VNL's IPTV Service First to Complete Migration to MPEG-4 AVC (H.264)

Video Networks Limited (VNL), provider of the HomeChoice entertainment and communications service, has completed the migration of its broadcast line-up to MPEG-4 AVC (H.264), becoming the world's first revenue-generating broadcast television service delivered exclusively using MPEG-4. VNL's HomeChoice IPTV service is currently available to 2.4 million homes across London and Stevenage.


HomeChoice currently offers over 80 broadcast and on-demand entertainment channels including BAFTA award-winning interactive music channels and more than 5,000 on-demand movies, music videos and TV programmes. Sky Sports and Sky Movies channels are available on the HomeChoice platform under a retail distribution agreement with BSkyB.
In early 2004, VNL deployed Harmonic's DiviCom MV 100 and its own multi-codec set-top box for the new HomeChoice IPTV service. This gave VNL the ability to provision differentiated video services with MPEG-2 and, at a later date, install the MPEG-4 AVC software option to cost-effectively extend its geographical reach and service-carrying capacity. Since April 2005, VNL has incrementally migrated groups of the operational MV 100 encoders to MPEG-4 in a process that was recently completed. VNL is also using Harmonic's NMX Digital Service Manager to monitor and control its complete digital television infrastructure as a series of services.


"Video Networks' move to MPEG-4 AVC, a historic event that will change the dynamics of the broadband TV industry, provides a strong technology platform for continued service innovation and business growth," said Patrick Harshman, President of the Convergent Systems Division of Harmonic Inc.


"The completion of our migration to MPEG-4 for the delivery of our broadcast channels is an important milestone for Video Networks. The ongoing improvements in advanced encoding will enable us to free up bandwidth which can then be used in our continuous quest to provide ever more advanced products and services for our customers," said Roger Lynch, Chairman & CEO, Video Networks Limited. "We see the benefit of advanced encoding in MPEG-4, combined with European service providers' migration to ADSL2+ enabling the sector to provide HDTV in the very near future," he concluded.


Harmonic noted that there are approximately 4,000 advanced codec-ready DiviCom MV 100 systems currently in service.
http://www.harmonicinc.com
http://www.videonetworks.com

• Video Networks was founded in 1992 and conducted early work with BT on the first video-on-demand trial in the UK in the mid 1990s.

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FCC Grants 30-Day Extension on VoIP E911 Order

The FCC has granted VoIP service providers an additional 30 days -- until September 28, 2005 -- before it begins enforcing the requirement that VoIP providers obtain affirmative acknowledgements from 100% of their subscribers that they have read and understood an advisory concerning the limitations of their E911 service. To be eligible for this extension, VoIP service providers must have filed a report on or before August 10, 2005 regarding steps taken toward compliance.


On July 26, 2005, the FCC released a Public Notice stating that it would delay, until August 30, 2005, any enforcement action against any provider of interconnected VoIP service regarding the affirmative acknowledgement requirement if the provider filed a report by August 10, 2005, detailing its progress toward satisfying the customer advisory, affirmative acknowledgement, and sticker requirements. The Bureau further stated its expectation that interconnected VoIP providers would disconnect, by August 30, 2005, all subscribers from whom it had not received affirmative acknowledgements. The 30-day extension has allowed interconnected VoIP providers to continue to obtain affirmative acknowledgements from subscribers and minimize the number subject to potential disconnection.

The FCC said it has reviewed numerous reports filed by VoIP providers on August 10. The reports demonstrate the significant efforts made by providers in complying with the 100% affirmative acknowledgement requirement. As a result of its review of these reports, the Bureau has determined that it will not initiate enforcement action, until September 28, 2005, regarding the affirmative acknowledgement requirement against those providers that: (1) previously filed reports on or before August 10, 2005 in accordance with the July 26 Public Notice; and (2) file two separate updated reports with the FCC by September 1, 2005 and September 22, 2005.

http://www.fcc.gov

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California Permitted to Implement to Technology-Specific Overlay Area Codes

The FCC granted a petition by the California Public Utility Commission to implement two technology-specific, specialized overlay (SOs) area codes for the state of California. The telephone numbers to be assigned in the SOs include those numbers used for services and technologies such as vehicle response systems, E-Fax, automated teller machines, point-of-sales machines, multi-line fax machines, and VoIP services.


