Sprint Offers Mobile Business Assessment

Sprint is launching a Mobile Business Assessment service to help businesses better understand how the power of mobility can help them achieve their overall objectives.


Sprint said its Mobile Business Assessment provides businesses with actionable roadmaps aligning mobility strategies with business objectives as well as defining a vendor-agnostic technology deployment plan. The detailed assessment combines business process review with an analysis of mobile technology in order to better use current assets and utilize innovative new approaches to mobile productivity and connectivity. This four to eight week engagement consists of three consultative stages:

• Data collection - employee interviews, second- and third-party research



• Mobility analysis - equipment/software audits, access and policy evaluations



• Strategy development - actionable roadmap of tactical mobility initiatives

"Mobility is a strategic element of business today because it can impact key areas of business - customer acquisition and loyalty, revenue growth through new products and services and cost efficiency while maximizing return on investment," said Kenny Wyatt, vice president of integrated solutions, Sprint Business Solutions.
http://www.sprint.com/mr

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Sandbridge Unveils Software-Radio 3G Processor

Sandbridge Technologies, a start-up based in White Plains, New York, announced a complete "3G" multimedia handset design utilizing its SB3010 flexible baseband processor to perform all baseband and multimedia functions in software.


The company described its achievement as the "wireless holy grail" -- a flexible baseband processing handset that will enable wireless operators to upgrade network performance and services via over-the-air updates. Sandbridge envisions a new class of multi-mode, multimedia convergent devices that merge the flexibility and performance of PC's with the form and convenience of mobile handhelds.


Sandbridge's SB3010 platform departs from dedicated baseband hardware by allowing manufacturers to create, test, modify and execute their designs entirely in software. The company provides programming tools and a supercomputer class "C" compiler. The software flexibility accommodates adaptation to evolving wireless standards, emerging network requirements like MIMO, and diverse audio and video formats.


The SB3010 baseband processor utilizes Sandbridge's "Sandblaster" DSPs with an ARM926 to deliver 10 billion MACs of converged DSP performance. The processor can run virtually any radio protocol such as GSM/GPRS, EDGE, W-CDMA, CDMA2000, 1xEV-DO, TD-SCDMA, WiFi and GPS-as well as multimedia formats like MPEG-4 H.264, MP-3, WMA and others. Sandbridge is also developing HSDPA, WiMax and DMB/DVB solutions as an upgrade to the platform.


Sandbridge said its design is currently being sampled to select top-tier manufacturing customers.
http://www.sandbridgetech.com

• Sandbridge is headed by CEO & President Guenter Weinberger who joined the company from Infineon Technologies. Sandbridge's technical team is led by founders John Glossner, Ph.D., and Mayan Moudgill, Ph.D., , who were previously with IBM. The company is based in White Plains, New York.



• Sandbrige has raised $40 million in venture funding to date.

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China Netcom and Telefonica Sign MOU

China Netcom and Telefonica signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to establish a broad strategic alliance. The parties will explore possible areas of strategic co-operation in the areas of:

• Fixed-line, broadband, domestic and international long distance communications



• Domestic and international data services and value added services



• Nationwide mobile voice and data services to individual and corporate customers, as will be allowed within the Chinese regulatory environment.



• The exchange of certain managerial, technical and operational skills and resources.

A Chairmen's forum, consisting of the Chairmen of both companies, will be established and will meet on a regular basis (at least once a year. Telefonica shall be entitled to nominate a representative to the board of directors ("the Board") of China Netcom , and the number of representatives that Telefonica is entitled to appoint to the Board shall increase if its ownership stake increases further.
http://www.tefonica.com

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Cisco/Linksys to Acquire KISS for Networked Consumer Devices

Cisco Systems' Linksys division agreed to acquire privately-held KiSS Technology A/S, a developer of networked entertainment devices, for approximately $61 million in cash and stock.


KiSS, which is based in Horsholm, Denmark, has a product portfolio that includes home video products such as networked DVD players and networked DVD recorders. KiSS's technology platform also has the capability to extend to other consumer electronics products.

