Limelight to Provide CDN for Japan's New Media Group's IPTV

Limelight Networks has been selected as the exclusive provider of streaming media services by Tokyo-based The New Media Group (TNMG). Under the multi-year agreement, Limelight will deliver TNMG's IPTV offerings to audiences in Japan, Korea and other parts of the world. The Limelight network is now delivering a wide range of popular TNMG-enabled content, via its "World on Demand" IPTV portal, which has exclusive IPTV distribution rights to the 2007 ICC Cricket World Cup Tournament in select markets.



TNMG currently offers more than 40 live TV channels from Great Britain, Italy, Pakistan, India, France, Germany, and Australia to thousands of viewers in its core markets.

http://www.llnw.com

Read More

MobiTV and NBC Universal to Deliver Prime Time Shows On-Demand

NBC Universal and MobiTV announced a deal to make full-length primetime on demand programming available over US wireless networks for the first time. Consumers will be able to access full episodes of select NBCU primetime shows starting at $1.99 for a 24-hour viewing period, although these rates are subject to change by participating wireless carriers.



In addition to a robust primetime video-on-demand line-up, the two companies will offer select short form programming from Bravo, SCI FI Channel, USA Network, Telemundo and mun2 on five new ad-supported channels to subscribers, which will debut on the MobiTV service in second quarter.

http://www.mobitv.com

Read More

SingTel and Indonesia's PT Telkom Interconnect MPLS Networks

Singapore Telecommunications Limited (SingTel) has formed an alliance with PT Telekomunikasi Indonesia (PT Telkom) to deliver MPLS services. With the launch of its new node in Jakarta, SingTel ConnectPlus IP-VPN covers virtually all major business cities in ASEAN. http://www.singtel.com

Read More

Neuf Cegetel Deploys Amdocs Service Mediation Manager

Neuf Cegetel has expanded its deployment of Amdocs' Service Mediation Manager platform to support mediation operations at Cegetel, the operator's most recent acquisition. This marks the eighth mediation system that Amdocs is replacing at Neuf Cegetel as the service provider consolidates voice and data mediation support across its acquired entities and new multi-play lines of business.



Amdocs Service Mediation Manager is a single convergent mediation system for all types of networks and services. It serves as a network-abstraction layer for both operations and business support systems (OSS and BSS), transforming network data into business information and providing a complete view of information related to network services. http://www.amdocs.com

Read More

Sprint Nextel Selects Nokia for WiMAX Rollout in Texas

Sprint Nextel selected Nokia for the initial build-out of its mobile WiMAX network in four cities in Texas: Dallas, Fort Worth, San Antonio and Austin. Nokia will deploy WiMAX infrastructure, including the Nokia Flexi WiMAX Base Station, at sites throughout the four Texas markets. Service is expected to commence in these markets during the first half of 2008. Sprint Nextel's mobile WiMAX network intends to cover 100 million people nationwide by the end of 2008. Financial terms were not disclosed.



In addition to supplying Sprint Nextel with WiMAX network infrastructure, Nokia will also develop WiMAX-enabled mobile devices, including multimedia computers and Internet tablets, which are expected to be available in 2008.

http://www.nokia.com

http://www.sprint.com

• In February 2007, Sprint Nextel has selected Samsung Electronics to help develop Mobile WiMAX wireless broadband network infrastructure for the Washington D.C. and Baltimore, MD markets. Washington D.C. and Baltimore, MD are the first markets awarded to Samsung since Samsung and Sprint Nextel agreed last August to work together on the major US carrier's 4G wireless broadband initiative which will use the Mobile WiMAX (IEEE 802.16e TDD OFDMA) technology standard.



• In January 2007, Sprint Nextel selected Motorola for the build-out of its WiMAX wireless broadband service in Chicago. Specifically, Motorola will deploy WiMAX infrastructure to at least 1,000 sites in the greater Chicagoland area, providing select area coverage that complements Sprint Nextel's existing EV-DO network. Initial service is expected to begin late in 2007, with the commercial launch set for the first half of 2008.



• Also in January 2007, Sprint Nextel named Nokia as a key infrastructure and consumer electronic device provider for its 4G WiMAX network. Nokia joined Intel, Samsung and Motorola on the Sprint Nextel project. At the time, Sprint Nextel said it is expecting to invest up to $800 million in 2007 and between $1.5 billion and $2 billion in 2008 relating to the 4G WiMAX mobile broadband network.

Read More

NETGEAR Ships HD Digital Entertainer Box

NETGEAR released its Digital Entertainer HD (EVA8000) media receiver, enabling consumers to stream digital content over their home networks to their HD home entertainment systems. Using High Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) technology, the device supports open standards for streaming digital content from Windows as well as Macs, network storage devices, USB media devices, and from popular Internet sites including YouTube and Flickr). The MSRP is $399.