One of the SO area codes will cover the northern portion of the state and the other SO area code will cover the southern portion of the state.


Following the FCC decision, the California PUC unanimously approved a plan for an all-services area code overlay to the existing 310 area code in Southern California. The new area code, 424, is expected to help replenish the stock of telephone numbers available within the 310 area code region. Consumers will not have to change numbers for existing services, but may be assigned a different area code for new telephone numbers within the same residence or business where multiple telephone numbers already exist.


Under the new overlay plan, all calls within the 310/424 overlay region must include a "1" followed by the three-digit area code and seven-digit line number. Customers may begin using this dialing pattern beginning December 31, 2005, and must use it starting July 26, 2006. New numbers will begin to be issued using the new 424 area code on or after August 26, 2006.
http://www.fcc.govhttp://www.cpuc.ca.gov/PUBLISHED/NEWS_RELEASE/48910.htm

• The petition was first filed by the California PUC in October 2003.



• The 310 area code was created in late 1991 to relieve number exhaustion in the 213 area code. The 310 area code was subsequently split in January 1997, forming a separate 562 area code, again to replenish number supplies.

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AirNetAnnounces Field Trial of its Super Capacity, Adaptive Array

AirNet Communications, a developer of software-defined wireless base stations, announced a field trial agreement with an unnamed large, tier 1 operator. The trial will test AirNet's "Super Capacity" adaptive array base stations in a dense urban, major metropolitan market. The trial cell sites will include a challenging combination of extremely dense wireless penetration and difficult radio frequency (RF) planning characteristics. AirNet will provide the Super Capacity base stations at the selected cell sites. The large operator will conduct a battery of tests to evaluate "real world" performance improvements. AirNet is temporarily providing the base stations, common equipment and services for evaluation at no charge; and the large operator is paying for the costs of providing and preparing sites, ancillary equipment, and test services.


AirNet said wireless networks are prone to interference and poor voice quality due to the fixed directional transmission of radio frequency (RF) signals. In traditional base station systems, the wide area dispersal is necessary , resulting in considerable waste of radiated power. Also, the dispersed transmission pollutes the electromagnetic environment by radiating most of the transmitted power in unnecessary directions -- making radio planning difficult and expensive.


In contrast, AirNet's Super Capacity, adaptive array technology, which is designed for GSM/GPRS/EDGE networks, determines a user's location and attempts to focus and receive energy only in desired directions as well as to null the interferers. The resulting improvement of RF network quality through substantial C/I (carrier-to-interference ratio) gains, results in improved spectrum utilization and Erlang capacity for urban voice applications compared to traditional technology, thereby reducing the required number of cell sites.


"Our Super Capacity adaptive array broadband SDR platform is the alternative to the expensive and daunting task of building large numbers of new sites or purchasing expensive spectrum in this major metropolitan network," said Thomas R. Schmutz, Vice President of Engineering for AirNet Communications.
http://www.airnetcom.com

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Amino Combines its IPTV Set-top Software with Philips' Nexperia Chip

Amino is porting its IPTV set-top software stack to Philips' Nexperia home entertainment engine PNX8550, creating a reference design for IPTV set top box vendors. The open software platform is capable of supporting a range of IPTV middleware and conditional access solutions, including customized third-party applications for IPTV service providers. http://www.aminocom.com

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IBM Develops Real-Time, On Demand Data Protection Software

IBM introduced new software that continuously protects information -- on laptops, desktop PCs and file servers -- from viruses, file corruption, or accidental deletion. The software, IBM Tivoli Continuous Data Protection for Files, creates a copy of designated file types on the local machine within milliseconds, and then sends another copy to a remote server. IBM said the software involves more than 10 patents pending on technologies for capturing continuous changes to data in tandem with remote scheduled back-up. A beta version of the software has been available to developers via IBM's alphaWorks site for emerging technologies. Pricing is $35 per laptop or desktop, and $995 per server processor.
http://www.ibm.com

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SBC Provides Optical Ethernet for Westar Satellite Services