KISS recently introduced an IPTV set-top box which is compatible with Windows Media content. The product is already marketed via Denmark's first broadband TV channel, TV-2 Sputnik, for viewing content over an ADSL connection. The KiSS MediaMate works in both standard-definition and high-definition streaming, and will also be certified to Microsoft's PlaysForSure program. The MediaMate is equipped with a 802.11g connection. It uses the same chip technology from Sigma Designs as KiSS Technology's other DVD-players and hard disk recorders.


The compact MediaMate is based on the same chip technology from Sigma Designs as KiSS Technology's other DVD-players and hard disk recorders. T

Linksys plans continue to support and sell KiSS's existing products in Europe. Over time Linksys also plans to develop a suite of targeted products for other world markets.


KiSS was founded in 1994 and has 65 employees.


The deal represents Cisco's second acquisition for its Linksys division.


"As more and more entertainment content is delivered over the Internet and as consumers demand access to digital entertainment inside and outside of their home networks, networked entertainment devices will become an integral part of Consumer Electronics," said Charles Giancarlo, Cisco Chief Technology Officer and Cisco-Linksys president.
http://www.cisco.com
http://www.kiss-technology.com

• In April 2005, Cisco Systems' Linksys division agreed to acquire Sipura, a start-up offering VoIP customer premise equipment technology, for approximately $68 million in cash and options. Sipura is a key technology provider for Linksys' current line of VoIP networking devices. Sipura's technology is incorporated in VoIP adapters (including those integrated into home routers and gateways) and a multi-line IP phone for the consumer and SOHO market. The company is based in San Jose, California.

Cisco Systems' 2005 Acquisitions

KiSS Technology A/S	networked entertainment devices	$61 million	July 05
NetSift	deep packet processing	$30 million	June 05
M. I. Secure Corporation	security and VPN solutions	$13 million	June 05
FineGround Networks	Bandwidth optimization appliances	$70 million	May 05
Sipura	VoIP customer premise equipment	$68 million	Apr 05
Topspin Communications	server networking equipment designed for grid and utility computing	$250 million	Apr 05
Airespace	WLAN controllers, Access Points, WLAN Management and Location Software, and Security capabilities	$450 million	Jan 05

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Global IP Alliance Tracks VoIP Regulatory Issues Worldwide

The Global IP Alliance launched a collaborate web site to allow government, industry and consumers to obtain current information on the state of global IP-based communications technology and regulation.


The Global IP Alliance is an international consortium of IP-based communications services and applications providers committed to realizing the promise of IP communications and of interconnecting IP-based communications providers.


Members of the Global IP Alliance were in Washington D.C. for a day of VoIP related events, attending a session sponsored by ITAA and the VON Coalition addressing safety and security for VoIP.


"The Global IP Alliance Wiki is designed to allow interested parties around the globe to share information and insights about the evolving state of IP-based communications around the world," said Jonathan Askin, Acting Executive Director of the Global IP Alliance and General Counsel to pulver.com.
http://www.ipall.org

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Extreme Supplies 10 Gig Net for Samsung's New R&D Center

Extreme Networks will supply its 10 Gigabit Ethernet switching solutions to Samsung Electronics for its new Soowon Research and Development center, a modern 39-story facility dedicated to the development of leading-edge consumer products.


The new network supports more than 22,000 connections, relying on Extreme Networks' BlackDiamond 10K and BlackDiamond 8800 modular switches and the Summit family of edge switches. http://www.extremenetworks.com/

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ICTV Names New CEO

ICTV announced the appointment of Jeff Miller to the position of President and CEO. Miller, who joined ICTV in 2000 as senior vice president of engineering, has led the development team responsible for the company's HeadendWare platform, and has been actively involved in ICTV's product management, sales and marketing activities.


During his five years with ICTV, Miller served as chief system architect for multiple releases of HeadendWare, and supervised a team of 50 engineers in Los Gatos, CA and Baltimore, MD. In addition, he has worked closely with key customers in the trial and deployment of the HeadendWare platform.
http://www.ictv.com/

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UPC to Acquire the Largest Broadband Cable Operator in Romania

UPC Broadband, a unit of Liberty Global, will acquire Astral Telecom, one of Romania's largest broadband telecommunications operators, from a group of Romanian entrepreneurs, foreign investors and AIG New Europe Fund. Liberty Global will acquire 100% of the shares of Astral for a price of $404.5 million, which together with the anticipated net debt at closing of $12 million, represents approximately 7.8 times estimated 2005 operating cash flow before network and operational synergies.