The Digital Entertainer HD automatically discovers HD movies, TV shows, music files, and personal photos on a home network, across multiple computers, and organizes these into a single media library displayed on a TV without the need for media server software running on the computer. Users can play HD movie downloads, including those from BitTorrent's new online marketplace.



The Digital Entertainer HD decodes many leading audio formats (MP3, WAV, WMA, WMA-Pro, FLAC, M4A, AAC, AC3), purchased music from iTunes on Windows (M4P), video formats (MPEG1/2/4, WMV, XviD, H.264) and image formats (JPEG, BMP, PNG, TIFF). It integrates a 10/100Base-T Ethernet controller, support for 802.11g wireless networking, and two USB 2.0 ports. It also supports multiple interoperability standards, including Universal Plug-and-Play (UPnP AV), Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA) and emerging digital rights management technologies such as Microsoft Windows Media DRM 10 for Network Devices. It supports several wireless security standards including WEP, WPA-PSK and WPA2- PSK.

http://www.netgear.com

Read More

Vonage and Motorola Offer Co-Branded Internet Telephone Adaptor/Router

Vonage and Motorola released a co-branded wireless router for VoIP telephony and that includes a 4-port wired and 802.11 b/g wireless access point. The unit is priced at $59.99 after a $40 instant rebate. It can connect up to two Vonage lines, including telephone and fax, through a high-speed Cable or DSL Internet connection.



http://www.vonage.com

http://www.motorola.com

Read More

Microsoft to Acquire Tellme, a Voice Service Portal

Microsoft agreed to acquire Tellme Networks, which operates a leading voice service portal, for an undisclosed sum. Using voice-recognition technology, Tellme provides consumers with up-to-date information via its toll-free number (1-800-555-TELL). Tellme answers millions of calls every day for information such as finding local businesses, driving directions, sports scores, stock quotes, weather, news, movie show times and more. Businesses use Tellme's voice services and platform to provide customers with voice-access services ranging from banking to package tracking.



Potential areas of development resulting from the deal will range from hosted voice-enabled customer service solutions that complement Microsoft's existing unified communications offerings to voice user interfaces in existing Microsoft products to search services on mobile phones that integrate with Live Search for mobile offerings.



Microsoft said the deal will mark an important step forward in its strategy for delivering software plus services. In particular, Microsoft plans to incorporate Tellme into its unified communications voice services portfolio. In the long term, Tellme technology could enhance Microsoft's many voice-enabled applications, including the Windows Vista operating system, the Microsoft Office system, and mobile applications such as Windows Mobile and Windows Automotive.



Tellme, which has more than 320 employees, will continue to operate from its Mountain View, California, headquarters as part of the Microsoft Business Division.

http://www.microsoft.com

http://www.tellme.com

• In February 2007, Tellme Networks enhanced its voice services platform with new multimodal capabilities for mobile phones allowing companies to create a visual experience. Tellme is now using VoiceXML to create a multimodal "voice & visual" interface, enabling users to simply say what they want and then see it on their mobile screen. Tellme said it will continue to work with the W3C on VoiceXML 3.0 and multimodal standards.

Read More

AudioCodes Trims Estimates for Q1

AudioCodes revised its financial guidance, saying revenues and earnings for the first quarter of 2007 are anticipated to be lower than previously estimated. Citing a slower than expected intake of orders, the company said it now expects revenues for the first quarter to be approximately $36 to $38 million compared to the original guidance that revenues for the first quarter would be up to a level of 5% higher than the fourth quarter of 2006. Revenues in the fourth quarter of 2006 were $42.6 million. As a result, AudioCodes also expects that it will not achieve the net income per share previously anticipated.

http://www.audiocodes.com

Read More

Broadcom Names New CFO

Broadcom named Eric K. Brandt as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. Brandt was a former chief financial officer of Allergan and most recently chief executive officer of Avanir Pharmaceuticals. He replaces former CFO William J. Ruehle, who retired last September.

http://www.broadcom.com

Read More

Nokia Siemens Networks to Launch April 1

Nokia and Siemens will complete their merger and begin operations as a joint company on 01-April-2007. Nokia and Siemens are contributing their respective carrier networks businesses and corresponding assets into this new 50:50 company. Both parties have agreed to increase their respective net asset contributions to the new company, with Siemens to contribute EUR 2.4 billion and Nokia to contribute EUR 1.7 billion.



"In the consolidating telecommunications market Nokia Siemens Networks will offer customers cost-saving, leading-edge solutions that will also optimally meet their needs with regards to convergence," said Nokia CEO Olli-Pekka Kallasvuo.