SBC Communications will provide Broadcast Video TV1 Service, which delivers high-speed fiber-optic connections designed for real-time delivery of broadcast-quality video, to Westar Satellite Services, a privately-held company based in Texas that provides traditional uplink and downlink video services via satellite and terrestrial broadcast transmission, including multimedia and streamed media content distribution. SBC companies will also provide Westar with SBC PremierSERV Dedicated Internet Access (DIA) through OPT-E-MAN switched Ethernet connections. SBC said these services enable Westar customers, including broadcasters, government agencies, retail companies and other organizations, to transfer video and other information to the Westar network collocation facilities and satellite earth station.
http://www.sbc.com
http://www.westarsat.com

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BBC to Offer Video Content Online

The BBC is preparing to launch a video player application that lets viewers legally download up to seven days of its most recent TV programs. For UK viewers, a simulcast of BBC One or BBC Two would be available online at the same time as the television broadcast.


"MyBBCPlayer", which is expected to launch in 2006, would also let viewers purchase additional content.
http://www.bbc.co.uk

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Former Alcatel Exec Joins Siemens Communications

Andreas Bernhardt, who previously CEO of Alcatel SEL AG in Germany, will join the Group Executive Management of Siemens Communications. Bernhardt, who has worked for Alcatel SEL since 1983, was appointed CEO of Alcatel SEL AG in Germany in 2000. Among his other activities, Bernhardt serves on the Committee on Eastern European Economic Relations in the Federation of German Industries (BDI), on the Economic Council of the state of Baden-Wuerttemberg, and on the Board of Trustees of the Founders' Association for German Industry (Stifterverband für die Deutsche Wirtschaft).
http://www.siemens.com

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Vonage Prepares for IPO

Vonage is preparing to file registration papers for an initial public offering (IPO) that is expected to raise $600 million for the firm, according to various media sources. Vonage did not officially comment on the reports. The company has an estimated 800,000 users. http://www.vonage.com

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T-Com Upgrades Broadband Access Routers with Juniper/Siemens

T-Com, the fixed-network unit of Deutsche Telekom, has completed the upgrade of Junipers Networks E-Series Broadband Service Routers as part of its DSL-based broadband access network. Siemens implemented an intelligent logistics and modification process that ensured that the upgrade was completed on-time and without disrupting network operations, by working in close cooperation with T-Com and Juniper Networks, Siemens AG's global partner for IP networks and routers.


T-Com is using Juniper Networks E-series Broadband Routers as a Broadband Remote Access Server (BRAS) and Access Concentrator. The equipment also supports the AAA services (Authentication, Authorization, Accounting) essential for controlled network access. The E-series also enables the real-time transmission streaming video content over the Internet by and routing them at "wire speed.
http://www.juniper.nethttp://www.siemens.com

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Passave Files for IPO

Passave, a developer of EPON chipsets, filed a registration statement with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission for the initial public offering of its common stock. Merrill Lynch & Co. will act as the sole book running manager for the offering with JPMorgan acting as joint lead-manager. CIBC World Markets and Jefferies Broadview will act as co-managers.


Passave supplies FTTH semiconductors for ONTs and OLTs. The company's GigaPASS architecture integrates gigabit PON to Ethernet interfaces, wire speed protocol processing and programmable features . The company maintains offices in Santa Clara, California, Herzliya, Israel and Tokyo, Japan with customer support teams in China and Korea. http://www.passave.com

• Investors in Passave have included Walden, BRM, Eurofund, Intel Capital and private investors including Ray Stata, founder and chairman of the board of Analog Devices Inc.



• The company was founded in 2001.

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Samsung Unveils Smallest Satellite DMB + EV-DO Phone

Samsung Electronics introduced its fourth and smallest satellite DMB + CDMA2000 1x EV-DO (800MHz) phone, featuring a pivotal LCD screen that rotates 90 degrees into landscape mode. With the new B250, users can make phone calls or send and receive text messages even while watching TV. The DMB broadcast received by the phone can also be relayed to a regular TV.


The B250 has external buttons that allow users to play MP3 files without opening the phone. A 128-polyphonic sound chip has been built in to provide exquisite ring tones.


