, security, Network Address Translation (NAT), topology hiding, admission control and denial of service protection. Also, SIP, MGCP and the NCS protocols are supported for hosted VoIP applications assuring VoIP service providers the maximum flexibility in supporting their particular network topology. http://www.kagoor.comhttp://www.metaswitch.com

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3Com Offers Enterprise Convergence Applications Suite

3Com introduced a portfolio of standards-based applications and products for enterprise IP telephony, audio, video and data conferencing, messaging and contact center functionality.



The 3Com Convergence Applications Suite is a set of SIP applications designed to share common user information such as on-hook, off-hook status, authentication and personal preferences to work with desktop client software compatible with Windows, Macintosh and Linux operating systems.



Separately, SIPquest' announced an OEM agreement under which 3Com will SIP-based IP telephony software for enterprise applications. SIPquest's SIP software provides functionality such as audio conferencing, video conferencing, data conferencing, instant messaging, rich presence, voicemail and auto attendant, a SIP to H.323 signaling converter and an extensible SIP server. http://www.3com.com/voip/convergence-applications-suite.htmlhttp://www.sipquest.com

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Mexico's AXTEL Selects Nortel Softswitch

AXTEL, a Mexican telecommunications company backed by the Soros Group, AIG, the Blackstone Group and others, will deploy Nortel Networks' Succession Communication Server (CS) 2000 and Nortel Networks Passport Packet Voice Gateway (PVG). AXTEL is building a single, converged IP infrastructure to offer local and long-distance services by the end of 2004 in Mexican markets where it does not yet have a local presence. The carrier is currently operating in Mexico City, Monterrey, Guadalajara, Puebla, Leon, Toluca, Queretaro and San Luis Potosi.



In the second phase of the project, AXTEL plans to migrate its voice and data traffic in the markets it currently serves, onto the new IP infrastructure to offer new VoIP services. This includes around 400,000 lines in service, supported by AXTEL's extensive fixed wireless access network. Financial terms were not disclosed. http://www.nortelnetworks.com

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Lingo Adds Virtual Phone Numbers in Argentina and Brazil

The Lingo broadband telephony service began offering "local" virtual phone numbers in Brazil and Argentina for its U.S. customers. Lingo's virtual phone numbers are now offered for 12 countries. Unlimited calling to U.S., Canada and Western Europe, plus all calling features, is $19.95 per month.. http://www.Lingo.com

• Lingo is provided by Primus elecommunications.

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ZyXEL Offers SIP Analog Telephone Adapters

ZyXEL Communications announced the North American launch of its Prestige Series of VoIP Analog Telephone Adapters (ATAs) for residential and SMB deployment. The SIP-based products offer two 10M/100M Ethernet interfaces and two POTS phone ports for converting two traditional analog phone sets into IP phones. List pricing starts at $149. http://www.us.zyxel.com

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NTT-ME to Sell NexTone's Session Controllers in Japan

NTT-ME, a top-level systems integrator in Japan, is reselling NexTone's end-to-end session management solutions to its carrier, enterprise, and government customers. NTT-ME and NexTone said they are already making significant inroads in the Japanese markethttp://www.nextone.com

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Broadcom and Agere Systems Settle Patent Litigation

Broadcom and Agere Systems reached a settlement of all outstanding litigation. The companies have entered into reciprocal releases covering all asserted and unasserted patent-related claims against the other party and its affiliates. In addition, the agreement includes a cross-license under the respective patent portfolios of each party and its affiliates.



In 2003 and 2004, Broadcom and Agere Systems filed several complaints and counterclaims against each other asserting infringement of a range of patents relating to high speed communications, wireless, disk drive and other technologies. http://www.broadcom.com

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EarthLink Launches Free SIP Calling

EarthLink began offering free SIP-based calling to its 1.2 million broadband access members. The service uses an Xten's X-Lite softphone or an ATA (Analog Telephone Adapter). It provides unlimited, high-quality calls to other SIP users, voicemail accessible via email and other features. In addition, EarthLink has partnered with other SIP providers to exchange calls. These partnerships give EarthLink Free Online Calling subscribers free VoIP access to anyone using SIP-based services, including SIPphone and Free World Dialup.



