MetaSwitch to Resell Acme Packet Session Border Controllers

MetaSwitch has agreed to sell Acme Packet's family of session border controllers (SBCs) as an addition to its call agent, media gateway and application server product offerings for service providers looking to deploy IP voice and multimedia communication services. Together MetaSwitch's core networking products and Acme Packet's SBCs offer a fully-supported joint solution with proven interoperability and closely coordinated customer support, removing any hurdles and uncertainty for service providers making the transition to a next-generation IP network. When combined, these network elements provide core session control, media/signaling gateway, application server and SBC functions, and scale to meet the network migration requirements of service providers of all sizes.


The companies noted that over 50 service providers have already deployed joint Acme Packet and MetaSwitch solutions, including CLECs Engage Communications and Aero Communications, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Computer Services Inc. (CSI).

http://www.acmepacket.com
http://www.metaswitch.com

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Anevia Secures $7 Million for IPTV Solutions

Anevia, a start-up based near Paris, secured US$7 million in a second round of financing for its IPTV and video on demand (VoD) solutions. Anevia is a video service infrastructure provider offering a single end-to-end solution delivering interactive, IP-based video services to TV, PC, Internet-connected and mobile devices. The company claims 300 customers in 50 countries, several million of users and 10,000 live channels carried over its systems. Anevia targets service providers as well as the hospitality market.


The new funding was led by Seventure Partners alongside CDC Innovation, a shareholder from the first round funding in 2005. Aelios Finance advised Anevia on the transaction.
http://www.anevia.com

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Brocade Unveils Data Center Switch and FCoE Network Adapters

Brocade introduced an end-to-end Fibre Channel over Ethernet (FCoE)-based solution that brings the Fibre Channel (FC) standard and Converged Enhanced Ethernet (CEE) together. As part of the announcement, Brocade introduced two new products that support FCoE and CEE:

• The new Brocade 8000 Switch is a multiprotocol, Layer 2, top-of-rack FCoE switch with 24 10 Gigabit Ethernet (GbE) CEE ports and eight FC ports supporting 8 Gbps speeds -- enabling the consolidation of input/output (I/O) storage and data networking ports at the server edge.



• The newly introduced Brocade converged network adapters (CNAs) provide up to 500,000 IOs per second (IOPS) per port and are available in two models: the Brocade 1010 single-port CNA and the Brocade 1020 dual-port CNA. The Brocade CNAs are one of the first-to-market single application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) CNAs that provide classic Ethernet capabilities based on the common TCP/IP protocol suite, converged Ethernet and storage transport functionality over a single link and deliver 10 Gbps FCoE connectivity from servers to SAN fabrics and to local area networks (LANs).

Within the rack, the Brocade 8000 connects to servers equipped with Brocade 1010 and 1020 CNAs. Combined with the Brocade 8000, the Brocade CNAs form a seamless end-to-end FCoE connectivity solution, from server to storage target, with a common management platform via Brocade Data Center Fabric Manager (DCFM), industry-leading performance and superior Quality of Service (QoS) to meet the demands of next-generation data centers.


The Brocade 8000 is based on Brocade Fabric OS (FOS) with extensions covering FCoE and CEE, and it delivers distributed intelligence throughout the network, while enabling a wide range of value-added applications and advanced fabric services, including Brocade Fabric Watch, Inter-Switch Link (ISL) Trunking, and end-to-end Advanced Performance Monitoring.


Both the Brocade 8000 Switch and Brocade 1010 and 1020 CNAs are managed by Brocade DCFM, which enables the management of traditional FC SAN and new FCoE/CEE environments from a single application. Brocade DCFM Enterprise also provides a non-disruptive upgrade path from Brocade Enterprise Fabric Connectivity Manager (EFCM) or Brocade Fabric Manager.
http://www.brocade.com

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F5 Introduces BIG-IP 8900 Application Delivery Controller

F5 Networks introduced its BIG-IP 8900 hardware platform, enabling large enterprises and service providers to support extremely high levels of application traffic and integrate advanced optimization and security capabilities. The new 8900 platform gives customers the power to:

• Consolidate Infrastructure to Realize Cost Savings -- With 12 Gb/s of L7 throughput, 58,000 SSL transactions per second, and 8 Gb/s of hardware compression, the 8900 enables the functional and physical consolidation of application delivery infrastructures, reducing management expenses and TCO. In addition, the new platform comes standard with Fast Cache, IPv6 Gateway, Rate Shaping, SSL Offload, and Intelligent Compression features to help organizations maximize the value of their Application Delivery Controller investments without adding more appliances.



