HITACHI ENHANCES OC192 DWDM WITH TRANSMUXING, CLOSER CHANNEL SPACING, LONG REACH
Hitachi Telecom announced a series of upgrades to its AMN 6100 DWDM platform, including a transmux system for multiplexing OC-12/OC-12c and OC-48/OC-48c inputs onto OC-192 channels.  Currently, the AMN 6100 is a 32-channel capable, OC-192 DWDM system.  A new shelf-based Transmux system will add the ability to efficiently combine OC-12 or OC-48 IP, ATM or SONET/SDH traffic onto an OC-192 trunk.  Hitachi said its Transmux system could be compatible for use with other vendors SONET/SDH or DWDM platforms as well. Hitachi’s AMN 6100 DWDM platform will also feature new Optical Add/Drop Multiplexer (OADM) capabilities through which 25% of channels can be added or dropped at an amplifier site.  Hitachi plans to expand the current 32-channel OC-192 system to 64 OC-192 channels (640 Gbps capacity) by the addition of 32 L-band channels, and in-service growth to 128 OC-192 channels (1.28 Tbps) through the implementation of 50 GHz wavelength spacing.  Hitachi is further planning to introduce tunable lasers with channel selection capability to simplify sparing requirements, and an "optical wrapper" technology for optical protection.  Also on the DWDM upgrade agenda for Hitachi are ultra-long-haul capabilities and high-density 10 Gbps regenerators.
http://www.hitel.com/news_release_Robust_DWDM.htm
Hitachi Telecom, February 15, 2000

NORTHPOINT'S “BLAST” INITIATIVE OPENS DSL NETWORK TO CONTENT PROVIDERS
NorthPoint Communications unveiled plans to open its DSL network to broadband content providers – including Akamai, Clearband, CoolCast, Digital Island, iBEAM, Into Networks, Media Station, Microsoft, On2.com, and ZDTV.  NorthPoint will need to augment its content delivery infrastructure by deploying new equipment, such as advanced routers, satellite dishes and critical software tools in its metropolitan area network hubs nationwide.  The company said its “Blast” initiative complements a recently announced strategic agreement and equity investment in Equinix, which is building Internet Business Exchanges for content providers, ASPs and e-commerce companies.
NorthPoint Communications, February 15, 2000

NORTHPOINT TESTS CLEARBAND VIDEO STREAMING FOR TV OVER DSL
NorthPoint Communications will test broadband video streaming software from ClearBand, a start-up based in Chicago, for delivering live and on-demand video at TV quality over its DSL network.  Several of ClearBand's content partners -- AtomFilms, CinemaNow, Vidnet, The Football Network, CelebNewsLive and Extreme Interactive -- will be featured in the trial running at 30 frames-per-second in full-screen mode.  The ClearBand software allows the service provider to dynamically adjust the bandwidth from 300 Kbps to 2.0 Mbps.  http://www.clearband.com/
ClearBand, February 15, 2000 

ClearBand is a privately held company backed by of Brian J. Flynn and Donald F. Flynn, whose history includes successful involvement with Blockbuster Entertainment.  The company has previously disclosed a partnership deal with UPC's European chello cable modem service.

ACCELERATED NETWORKS ANNOUNCES SWITCHED VODSL
Accelerated Networks announced a Switched Voice over DSL (VoDSL) technology that uses ATM switched virtual circuits (SVCs) and AAL2 to simplify network deployment and provide substantial flexibility in the routing of voice calls.  Whereas most existing VoDSL architectures implement permanent virtual circuits (PVCs) to hard-wire the subscriber to a local class 5 switch port using GR-303 signaling, Accelerated Networks' Switched VoDSL would allow subscribers to dynamically connect to a local switch, a long distance switch, emerging soft switches, or directly to other corporate locations.  Accelerated Network's integrated access devices (IADs) would tie into a carrier's intelligent network (IN) policy server in order to determine call routing instructions. A CLEC or IXC might use the SVC capability to bypass local exchange switches.   Accelerated recently demonstrated the capabilities in conjunction with MCI WorldCom's new Smart Bandwidth on Command service.  The company has also submitted a Switched VoDSL proposal to the DSL Forum.  A whitepaper is online.  http://www.acceleratednetworks.com/
Accelerated Networks, February 15, 2000

POLYCOM AND NORTEL NETWORKS ENTER VODSL AGREEMENT
Polycom, which provides premium quality voice conferencing tools and telephony devices, will provide Nortel Networks with Integrated Access Devices (IADs) for Voice over DSL services.  Financial terms were not disclosed.  http://www.polycom.com/cgi/newsread.pl?release=762
Polycom, February 15, 2000  

CISCO ANNOUNCES DYNAMIC PACKET TRANSPORT DEPLOYMENT BY ZHENGZHOU CABLE TV
Zhengzhou Cable TV, which serves 320,000 subscribers in China's Henan province, will upgrade its network for offer VoIP, videoconferencing, Video on Demand and IP VPN services using Cisco Systems' Dynamic Packet Transport (DPT) technology.  The network is based on Cisco's 12000 GSRs.  Financial terms were not disclosed.  Zhengzhou Cable TV is Cisco's first DPT customer in Asia.  http://www.cisco.com
Cisco Systems, February 15, 2000 

Cisco's Dynamic Packet Transport (DPT) leverages a new MAC layer protocol called the Spatial Reuse Protocol (SRP) and proprietary algorithms to create resilient fiber rings.  The architecture uses SONET/SDH framing and can be run transparently over dark fiber, DWDM systems and SONET/SDH rings.  Instead of the timeslots and provisioned connections used in TDM structures, DPT employs statistical multiplexing to maximize the ring's carrying capacity.