The companies also emphasized the role of ethics and integrity in the new Nokia Siemens Networks. Since Nokia will consolidate the financial results of Nokia Siemens Networks, both companies have agreed that the compliance processes will be based on Nokia's system and practices. The new company will have an expanded compliance program including training programs and defined approval processes for governmental business and for engaging third party consultants in the sales process.

http://www.nokia.com

http://www.siemens.com

Read More

Deutsche Telekom Accelerates VDSL Rollout

At the CeBIT show, Deutsche Telekom's T-Com division announced its plans to increase the marketing basis for Triple Play products and IPTV. The aim is to cover more than 17 million households by the end of 2007.



As the next step in the expansion of its VDSL access network, Deutsche Telekom will provide its customers in the following cities with the new high-speed technology: Bochum, Bonn, Bremen, Darmstadt, Dortmund, Dresden, Duisburg, Essen, Karlsruhe, Ludwigshafen, Mainz, Mannheim, Wiesbaden and Wuppertal. This will bring the number of VDSL connected cities in Germany to 26. T-Com will also continue its deployment of ADSL2+ technology. By the end of the year, the company will be offering Internet access to customers in 750 towns and cities with transmission rates of up to 16 Mbps.

http://www.telekom.de

Read More

Cisco to Acquire NeoPath for File Storage Mgt

Cisco Systems agreed to acquire NeoPath Networks, a start-up offering high performance and highly scalable file storage management solutions, for an undisclosed sum.



NeoPath developed a "SMART" virtualization technology that simplifies the management of network attached storage (NAS) and other file servers. The company was founded in 2002 and has 55 employees based primarily in Santa Clara, California.

http://www.cisco.cmhttp://www.neopathnetworks.com

• In May 2006, NeoPath Networks raised $11 million in a funding round that included participation by Cisco Systems, and previous investors August Capital, DCM-Doll Capital Management and Gabriel Venture Partners.

Read More

OctWare Offers Echo-Cancellation for Asterisk IP PBXs

OctWare introduced its "SoftEcho", a new per channel upgrade option for Asterisk-based IP PBX systems. SoftEcho is a Line Echo Cancellation (LEC) application for Asterisk systems. The software is available as a download for enhancing Asterisk with sound quality.



OctWare said its transparent algorithm that works better than off-the-shelf echo cancellation solutions. The algorithm has been improved through years of testing in large-scale carrier deployments worldwide through Octasic, OctWare's parent company. That carrier grade quality, already obtainable with interface cards by Digium, Sangoma, and other vendors, that include Octasic's OCT6100 echo cancellation device, is now available in software form for small to midsized businesses using an Asterisk PBX.



SoftEcho's algorithm is auto-tuning meaning that no adjustments are necessary. SoftEcho learns its environment and quickly adapts to it. Its long, well-covered echo path tail ensures carrier proven quality on any calls in trunk side use. SoftEcho handles double-talk and background noise better than the generic echo cancellation solutions currently integrated into popular Asterisk PBX systems.



OctWare's SoftEcho for Asterisk based IP PBX includes performance and voice quality statistics. Downloads are available for $10 per channel through distributors worldwide.

http://www.octware.net

Read More

OKI Develops 2.5 Gbps Laser at 15mW for GPON

Oki Electric Industry Co. announced its development of a 1490nm wavelength semiconductor laser that can transmit up to 2.5Gbps at an output level of 15mW, the industry's highest level over a temperature range of -40 to 85ºC. This semiconductor laser is suitable for use in outdoor FTTH GPON equipment. Samples will be available from mid May to the worldwide market.



OKI has already been providing 1490nm wavelength semiconductor lasers for GE-PON with 15mW of output and 1.25 Gbps for deployment in Japan and Korea.

http://www.oki.com

Read More

Motorola Invests in AMIMON for Wireless HDTV Connections

Motorola Ventures has made an equity investment in AMIMON, Inc., a start-up developing silicon for wireless transmission of high-definition (HD) video. Terms of the investment were not disclosed.



AMIMON's wireless high-definition interface (WHDI) technology is designed for wireless transmission of uncompressed high-definition video streams in the 5GHz unlicensed band. WHDI enables applications such as wireless flat-panel TVs, wireless projectors, wireless HDMI (high-definition multimedia interface) and wireless VGA repeaters (dongles).