• Optimize Web Applications to Boost Workforce Efficiency -- the 8900 takes advantage of F5's unique Clustered Multiprocessing (CMP) technology to achieve more than 6x the performance of competitive offerings, helping organizations optimize their infrastructure without availability issues.



• Scale to Support Evolving Business Drivers -- Building on F5's unified TMOS architecture, the BIG-IP 8900 device gives organizations the ability to cost-effectively implement a viable ADN strategy and plan for future growth. In addition, the new platform supports simultaneous deployments of F5's BIG-IP WebAccelerator and BIG-IP Application Security Manager software modules, integrating security and optimization capabilities into organizations' application delivery infrastructure as required.

In addition, F5 Networks also announced its BIG-IP version 10 software release. The company describes BIG-IP v10 as a milestone release supporting its vision of Unified Application and Data Delivery Services, which redefines how application, server, storage, and network resources are aligned and managed to deliver services that fluidly adapt to changing business requirements. These services provide an agile framework of simple and efficient mechanisms to integrate emerging dynamic computing models, such as virtualization, cloud computing, and SaaS (software as a service), without having to completely re-architect existing systems.


BIG-IP v10 unifies application security, optimization, and acceleration onto a single device. BIG-IP version 10 and all associated product modules are available today. Software product modules include BIG-IP LTM, ASM, WebAccelerator, Global Traffic Manager, and Link Controller.
http://www.f5.com

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Terabit Capacity Cable Planned for West Africa

The West Africa Cable System (WACS) Consortium awarded a turnkey contract valued at several hundred million US dollars to Alcatel-Lucent deploy a new submarine cable network that will provide the first direct fiber connection between Southern Africa and Europe.


The project consists of a 14,000 km-long submarine network system linking South Africa to Portugal. The 11 parties that form the consortium are Angola Telecom, Broadband Infraco, Cable & Wireless, MTN, Portugal Telecom, Sotelco, Tata Communications, Telecom Namibia, Telkom SA, Togo Telecom and Vodacom. With commercial service expected in 2011, this new submarine cable system will also offer route diversity and bandwidth availability, and the first global submarine fibre connection to Namibia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Togo and the Republic of Congo.


Under the terms of the contract, Alcatel-Lucent will provide connectivity between South Africa and Portugal. With a minimum design capacity of 3.84 Tbps, WACS will connect South Africa to the UK with landings in Namibia, Angola, the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Republic of Congo, Cameroon, Nigeria, Togo, Ghana, Côte d'Ivoire, Cape Verde, the Canary Islands, and Portugal.
http://www.alcatel-lucent.com

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Poland's Netia Deploys 40 Gbps IP-over-DWDM with Cisco

Netia, a leading Polish alternative fixed-line operator, is deploying the Cisco CRS-1 Carrier Routing System in its core network. The deployment uses IPoDWDM to supports transport rates of up to 40 Gbps over its existing 10 Gbps national core fiber infrastructure, increasing its capacity four times with no upgrade to the existing DWDM system.


The project was implemented by NCR Poland, a Cisco Gold Certified Partner. Financial terms were not disclosed.


"The transport of IP services based on routers with integrated DWDM technology, also referred to as IPoDWDM, is becoming a significant innovation that allows carriers to scale their network bandwidth. This cost-effective, scalable network architecture is particularly important for supporting continuous traffic growth from broadband and business applications, most of which are due to IP-based video services such as IPTV," said Mike Capuano, director of market management, Service Provider Routing and Switching at Cisco.
http://www.cisco.com
http://www.netia.pl

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Covad Wholesale Launches Multiple Bonded T1 Services

Covad Communications introduced new Multiple Bonded T1 services for its wholesale partners. The service provides up to 6.0 Mbps of symmetrical bandwidth with no distance limitations, thereby filling a need between T1 and DS3/Fractional DS3 offerings.