Astral currently serves approximately 890,000 video, voice and data revenue generating units (RGUs). Astral has a major presence in the Romanian capital city of Bucharest, and has upgraded over 50% of its network to support advanced broadband voice and data services. Liberty Global already operates in other parts of the country through UPC Romania with over 360,000 RGUs.


The transaction is subject to approval by the Romanian competition authorities and is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2005.

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GraniteEdge Raises $5 Million for Security

GraniteEdge Networks, a start-up based in Seattle, closed $5 million in Series A funding for its development of a network security analytics system. GraniteEdge is developing a system that offers causality analysis, adding intelligence to the seemingly random stream of network and security data. It said its GraniteEdge ESP will detect all types of threats, including insider and "zero day" breaches, worms and trojans as well as the most subtle network attacks. The product is expected to launch in late 2005.


The funding was led by Outlook Ventures and joined by existing investor, OVP Venture Partners.
http://www.GraniteEdgeNetworks.com

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Hurricane Electric Expands in Europe

Hurricane Electric has expanded its network in Europe by connecting to another Internet Exchange point in Amsterdam called NL-ix (Netherlands Internet Exchange), a content oriented Dutch national Internet Exchange.


Hurricane Electric is connected to the NL-ix switch via Gigabit Ethernet. The newly added exchange point will create additional redundancies to Hurricane Electric's Dutch infrastructure and will further improve connectivity in Europe and over its entire network. In addition, Hurricane Electric will have numerous additional peering opportunities throughout Europe.


The new Netherlands connection follows an upgrade to Hurricane Electric's AMS-IX exchange. The once Gigabit Ethernet port was upgraded to a 10 Gigabit Ethernet port just six months after the AMS-IX exchange point was added to Hurricane Electric's global network.
http://www.he.net

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Vitesse Delivers 16- and 24-port GigE System-on-a-Chip with PHYs

Vitesse Semiconductor began sampling 16- and 24-port Gigabit Ethernet Switches with eight integrated PHYs and an embedded "V-Core" processor. The system-on-a-Chip (SoC) solution reduces the number of required active components in web-managed smart switch systems.


Vitesse said the delivery of its 16-port SparX-G16 and the 24-port SparX-G24 devices marks the next-step in the on-going evolution of fully integrated, Layer 2 Gigabit Ethernet switch IC and SoC solutions.


The chips deliver advanced QoS features such as Differentiated Service Code Point (DSCP) remarking, which permits enterprise network managers and service providers to more accurately manage the priority of traffic based on service agreements with their customers. This functionality also decreases the threat of internal and external security breaches through packet filtering based on Source IP, ARP, and TCP/UDP filters; in addition, the devices offer flexible and configurable rate shaping for both ingress and egress directions to enable enforcement of pre-negotiated bandwidth levels, and up to 8K IP Multicast group entries for applications such as video distribution.
http://www.vitesse.com

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PMC-Sierra Posts Revenue of $71.5 Million, up 8% over Q1

PMC-Sierra reported Q2 net revenues of US$71.5 million, an increase of 8% compared with $66.1 million for Q1 2005, and a decrease of 17% compared with Q2 2004. Net income (GAAP) in Q2 was $7.2 million (non-GAAP diluted earnings per share of $0.04) compared with non-GAAP net income of $3.9 million (non-GAAP diluted earnings per share of $0.02) in Q1 2005.


"We experienced solid growth in our telecom metro transport business and the company's storage revenues grew robustly," said Bob Bailey, chairman and CEO. "We are continuing to see strong activity in Asian geographies and are focused on growth opportunities including 3G Wireless and VoIP applications."http://www.pmc-sierra.com/

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Vonage and VTech Launch 5.8 GHZ Cordless VoIP System

Vonage will begin offering a 5.8 GHz cordless broadband phone system configured with its flat-rate VoIP service at over 8,000 retailers across the U.S.

The VTech phone base has integrated routing features that eliminates the need to purchase a separate router to share the broadband connection with other PC. It plugs directly into the broadband connection (or existing router) and come with two handsets and is expandable to up to four. The retail price of the system is $149.00 (minus $50 rebate) and the price for additional handsets is $49.99 per device.