Last year, EarthLink began offering a paid "Unlimited Voice" service, providing subscribers with a flat-rate, broadband telephony service that can reach wireless or traditional land-based telephones. http://www.earthlink.net

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Zhone Enhances its Raptor DSLAMs

Zhone Technologies introduced a new compact Raptor 100 DSLAM featuring support for ADSL2+ and a broader array of Ethernet uplink options. The small footprint of the device makes its
suited for central office, remote terminal and subtended deployments from existing cabinets.
The ADSL2+ is capable of delivering downstream data rate services up to 24 Mbps and upstream data rates ranging up to 3 Mbps, and provides for extended reach. The Raptor family supports a wide variety of line interfaces and uplinks including DS1 IMA, OC-12, 10/100 BaseT, Gigabit Ethernet or Resilient Packet Ring over Gigabit Ethernet. Zhone said its next generation Raptor DSLAM is also distinguished by software upgradeability to a fully functional voice and data NGDLC, and it provides in-service software-selectable ATM or IP uplinks. http://www.zhone.com

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PMC-Sierra Unveils Third Generation Multiprocessor

PMC-Sierra announced its third generation highly integrated 64-bit MIPS-Powered multiprocessor designed for networking, storage and communications applications such as enterprise routers, storage systems and DSLAMs. The new processor integrates two newly designed 1.8 GHz E11K CPU cores with multiple high-speed memory and I/O interfaces, including dual DDR2, dual PCI Express, quad Gigabit Ethernet ports, and HyperTransport. The dual 64-bit DDR2 memory controllers support frequencies up to DDR2-800, and support 8-bit ECC. The PCI Express interfaces support either dual 4-lane interfaces or a single 8-lane interface. The quad Ethernet interfaces support automatic assignment into 8 queues per port and perform HW checksum assist. The HyperTransport interface runs up to 600 MHz link frequency, providing up to 10 Gbs of full duplex bandwidth. All of the I/O interfaces support Direct Deposit, which allows external peripherals to write directly into the L2 cache, avoiding costly external memory accesses and greatly increases system performance. http://www.pmc-sierra.com/processors/

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USTA to End SUPERCOMM Participation in '05, Plans '06 Trade Show

USTA, which jointly owns the trade show SUPERCOMM with the Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA), will not host the joint event in 2006 but will host an expanded TELECOM '06 to be held October 7- 11, 2006, at the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino, in Las Vegas.



SUPERCOMM 2005 will be held June 6-9, 2005 (Exhibits June 7-9, 2005) in Chicago's McCormick Place. With the conclusion of SUPERCOMM 2005, USTA and TIA complete a five-year contractual relationship. TIA has informed USTA that it does not intend to purchase USTA's interest in the brand. USTA said it would not speculate as to whether future shows and exhibitions may be held under the SUPERCOMM name. http://www.usta.org/

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Battery Ventures Closes $450 Million Fund

Battery Ventures, a leading venture capital firm investing in information technology companies, closed its seventh fund with $450 million of committed capital. The fund will be invested over a period of approximately three years and is expected to contain a portfolio of 35 to 40 investments ranging in size from $5 million to $25 million each.



Previous investments by Battery Ventures have included Akamai Technologies, Allegiance Telecom, Arbor Networks, Broadbus Technologies, Cbeyond Communications, CipherTrust, FORE Systems, Friendster, HNC Software, Infoseek, LIFFE, Neoteris, Netezza, Nextel, Orion Multisystems, Pixelworks, Qtera, RiverDelta, Sigmatel, Vastera and Witness Systems. http://www.battery.com

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BT Trims Broadband Basic Pricing to £18

BT trimmed the monthly price for its Broadband Basic ADSL service to £17.99 a month, down from £19.99. Usage is capped at 1GB per month. http://www.btplc.com

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Cox Launches its Second VoIP Metro Market

Cox Communications launched its Digital Telephone service in Tulsa, Oklahoma -- its second market to use VoIP. Beginning later this month, Cox will further increase its telephone footprint by launching residential VoIP in Baton Rouge, Louisiana and in west Texas.



In December 2003, Cox launched residential VoIP service in Roanoke, Virginia. The company offers circuit-switched Digital Telephone service in 12 other markets.



Cox said that 58% of its phone customers subscribe to a three-product bundle of telephone, high-speed Internet and video services. However, broadband access is not a prerequisite to becoming a Cox Digital Telephone subscriber since Cox does not utilize the public Internet to deliver calls. Lastly, Cox Digital Telephone provides access to the Enhanced 911 system. The company noted that most broadband telephony providers are not integrated with E-911 networks, so critical address and location information is not delivered to the nearest Public Safety Answering Point. http://www.cox.com

• Cox's VoIP architecture is PacketCable compliant and uses DOCSIS 1.1 CMTSs, media terminal adapters, media gateways and a softswitch. In the Roanoke market, Cox provides back-up powering of the in-home multimedia terminal adapter using an internal battery that supplies several hours of back-up service.



• Cox Communications received the highest honor in the West in J.D. Power and Associates' 2004 Residential Local Telephone Customer Satisfaction Study for overall customer satisfaction. The local telephone service study rated overall customer satisfaction based on six factors: customer service, billing, performance and reliability, company image, cost of service and offerings and promotions.



• Cox ended Q2 2004 with over 2.2 million high-speed Internet customers, representing year-over-year customer growth of 34%. During the quarter, the company added 66,265 Cox Digital Telephone customers, ending the period with over 1.1 million telephone customers, representing year-over-year customer growth of 35%.



• Cox first launched telephony service in Orange County, California in 1997.

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