The B250 is also equipped with a 2 megapixel camera. The File Viewer function provides access to Microsoft Office or PDF files, and a 330,000-word dictionary is included in the software.


The B250 also supports external memory of 256MB, IrDA, and mobile banking capabilities. The phone is available in Korea at around US$700.
http://www.samsung.com

• In May 2005, SK Telecom launched a satellite DMB service that delivers high-quality video broadcasts to a mobile phone or car-based video entertainment system. SK Telecom is initially delivering 11 video channels, 25 audio channels, and 3 data channels. Consumers in South Korea are able to receive the broadcasts either on mobile phones or in-car displays. The video uses MPEG-4 H.264 system and the music channels are furnished through a MPEG-2 AAC+ system.
  
  In areas where the satellite view may be obstructed, such as alongside tall buildings, SK Telecom will boost its service using a signal "gap filler" from its mobile base stations and existing towers. The Ku-Band (13.824~13.883GHz) is used between the Signal Transmission Center and the satellite (which is positioned at 144 degrees east longitude), and the S-Band (2.630~2.655 GHz, 25MHz) is utilized between satellite and the mobile terminals. The Ku-Band (12.214~12.239GHz) is used between satellite and base stations providing supplemental signals.

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Agere Names CFO

Agere Systems has named Peter Kelly chief financial officer (CFO), effective immediately. Kelly, who was previously the company's executive vice president of global operations, replaces John W. Gamble, Jr., who has accepted a position at another company.


Kelly joined Agere in September 2000 as vice president of operations for the company's Integrated Circuits division and was named head of Agere's global operations in August 2001. He has been instrumental in reinventing the company's supply chain and manufacturing strategies. Prior to coming to Agere, Kelly worked at Fujitsu-ICL Systems Inc., a joint venture between Fujitsu and ICL, where he served as chief operating officer for a year and chief financial officer for three years.
http://www.agere.com/

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Microsoft Releases Presence Tools for Live Communications Server

As an initial proof point demonstrating Live Communications Server as a real-time collaboration platform, Microsoft introduced controls and new samples that show developers how to incorporate real-time collaboration capabilities into applications. Controls and new samples include these:

• Presence Controls for Microsoft Office Communicator 2005 (previously called Real-Time Collaboration Presence Toolkit) enable developers using Microsoft Visual Studio development system to easily insert presence icons into applications to provide status information of contacts. In addition, the context menu within the icons provides integration with Microsoft Office Communicator 2005, allowing users in the application to launch Communicator's instant messaging conversation or telephone call window.



• Role Agent Sample for Microsoft Office Live Communications Server 2005 provides a sample implementation of role-based instant messaging and presence. The sample gives developers a way to assign a role name, such as "customer service representative," to a group of people to create a public-facing entity that represents the presence of any individual currently in that role. Requests for an instant messaging session with the role can be dispatched to any or all of the available members in the group.



• Custom Alerting Application Sample for Microsoft Office Live Communications Server 2005 shows how to build an application that allows team members to determine whether other team members are online, and to send an instant notification to those members. The application is integrated with Active Directory service and Live Communications Server.

Microsoft said its vision for collaboration is to provide software and services to deliver pervasive capabilities to help enable people to work together more effectively. Software providers, including BrightWork, K2.net, Meridio Inc., OSIsoft Inc., Siebel Systems and Singularity, are integrating presence and real-time collaboration features into their productivity and line-of-business applications.
http://www.microsoft.com

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Microsoft Updates MSN TV 2 Internet & Media Player

Microsoft releases a software upgrade for its MSN TV 2 Internet & Media Player, adding new capabilities for managing digital photos, music and e-mail. The MSN TV 2 Internet & Media Player allows consumers to access the Internet and e-mail and to view Web-based video content on their television screens. The update will allow broadband and home network customers to view more of the video content added to the MSN TV 2 home page with video news clips updated throughout the day.
http://www.msntv.com/

• In October 2004, Microsoft launched MSN TV 2, 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.

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SIRIUS to Introduce Traffic Data Services

SIRIUS Satellite Radio will broadcast traffic data from NAVTEQ for 22 major U.S. metropolitan areas over its nationwide system beginning in November 2005.