VTech's phone uses Texas Instruments' TNETV1060 VoIP chipset.
http://www.vonage.com
http://www.vtech.com

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Telecom Italia Rolls out IPTV with Alcatel, Microsoft and Pirelli

Telecom Italia has begun free trials of its new IPTV service in Rome, Milan, Bologna and Palermo, and said it remains on track to launch commercial services in 21 cities across the country this autumn. The commercial service will feature live TV, including Serie A TIM and B TIM Italian football, top Italian basketball, a VOD library of 600 films plus 30 new films per month, reality shows and other special events. Initially, the IPTV service will be delivered over 4 Mbps ADSL connections on Telecom Italia's network.


Key technology partners include:

• Alcatel, which is supplying ADSL access devices and its Open Media Suite set top box video entertainment TV distribution platform.



• Microsoft, which is providing its Microsoft TV IPTV Edition software



• Pirelli Broadband Solutions, which is supplying intelligent modular routers for home networking, including multiple high-speed Internet connections, VoIP and Wi-Fi via the set top box.

http://www.telecomitalia.com

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SBC's Earnings Dip, 360,000 DSL Adds in Q2

SBC's second-quarter 2005 revenues totaled $10.3 billion, up 1.3 percent versus the year-earlier second quarter and EPS were $0.43 before Cingular merger-related costs and a charge for termination of an agreement with WilTel Communications, which will continue to provide transitional and out-of-market long distance services to SBC under a new agreement following the close of SBC's planned acquisition of AT&T.


Some highlights for the quarter:

• Wireline revenues totaled $9.4 billion, up 1.6 percent from $9.2 billion in the second quarter of 2004. Wireline business revenues increased 4.8 percent, and consumer revenues grew 2.6 percent. The growth in business and consumer revenues was partially offset by declines in wholesale revenues.



• Wireline data revenues grew 9.9 percent versus results in the year-earlier second quarter to an SBC record of $3 billion, driven by DSL/Internet growth, along with solid results in transport and integration services.



• DSL - SBC added 360,000 DSL lines in Q2, as the company said it was affected by end-of-school-year seasonality. This compares with a net gain of 315,000 DSL lines in Q2 a year ago. SBC ended June with 6 million DSL lines in service. Consumer DSL penetration of its primary retail lines now stands at 21%. DSL/Internet revenues grew 21.8 percent versus the second quarter of 2004 and were up 5 percent from the first quarter of this year.



• Project Lightspeed -- SBC said it now expects a controlled introduction a the end of 2005 or early 2006 and plans to add more features, functionality and markets in mid-2006.



• Satellite TV -- SBC ended Q2 with 404,000 SBC Dish subscribers, a net gain of 10,000 for the quarter.



• Long Distance - SBC's total long distance lines increased by 770,000 to 22.8 million in service. At the end of Q2, 61 percent of SBC's consumer retail lines and 42 percent of its retail business voice lines included long distance service.



• Access Lines - SBC's total retail consumer primary lines declined by 186,000, again reflecting end-of-school-year seasonality. This compares with a decline of 394,000 in the year-earlier second quarter and a gain of 16,000 in Q1 2005. Consumer additional lines declined by 110,000 in Q2 versus a decline of 164,000 in Q2 2004 and a decline of 104,000 in Q1 2005. SBC's retail business line base increased by 6,000 in Q2, compared with a decline of 228,000 in Q2 a year ago and a decline of 45,000 in Q1 2005. As expected, SBC's switched wholesale lines declined by 527,000 in Q2 2005 due to a 690,000 decline in UNE-P lines. Switched wholesale lines increased by 137,000 in Q2 2004 and declined by 343,000 in Q1 2005. SBC ended the second quarter of 2005 with 51 million total switched access lines.



• SBC generated $3.8 billion in cash from operations and received an additional $586 million in cash from Cingular Wireless.

http://www.sbc.com

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Level 3 Reports Decline in DSL/Modem Aggregation, Growth in Core Transport & IP

Level 3 Communications reported Q2 consolidated revenue of $910 million, compared to $1.01 billion for Q1 2005. Communications revenue was $371 million in the second quarter versus $510 million for the previous quarter, which included $129 million in termination revenue. Information services revenue was $520 million compared to $483 million for the previous quarter. The net loss for the second quarter 2005 was $188 million, or $0.27 per share, compared to $77 million or $0.11 per share the previous quarter.