Covad's new higher-bandwidth services are delivered over Covad's nationwide MPLS network. Extensive automation simplifies ordering and accelerates the typical installation to within 30 days. Covad also provides enterprise-class support, with assistance 24 hours a day to partners and customers from a specialized team of T1 experts.
http://www.covad.com

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3GPP Publishes First Femtocell Standard

The Femto Forum, 3GPP and the Broadband Forum today announced that the world's first femtocell standard has been officially published by 3GPP, paving the way for standardized femtocells to be produced in large volumes and enabling interoperability between different vendors' access points and femto gateways.

The new standard, which forms part of 3GPP's Release 8, and interdependent with Broadband Forum extensions to its Technical Report-069 (TR-069), has been completed in just 12 months following close cooperation between 3GPP, the Femto Forum and the Broadband Forum.


The new femtocell standard covers four main areas: network architecture; radio & interference aspects (both completed last December); femtocell management / provisioning and security (finalized this month). In terms of network architecture, the crucial interface between potentially millions of femtocells and gateways in the network core has been called Iuh. This re-uses existing 3GPP UMTS protocols and extends them to support the needs of high-volume femtocell deployments.


The new standard has adopted the Broadband Forum's TR-069 management protocol which has been extended to incorporate a new data model for femtocells developed collaboratively by Femto Forum and Broadband Forum members and published by the Broadband Forum as Technical Report 196 (TR-196). TR-069 is already widely used in fixed broadband networks and in set-top boxes and will allow mobile operators to simplify deployment and enable automated remote provisioning, diagnostics-checking and software updates. The standard also uses a combination of security measures including IKEv2 (Internet Key Exchange v2) and IPsec (IP Security) protocols to authenticate the operator and subscriber and then guarantee the privacy of the data exchanged.


Work is already being done to further incorporate femtocell technology in the 3GPP's release 9 standard, which will address LTE femtocells as well as support more advanced functionality for 3G femtocells. Femtocell standards are also being developed for additional air interface technologies by other industry bodies.
http://www.3gpp.org/http://www.broadband-forum.org

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RMI Announces Next Generation Multi-Core Processor Architecture

RMI Corporation disclosed plans for its next generation processor architecture and product family performing at frequencies greater than 2.0 GHz. The new architecture is being developed on 40nm process technology and will feature the highest performance per watt, according to the company. RMI will sample its latest technology in Q4 of this year and offer complete product details at Interop 2009 in Las Vegas. The processors are designed for use in security appliances, L4-L7 switching, storage networking, 3G/4G wireless, small business networks, as well as several new untapped markets. Early development work with the world's leading storage, networking, telecom, wireless and enterprise customers has been in place for over 2 years.
http://www.RMICorp.com

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Aastra and MetaSwitch Deliver SIP Phone Apps

Aastra Telecom has collaborated with MetaSwitch to enable a range of enhanced XML-based phone applications delivered via the MetaSphere application server to Aastra's SIP handsets.

Specifically, the companies have collaborated to develop an integrated suite of applications delivered to Aastra's carrier and enterprise-grade SIP phones, including Aastra's 6755i, 6757i and 6757i CT phones. The resulting solution provides a real time synchronization between key features in the MetaSphere platform and the Aastra IP end point. Customers will be able to use the Aastra phone screen and softkeys to dip into applications and services that previously would have been only available via a computer terminal.


Using the embedded XML browser in the Aastra IP phone, the following new features are available to Service Providers deploying a MetaSwitch-Aastra hosted IP PBX solution:

• Message List -- shows voicemails in an on-screen list and allows users to listen to, and manage messages;



• Network Contacts -- enables users to use and update their CommPortal network contact list directly from their phone handset;



• Network Call Lists -- displays missed, dialed, received and rejected calls, allowing return calls with a single key press;



• Hot Desking -- allows users to log on and off from individual phone handsets, by entering their phone number and password;
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• Service Provisioning -- empowers small business administrators to add new phone handsets to their Business Group via an on-phone UI, reducing the need to visit customer premises to turn up a new device, and allowing users to stop tracking the MAC addresses of managed phones.