The 22 metro areas that will initially be covered are Atlanta, Baltimore, Boston, Chicago, Dallas/Ft. Worth, Detroit, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami/Ft. Lauderdale, Minneapolis/St. Paul, New York City, Orlando, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Pittsburgh, San Francisco/Oakland, San Diego, San Jose, Seattle, St. Louis, Tampa and Washington D.C. SIRIUS expects to expand the service to over 50 cities by 2007.


The SiriusConnect SIR-ALP10T tuner, the first SIRIUS tuner to incorporate both audio entertainment and traffic data services, will be able to simultaneously receive and play SIRIUS' programming while monitoring the data channel for traffic messages. Through its broadcast data service, SIRIUS will deliver NAVTEQ's information to the SIR-ALP10T tuner, which interfaces with the Alpine NVE-N872A Satellite Traffic Ready navigation system. The unique structure of SIRIUS' data service will allow other data services, such as weather, to be seamlessly added in the future.


The suggested retail price for the SiriusConnect SIR-ALP10T tuner is $299.99, and $1,700 for the Alpine NVE-N872A Satellite Traffic Ready navigation system (navigation monitor sold separately). Alpine Satellite Radio-Ready headunits range from $250 to $1,600, including two models with built-in navigation monitors. The SIRIUS traffic data service bundled with SIRIUS' regular audio programming will cost $16.99 per month or $9.99 per month for traffic data only.
http://www.sirius.com/

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SIRIUS Unveils Wearable Satellite Radio

SIRIUS introduced a wearable satellite radio, the SIRIUS S50, which allows users to capture and store up to 50 hours of SIRIUS content, or a mix of SIRIUS programming and MP3/WMA files.
The unit measures 1.9 by 3.9 inches and 0.7 inches thick, and includes a full color display, sleek black exterior and voice-assisted channel navigation. Car and home docking kits utilize a rotary "SIRIUS Media Dial," which provides quick and easy access to content. Listeners can turn the knob to find their favorite SIRIUS channel, tilt to pause, rewind, fast-forward or save a favorite song or show. MSRP is $359.99, and includes wearable accessories (6-hour rechargeable battery, ear buds, belt clip, armband, USB cable and AC adapter) and a car dock, which includes an adhesive mount, custom cigarette lighter power adapter, a remote control, ultra-low profile antenna, DC input and line output.
http://www.sirius.com

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Nokia to Establish a Global Network Operations Center in India

Nokia plans to open a Global Networks Operation Center in India by the end of the year. The center will perform network operation tasks primarily for selected operators in the Asia Pacific region as well as Europe, the Middle East and Africa as part of Nokia's managed services offering. The location of the site, which will initially employ up to 100 people, will be unveiled at a later date.
http://www.nokia.com

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Nokia to Resell Kineto's UMA Network Controller for Fixed-Mobile Convergence

Nokia will incorporate Kineto Wireless' UMA (Unlicensed Mobile Access) Network Controller into its network convergence solutions for wireline and wireless operators.


UMA, a 3GPP (3rd Generation Partnership Program) standard, is an access technology that allows a seamless handoff of mobile voice and data from a wide area cellular network to a wireless local area network (WLAN). The UMA standard defines how mobile operators can turn home, office and public wireless LANs into seamless extensions of their cellular networks. With UMA, operators can deliver high-performance, low-cost mobile voice, data and IMS services to subscribers over the broadband Wi-Fi access networks, dramatically increasing mobile service usage while decreasing costs for operators.
http://www.nokia.com
http://www.kineto.com

• Earlier this year, Nokia announced that Saunalahti, a leading Finnish operator will be deploying a number of Nokia's convergence solutions, including UMA technology from Kineto, to offer services like VoIP and rich multimedia to both mobile and fixed telephony customers.



• In June 2004, Kineto Wireless, a start-up based in Milpitas, California, raised $35 million in Series C financing for its Mobile over Wireless LAN (MoWLAN) solutions. The round was led by Oak Investment Partners. Existing investors including 3i, Mitsui & Co. Venture Partners, SeaPoint Ventures, Storm Ventures, Sutter Hill Ventures and Venrock Associates also participated in the financing round. Kineto has raised over $59 million to date.

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