• Last week, Agilent Technologies agreed to provide its optical switch matrix design to Alcatel for use in developing optical network switching elements.  Financial terms were not disclosed. 

VERISIGN TO ACQUIRE NETWORK SOLUTIONS
VeriSign, which provides credit authentication, payment, and validation services, will acquire Network Solutions for approximately $21 billion in stock (March 6 prices).  Network Solutions is the leading registrar and exclusive registry of domain names in .com, .net, and .org.  The company's Registry business is the sole provider of .com, .net, and .org. registration services to 34 domain name registrars worldwide, and serves as the Internet's "master directory" for those domain names.  The company's said their merger would "take e-commerce to the next level" by combining authentication, eCommerce and registration services.  http://www.verisign.com/press/2000/corporate/netsol.html
VeriSign, March 7, 2000

THE MPLS FORUM SETS ITS CHARTER
Sixteen networking and telecommunications companies have established The MPLS Forum, an industry association whose mission is to accelerate interoperability and deployment of MultiProtocol Label Switching and its associated technologies.  The Forum said it would help facilitate worldwide compatibility and interoperability by sponsoring interoperability events through universities and member connect-athons. The Forum will also publish MPLS Implementation Agreements, promote MPLS technologies at tradeshows and conferences, act as a central reference on MPLS resources, and educate the market.  Founding members include Broadband Office, Data Connection Ltd, Ennovate Networks, George Mason University Advanced Internet Lab, GlobeSpan, Harris & Jeffries, Integral Access, Inverness Systems, Nokia High-Speed Access Products, Lucent Technologies, Marconi, Qwest Communications, Telcordia, Tenor Networks, Valient Networks, and Vivace Networks.  http://www.mplsforum.org
The MPLS Forum, March 7, 2000

VOICEXML FORUM ISSUES VERSION 1.0 OF NEW MARK UP LANGUAGE FOR VOICE INTERNET ACCESS
The VoiceXML Forum completed its first specification for providing voice access to Web content and services.  The VoiceXML 1.0 specification aims to simplify the creation and delivery of Web-based, personalized interactive voice-response services; enable phone and voice access to integrated call center databases, information and services on Web sites, and company intranets; and help enable new voice-capable devices and appliances.  A total of 79 companies are now participating in the Forum.  http://www.voicexml.org
The VoiceXML Forum, March 7, 2000

PEOPLESOFT ENTERS APPLICATION SERVICES PROVIDER BUSINESS
PeopleSoft launched an ASP business to offer front- and back-office applications, as well as both buy-side and sell-side e-commerce solutions, through an Internet portal.  The PeopleSoft eCenter delivers human resource, financial management and procurement applications.  Future online services include eStore, customer relationship management, supply chain management, outsourced government and higher education applications.  PeopleSoft eCenter infrastructure providers include Sun Microsystems, Exodus Communications, Cisco Systems, MCI WorldCom and Pilot Network Services.  http://www.peoplesoft.com/
PeopleSoft, March 7, 2000

ALCATEL SHOWS 40 GBPS TRANSMISSION, EXPANDS OPTICAL COMPONENTS BUSINESS
At this week's Optical Fiber Communications (OFC) conference, Alcatel is showing Nx40Gbps DWDM technology that enables single-band transmission of 1.6 Tbps per fiber.  Alcatel said it would be able to achieve a further fourfold increase in capacity switched through an all-optical cross-connect (OXC) that operates independent of bitrate.  Alcatel also outlined plans to begin selling passive optical devices, including Arrayed Wave Guides that process up to 40 separate wavelength of light.  It will also supply compact optical amplifiers for metro DWDM applications, a new class of laser pumps for long-haul fiber transport, and a highly integrated OC-192 optical interface.  Until now, Alcatel has sold only active components such as lasers, optical amplifiers and optical interfaces.
http://www.alcatel.com
Alcatel, March 7, 2000