These new capabilities will be delivered to carriers and end users via MetaSwitch's CommPortal Web 2.0 application infrastructure. As such, they are fully integrated with the MetaView SIP Provisioning Server and CommPortal Phone Configurator graphical user interface, simplifying deployment and creating a seamless, easy end-user experience.
http://www.metaswitch.com
http://www.aastra.com

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ADTRAN Teams with MetaSwitch on Legacy to SIP and IMS

ADTRAN's Total Access 5000 Multiservice Access and Aggregation Platform and Total Access 300 Series Optical Network Terminals (ONTs) now fully support Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) for interoperation with the MetaSwitch call agent and media gateway.

These new capabilities provide customers with proven TDM interoperability, offering the ability to support existing networks, as well as advanced VoIP and IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) architectures.


The ADTRAN Total Access 5000 is a carrier-class multiservice access and aggregation platform that bridges the gap between existing and next-generation networks. Its all-Ethernet architecture allows service providers to deploy both residential and business services across an optimized and converged network architecture.
http://www.metaswitch.com
http://www.adtran.com

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MetaSwitch Evolves its IP Communications Platform with 100+ New Features

MetaSwitch unveiled an array of new features and capabilities for its IP communications platform for service providers.
Some highlights of the 100+ enhancements included in the MetaSwitch Version 7.0 release:

• MetaSphere Easy Attendant -- Specifically tailored to the needs of small businesses, MetaSphere Easy Attendant offers an automated receptionist with exceptional ease of use and administration. Fully integrated with MetaSwitch's CommPortal Web user interface, Easy Attendant allows callers to listen to recorded messages and transfer to specific departments or individuals, including the ability to dial by extension and transfer directly to a voicemail account to leave a message.



• CommPortal Phone Applications -- MetaSwitch's hosted IP PBX features and enhanced applications are now available on Aastra's SIP telephones, enabling carriers to offer an integrated suite of applications directly to the screens of their customers' IP phones. These new XML applications allow subscribers to access advanced functions quickly and easily, without having to open a web browser or even turn on their PC. The new features include: Message List, Network Contacts, Network Call Lists, Hot Desking and Service Provisioning.



• CommPortal Widgets -- Widgets allow carriers to embed some of the most valuable communication features right in the subscriber's homepage or desktop. Access to CommPortal features is seamlessly integrated, enhancing the subscriber experience. Initially, four environments are supported: iGoogle homepage, Windows Vista Sidebar, Google Desktop and the Mac OS X Dashboard. CommPortal Widgets provide the most commonly-used features, including message lists, recent call lists, click-to dial, and a quick-launch button. Unlike many widgets and gadgets seen today, which are often described as 'proof of concept", 'beta", or 'prototype", CommPortal Widgets are fully system tested, supported by MetaSwitch, and easily brandable, ready for carrier deployment.



• Enhanced Emergency Standalone (ESA) -- The ESA capability in MetaSwitch's MG Series media gateways supports highly resilient distributed network architectures by allowing a level of subscriber service to be maintained even after catastrophic events such as high-level network failure or the destruction of a central office. The ESA capability already protects subscribers connected via GR-303 digital loop carriers and MGCP access gateways, enabling them to make and receive local calls or calls over any kind of TDM trunk even when the MG Series gateway is unable to contact its controlling Call Agent. From V7.0, SIP subscribers, and subscribers connected to H.248 gateways, can now also make and receive calls, including emergency calls, while the Call Agent is uncontactable, making full ESA capabilities available across all major legacy and next generation access protocols.



• MetaView CSR -- MetaView CSR provides carriers' customer service representatives (CSRs) with a simple, web-based interface to subscriber records and diagnostics without requiring the installation of any software on their PCs. Dedicated specifically to a carrier's CSR, it allows for a quick and efficient response to the most common customer inquiries and requests from any Web browser. In addition, its flexible architecture, built on MetaSwitch's CommPortal Web 2.0 platform, can be easily extended or integrated with other Web-based operational support systems.

The announcements were made in conjunction with the 6th annual MetaSwitch Forum 2009 being held at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas.
http://www.metaswitch.com

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Nokia to Launch "Life Tools" Service in India

Nokia has concluded the pilot phase of its "Life Tools" service in Maharashtra, India, and now plans to commercially launch the service in mid-year. Nokia Life Tools provide agricultural information and education services designed for rural populations.