WINDOWS 2000 TO SCALE ENTREPRISE STREAMING (2,400 STREAMS/SERVER AT 100 KBPS)
The enhanced Windows Media Services capabilities in Microsoft's new Windows 2000 Server will scale to up to 9,000 concurrent streams of video, or 2,400 broadband streams at 100 Kbps, from a single server.  Microsoft released a whitepaper on how Hewlett-Packard is using Windows Media Services in its corporate network.  Microsoft will use its Windows Media Services system to power its own live, global webcast of the Windows 2000 launch event on Thursday.  http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2000/Feb00/Barrierspr.asp
Microsoft, February 15, 2000

PICAZO SHIPS WINDOWS 2000-BASED TELEPHONY SERVER
Picazo Communications announced a Windows 2000-based telephony server featuring interfaces for TAPI, MAPI and SAPI, and an open architecture for its PBX functionality.  The Picazo VoiceMedia 2000 server, which is configured on a Compaq Proliant 1600R server, offers voicemail, automatic call distribution (ACD), unified messaging, conferencing, paging, and call control features.  Picazo Communications is based in San Jose, California.  http://www.picazo.com
Picazo Communications, February 15, 2000

YIPES LAUNCHES ITS IP-OVER-FIBER NETWORKS
Yipes, a venture-backed start-up targeting metropolitan bandwidth, announced its first end-to-end Ethernet services.  Yipes is offering metropolitan LAN interconnect and LAN-to-Internet services scalable in 1Mbps increments from 1 Mbps to 1 Gbps.  Networks are currently operational in Palo Alto and Riverside (California) and Fort Collins and Longmont (Colorado).  The venture has $13.8 million in seed funding from Norwest Venture Partners and New Enterprise Associates.  Yipes is led by Jerry Parrick, former CEO of Diamond Lane (a DSLAM developer acquired by Nokia).  http://www.yipes.com/
Yipes, February 15, 2000

SONUS INTRODUCES INTERNET OFFLOAD SOLUTION FOR ITS NEXT GEN VOICE SWITCH
Sonus Networks introduced a solution to offload traditional circuit switches of Internet traffic using its packet telephony switch.  Rather than using expensive PRI ports on a traditional circuit switch for transporting modem calls destined for remote access servers/network access servers (RAS/NAS), the Sonus System 9200 will use universal trunking ports, which can be defined via software configuration, for PRI or SS7.  http://www.sonusnet.com/rel021500.html
Sonus Networks, February 15, 2000

ORESIS CLOSES $25 MILLION FUNDING FOR INTEGRATED MULTISERVICE SWITCH
Oresis Communications, a start-up developing a carrier-class multiservice switching platform, received $25 million second rounding funding led by Bessemer Venture Partners; Weiss, Peck & Greer Venture Partners; and ComVentures.  The company's forthcoming Integrated Multiservice Switch is expected to debut at Supercomm 2000.  Oresis is led by Ali Sarabi, formerly General Manager and Director of Intel's Broadband and IP Telephony Lab; George Shenoda, co-founder of the ATM Forum and formerly CTO of ADC Kentrox; Chris Shaver, formerly VP of Engineering at ADC Kentrox; and Andrew Alleman, also formerly with ADC Kentrox.  Oresis is based in Beaverton, Oregon.  http://www.oresis.com/
Oresis Communications, February 15, 2000

QUARRY RAISES $22 MILLION FOR SERVICE PROVISIONING
Quarry Technologies, a start-up based developing service provisioning products, received $22 million in venture funding from Walden International Investment Group, ArchVenture Partners, Alta Partners, BBN/GTE Internetworking and other investors.  Quarry plans to offer network-based intelligent service provisioning products that incorporate high performance routing, MPLS, Differentiated Services, and VPN technologies.  Specific plans have not been disclosed.  The company is based in Burlington, Mass.  http://www.quarrytech.com
Quarry Technologies, February 15, 2000  

AP ENGINES RAISES FUNDING FOR BILLING MEDIATION SOFTWARE
AP Engines, a start-up developing billing mediation and provisioning software, received $10 million first-round financing from Atlas Venture, Commonwealth Capital Ventures and Bessemer Venture Partners.  AP Engines said it will offer a modular middleware solution that enable the appropriate delivery, real-time monitoring, right-pricing and accurate billing of any next-generation digital service -- without disruption to existing OSS infrastructures.  The company was founded by Jonathan Sieg, formerly VP of Voice and Fax over IP Services with Bay Networks, and Bill Willcox, a principal contributor to Fujitsu Nexion's ATM switch products.  AP Engines is based in Maynard, Mass.
http://www.apengines.com
AP Engines, February 15, 2000

VPACKET TARGETS VOIP PRODUCTS
Vpacket Communications, a start-up based in San Jose, California received new financing from the Shugart Venture Fund to support its development of VoIP hardware and software offerings.
http://www.vpacket.com
Vpacket, February 15, 2000