Communications services revenue excluding termination revenue decreased by $13 million quarter over quarter primarily due to expected declines in DSL aggregation revenue and managed modem revenue. Additionally, revenue from the company's wholesale voice business declined as a result of one customer's decision to reduce voice termination traffic. These declines in revenue were partially offset by an increase in revenue from the company's transport, wholesale IP, and other wholesale and consumer voice services.


Level 3 Communications said its core transport and IP services continued to see growth and demand primarily from cable operators, content providers, wireless providers and other key customer segments.


Average traffic volume on Level 3's Internet backbone now exceeds 3.0 petabytes per day. The company also continued to see growth in subscribers for its consumer and enterprise oriented VoIP services.


"We exceeded our revenue projections this quarter primarily as a result of growth in our core transport and IP businesses and higher reciprocal compensation," said James Q. Crowe, CEO of Level 3.
http://www.level3.com

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Sirenza Microdevices Offers WiMax Modules

Sirenza Microdevices release the first in its new family of Phase-Locked Loop Synthesizer Modules (PLLs), targeting WiMAX (802.16-2004) infrastructure applications. Sirenza said it is working closely with several WiMAX equipment OEMs to develop custom voltage-controlled oscillators (VCOs) and PLL modules for new WiMAX radio designs that operate in the 2.3GHz, 2.5GHz, 3.5GHz and 5.8GHz bands.
http://www.sirenza.com/

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Foundry Reports 14% Sequential Revenue Growth

Foundry Networks reported Q2 revenue of $96.6 million, compared to $84.6 million for the first quarter of 2005, and $97.8 million for the second quarter of 2004. Foundry earned net income of $9.6 million, or $0.07 per diluted share, in the second quarter of 2005, compared to net income of $9.9 million, or $0.07 per diluted share, in the first quarter of 2005, and net income of $15.0 million, or $0.11 per diluted share, in the second quarter of 2004.


"We are pleased with the sharp rebound achieved in our enterprise business during the second quarter of 2005," said Bobby Johnson, President and CEO of Foundry Networks.
http://www.foundrynetworks.com

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Broadcom Posts Revenue of $604.9 million, up 9.9% over Q1

Broadcom reported Q2 revenue of $604.9 million, an increase of 9.9% from the $550.3 million reported for the first quarter of 2005 and a decrease of 5.7% from the $641.3 million reported for the second quarter of 2004. Net income computed in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) for the second quarter of 2005 was $15.1 million, or $.04 per share (diluted), compared with GAAP net income of $69.2 million, or $.19 per share (diluted), for the first quarter of 2005, and GAAP net income of $63.8 million, or $.18 per share (diluted), for the second quarter of 2004.


"Revenue in each of our major businesses increased 8% to 15% on a sequential quarterly basis, highlighting the strength of Broadcom's diverse products and end markets," said Scott McGregor, Broadcom's President and CEO.
http://www.broadcom.com

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Nokia Reports Sales Growth of 25% YoY, Expects Mobile Device Market to Reach 760 Million Units this Year

Nokia reported Q2 revenue of Q2 revenue of EUR 8.1 Billion and EPS EUR 0.18, representing overall sales growth of 25% year on year for the quarter.


In mobile device volumes, Nokia saw year-on-year growth of 34%, which pushed its market share in mobile devices up to an estimated 33%. Nokia said overall industry volumes were slightly higher than expected, prompting the company to upgrade its full-year market estimate by 20 million to about 760 million units.


The growth came primarily from emerging markets where low-end products predominate and pricing pressures are currently intense. Average selling prices continued to edge downwards. This was certainly the case for Nokia in the second quarter, which in turn reported lower profitability.


Third-quarter Nokia group net sales are expected to be in the range of EUR 7.9 billion to EUR 8.2 billion, compared with EUR 7.1 billion in the third quarter 2004. EPS (diluted) is expected to be in the range of EUR 0.14 to EUR 0.17, compared with EPS (diluted) EUR 0.15 in the third quarter 2004. http://www.nokia.com

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