Nokia Life Tools will be enabled in the Nokia 2320 and Nokia 2323, which will soon begin shipping, and on more devices to be announced later in the year.


"The creation of Nokia Life Tools is from the ground up: it is built by a team that immersed itself in the rural conditions and did extensive research to understand how people led their lives, the kinds of services they were currently receiving, and what they wanted to see as changes or improvements," said D Shivakumar, Vice President and General Manager, Nokia India. "The results from the pilot in Maharashtra are testimony that Nokia still plays a very relevant role in people's lives - connecting them in new and better ways through devices that they continue to love, and services that help them improve their lives."


Nokia said users of its Agriculture Service described that they were better informed about market rates for their produce. Farmers found that getting prices daily on their mobile phones reduced their dependency on agents for basic information. Now with greater awareness on market conditions, there was newfound confidence in their negotiations with the agents. There was also resounding appreciation for the time and money saved from not having to make multiple trips to the market place to get the latest rates.


The pilot program of Nokia Life Tools in India was launched in December 2008, with services in Agriculture, Learn English, General Knowledge and Astrology. During the pilot period, buyers of the Nokia 2600 classic or the Nokia 1680 classic - which came enabled with the service - had the option to purchase subscriptions to the Nokia Life Tools services that were most relevant to them. Results showed that a significant number of subscribers had signed up for approximately two of the services on average, reflecting that the services were relevant to a wide cross-section of the society.
http://www.nokia.com

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Verizon Business Offers "Compliance ScoreCard" for Enterprise Security

Verizon Business is offering its enterprise customers an enhanced online dashboard -- known as the Compliance ScoreCard -- to help them track their security activities against relevant standards and regulations. The tool is part of the Verizon Security Management Program.


The ScoreCard allows companies to see at a glance how they and their industry peers -- in aggregate -- are performing against relevant security standards and regulations. Security standards tracked include ISO 27002, COBIT 4.1, PCI DSS 1.2 and HIPAA across key industries consisting of financial services, consumer/retail, health care, pharmaceutical, manufacturing, utilities/energy, insurance, technology, telecommunications, business services, government, transportation, media, entertainment/leisure and charitable organizations.


"This latest Security Management Program enhancement is a direct reflection of customer demand for information specific to the customer's own vertical industry," said Mike Marcellin, vice president of global managed solutions, Verizon. "Customers look to Verizon Business to help them boost their security programs, and we are providing a unique, industry-leading solution that enables customers to manage and drive more value from their security initiatives."


In conjunction with the ScoreCard, the Security Management Program performs an assessment and analysis of a business' security programs. The results are used to generate a compliance percentage score from zero to 100, which shows how a business' security controls align with selected security standards and regulations. The compliance score and the comparison with industry peers provide businesses with a frame of reference that enables them to effectively evaluate their security activities.


Kerry Bailey, Verizon Business senior vice president of global services, said, "The measurable comparisons allow customers to betterhttp://www.verizonbusiness.com

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Microsoft Sees Security Threat in Rogue "ScareWare"

The No. 1 reason for data breaches remains lost and stolen computer equipment, according to Microsoft's recently Security Intelligence Report.


Released twice a year, the Microsoft Security Intelligence Report uses data gathered from hundreds of millions of computers worldwide to provide an in-depth snapshot of the threat landscape.


Microsoft said there has been a significant increase in rogue security software and evidence that threats are predominantly targeting common third-party desktop applications. Rogue security software, also known as "scareware," takes advantage of users' desire to keep their computers protected. The rogue software lures them into paying for protection that, unknown to them, is actually malware offering little or no real protection, and is often designed to steal personal information. The Microsoft Security Intelligence Report shows that such programs are now among the top threats around the world. For example, two rogue families, Win32/FakeXPA and Win32/FakeSecSen, were detected on more than 1.5 million computers by Microsoft software, catapulting them into the top 10 threats in the second half of the year. In addition, Win32/Renos, a threat that is used to deliver rogue security software, was detected on 4.4 million unique computers, an increase of 66.6 percent over the first half of 2008.