AMIMON operates internationally out of offices in Herzlia, Israel, Santa Clara, California and Tokyo, Japan. Additional investors include the Cedar Fund, Walden Israel Venture Capital, Evergreen Partners, Stata venture Partners, and Argonaut Ventures.

http://www.amimon.com

http://www.motorola.com

Read More

Verizon Offers FiOS Triple-play Bundle for $99

For the first time, Verizon is offering its FiOS triple-play package of services for $99.99 a month, the same price as the traditional voice, DSL and DIRECTV bundle. The offer is available to customer is Tampa Bay, Florida. The promotion includes the triple play bundle at $99.99 -- a $27.98 a month saving -- and a two-service offer of unlimited nationwide calling and FiOS Internet service at 5 Mbps download speed and 2 Mbps upload for $59.99 - a $24.99 a month saving. Both offers are good for 12 months.

http://www.verizon.com

Read More

AT&T to Invest $750 Million in Global Network in 2007

AT&T will invest more than $750 million in 2007 to accelerate the delivery of global IP services and solutions to businesses and multinational companies in key markets worldwide. The spending, which is part of AT&T previously issued CAPEX guidance, will be targeted at more than 200 initiatives whose goal is to (1) enhance and expand AT&T's portfolio of retail and wholesale services and solutions and (2) extend the global network infrastructure and capabilities needed to deliver services and solutions to businesses and multinational companies in both emerging and developed markets worldwide.



With this investment AT&T will:

• Enhance its Virtual Private Network (VPN) services portfolio and its business VoIP services portfolio, voice, security services and electronic customer service capabilities. Examples include global applications management capabilities on VPNs, global enhanced remote monitoring and management capabilities for hosting customers, global expansion of network-based firewalls, deployment of in-country IP services, enhancements to global IP conferencing and contact centers, and global e-ordering, maintenance and network reporting capabilities.



• Increase Internet Data Center (IDC) capacity by expanding several existing sites (California, Virginia, Arizona and the U.K.), opening new data centers in the New Jersey/New York market in the U.S. and in Canada, and delivering new managed services within the hosting portfolio, incorporating the application software management expertise of recently acquired USinternetworking (USi). By the end of 2007 AT&T will have 38 IDCs deployed around the world, which would include the four centers from USi and BellSouth.



• Extend the deployment of key access technologies, such as Wi-Fi, DSL, Ethernet and satellite to help companies connect to AT&T's global IP network.



• Significantly extending its global IP network and capabilities to deliver more services to business customers in the United States and around the world. Focus markets in 2007 include the high growth economies of Asia Pacific (including China and India), the Middle East and Latin America; and the larger, more developed markets in Europe (France, Germany and the U.K.) and Canada. Last year, AT&T announced the formation of a joint venture in India, opened new offices in the Middle East (Dubai) and extended its network presence in Vietnam.

By year-end 2007, the AT&T global network will provide multi-national
companies with:

• MPLS-based access from 155 countries via more than 2,000 service nodes -- this will include the addition of new network nodes in Vietnam, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, Morocco, and the addition of 3 new nodes in India.



• Satellite and long line extension access from 51 countries.



• 13 network interconnects in 22 key regions/countries



• DSL network access in 34 countries.



• Ethernet network access in 31 countries.



• Remote access will be available via cellular data access in 11 countries; Wired Ethernet access from more than 1,600 locations in 17 countries; WiFi access from more than 55,000 hotspots over 80 countries.

http://www.att.com

Read More

BT Launches "Onevoice" Global VPN

BT launched a "Onevoice" enterprise service to help organizations move to IP telephony at a pace that suits BT Onevoice Global VPN is available globally and being launched with key international customers. Key features include:

• A converged VPN including features such as single pricing, one number scheme and single contract for traditional and new wave voice connecting sites in 54 countries



• Global reach through the ability to connect to over 240 fixed, mobile and satellite destinations around the world



• Simplified access to BT's audioconferencing service through BT Onevoice Conferencing

Onevoice Mobile Access, which gives mobile users the option to save costs by running International Direct Dial (IDD) and Roaming calls over BT's international voice network, will launch later in 2007.

http://www.btplc.com/

Read More

QUALCOMM Raises Guidance for Q2 2007

QUALCOMM raised its financial guidance for the second fiscal quarter ending April 1, 2007. The company now expects pro forma revenues to be approximately $2.1 to $2.2 billion, and second quarter pro forma diluted earnings per share to be approximately $0.48 to $0.49, compared to $0.41 in the year ago quarter.



"We are expecting a particularly successful quarter, reflecting strong growth in chipsets, handsets, and applications and services, enabled by mobile broadband capabilities deployed around the world by both CDMA2000 and WCDMA operators. Demand for our high-end, mid-tier and low-tier CDMA2000 chipsets, as well as WCDMA chipsets has accelerated," said Dr. Paul E. Jacobs, chief executive officer of QUALCOMM. "Reports from our licensees for December quarter handset shipments reflected greater than expected strength in Europe and North America. Despite this growth, we believe the CDMA inventory channel continues at a healthy level of less than 20 weeks."http://www.qualcomm.com

Read More