"We continue to see an increase in the number of threats and complexity of those threats designed to implement crime at a variety of levels online," said Vinny Gullotto, general manager of the Microsoft Malware Protection Center. "But as Microsoft and the industry continue to improve the security of our products and people become more concerned about their online safety and privacy, we see cybercriminals increasingly going after vulnerabilities in human nature rather than software. By working with others across the industry, Microsoft is helping combat the next generation of online threats through a community-based defense resulting from broad industry cooperation with law enforcement and the public."


A full list of Microsoft's guidance, a downloadable version of the Security Intelligence Report, volume 6, and other related information is available online.
http://www.microsoft.com/sir

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Fujitsu Announces Economical MPEG-4 Encoder for Remote Apps

Fujitsu Computer Products of America announced the IP-900, a compact MPEG-4 AVC encoder for real-time IP transmission of high-definition and standard-definition content for news gathering and remote applications. The Fujitsu IP-900 is a compact 1RU encoding device for remote applications such as mobile television newsgathering.
http://www.fujitsu.com

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Verizon Statement on FCC Broadband Plan

Susanne Guyer, Verizon senior vice president of federal regulatory affairs, issued the following statement regarding the FCC's national broadband plan.


"Given its importance to economic growth, job creation and international competitiveness, creating a climate for investment in advanced broadband networks should be Job One at the FCC. Through this plan, the FCC can take a major step toward ensuring that all Americans have access to broadband networks and have the skills and devices necessary to access the economic and social benefits available through broadband connections. We look forward to working with the FCC to achieve this important goal."
http://www.fcc.gov

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MetaSwitch and GotVoice Partner on Voicemail-to-Text

GotVoice and MetaSwitch announced a partnership to provide MetaSwitch customers with high quality transformations of voicemails into text. As part of the partnership, MetaSwitch customers are able to transparently integrate GotVoice's technology into their existing brands, increasing their ARPU. The capability enables end-users to quickly scan and digest their voicemail easily from email on their computer or mobile phone handset.
http://www.metaswitch.com

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FCC Seeks Input on National Broadband Plan

The FCC initiated the process of developing a national broadband plan with the goal of delivering it to Congress by February 17, 2010. Specifically, the FCC is seeking input from all stakeholders: consumers, industry, large and small businesses, non-profits, the disabilities community, governments at the federal, state, local and tribal levels, and all other interested parties. The plans is to serve as a national roadmap for achieving the goal of ensuring that all Americans reap the benefits of broadband.


The recently passed American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 requires the FCC to create a national broadband plan that considers several key elements:

• The most effective and efficient ways to ensure broadband access for all Americans



• Strategies for achieving affordability and maximum utilization of broadband infrastructure and services



• Evaluation of the status of broadband deployment, including the progress of related grant programs



• How to use broadband to advance consumer welfare, civic participation, public safety and homeland security, community development, health care delivery, energy independence and efficiency, education, worker training, private sector investment, entrepreneurial activity, job
  creation, and economic growth, and other national purposes.

Acting FCC Chairman Michael J. Copps stated "Today we commence a national dialogue on how we as a nation can make high-speed broadband available, affordable and easily useable to citizens and businesses throughout the land. This is a good news item. In spite of the fact that it springs in part from an economic downturn that has put a lot of our fellow citizens on the ropes, it signals that at long last we are getting serious about making our citizens and our country more competitive, prosperous, and fulfilled. It means that we are coming to grips with the fact that we have a long way to go to get high-speed, value-laden broadband out to all our citizens. It means that we are beginning to understand that real economic and social progress needs to be fueled by both vigorous private enterprise and enlightened public policy. The missing ingredient until this year has been the enlightened public policy."http://www.fcc.gov

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Deutsche Telekom Tests Italtel Solution

Deutsche Telekom and Italtel have concluded a series of IMS interoperability tests between Italtel's The Service Box (TSB) and Deutsche Telekom AG Session Control Layer. Within the IMS framework, The Service Box is one of the key element of the overall Italtel product suite, that embeds convergent services as well as a complete set of enablers -- offered through basic Web Services allowing operators and third parties to deliver quickly new applications integrating rich voice, web and messaging in a SOA fashion.

Italtel said the success of the tests with Deutsche Telekom has demonstrated the fully compliance of its product to the IMS framework.
http://www.italtel.com

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