NORTEL OFFERS NEW OPTOELECTRONIC COMPONENTS, INCLUDING TUNABLE LASERS
Nortel Networks announced four major innovations in optoelectronic components: 

• Wavelength Tunability -– current technology enables a 20-channel tunable laser with a 50GHz grid.  Future enhancements include integration of the tunable laser and GaAs-modulator and a migration to 40 Gbps+ rates.
• Meteor Multiwavelength Gain Module (MGM) – a WDM amplifier designed for volume production.
• Integrated Laser Modulator -- combining a laser, splitter, external modulator, wavelength locker, and variable optical attenuator in one package
• Integrated Receivers – including a 10 Gbps APD-Preamp device.

Nortel Networks' components business currently has an annual revenue run rate of more than US$1 billion.  http://www.nortelnetworks.com
Nortel Networks, March 7, 2000

QTERA'S LONG-HAUL OPTICAL TRANSPORT BREAKS THE 4,000 KM DISTANCE BARRIER
Qtera, a subsidiary of Nortel Networks, said its ultra-long-haul photonic networking system breaks the 4000 km distance barrier without opto-electronic regeneration.  The system supports 10 Gbps backbones.  At OFC, Qtera is showing its ULTRA system transporting 56 DWDM channel at 10 Gbps over 3,600 km of fiber.  The demonstration uses Nortel Networks' Versalar 25000s, the Juniper Networks M40, and the Avici TSR platforms as the router interfaces to the Qtera ULTRA.  GTE Internetworking will test the Qtera platform beginning in Q3.  http://www.nortelnetworks.com/
Qtera, March 7, 2000

NANOVATION DEBUTS ITS OPTICAL SWITCHES, SPLITTERS AND MODULATORS
Nanovation, a start-up based in Miami, unveiled its new optical switches, splitters and modulators.  Nanovation said its "Nanoshutter" technology uses a latching switch mechanism for reduced power and very wideband operation.  The patent-pending technology combines silicon micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) switches with a proprietary silica-on-silicon wave-guide process.  http://www.nanovation.com/
Nanovation, March 7, 2000

LUCENT TO BOOST FIBER PRODUCTION BY 60% IN 2000
Lucent Technologies will increase its fiber output by more than 60% this year to meet the growing market demand for fiber cable.  To date, Lucent has shipped 9 billion meters of its TrueWave non-zero dispersion fiber. http://www.lucent.com/press/0300/000307.nsb.html
Lucent Technologies, March 7, 2000

EFFICIENT NETWORKS RAISES $400 MILLION THROUGH BOND SALE
Efficient Networks raised $400 million through the sale of 5% convertible subordinated notes due 2005.  The company plans to use the funds for general corporate purposes.  Efficient said a portion of the net proceeds might be used to acquire or invest in complementary businesses, products, or technologies.  http://www.efficient.com/news/200003072.html
Efficient Networks, March 7, 2000

NY'S TRANSBEAM SELECTS ACCESSLAN FOR VODSL
Transbeam, a New York-based CLEC, selected AccessLan's PacketLoop DSL Concentrators in one of the largest deployments of VoDSL, reaching as many as 50 central offices in the NY area in Q2 and several hundred COs in the New York-to-Virginia corridor over the next 12 months.  Transbeam, which is currently a reseller of both NorthPoint and Covad DSL circuits, provides DSL to the National Hockey League, Studio A, Sterling National Bank -- and other small to medium-sized business enterprises. Transbeam will use AccessLan's leading PacketLoop DSL devices to build-out its own DSL infrastructure.  Financial terms were not disclosed.  http://www.transbeam.com  http://www.accesslan.com
AccessLAN, March 7, 2000

UltraDNS RAISES $8 MILLION FOR ITS SCALABLE DIRECTORY SERVICES
UltraDNS, a start-up developing scalable directory service solutions, secured $8 million in funding from VantagePoint Venture Partners and New Enterprise Associates.  The company will target its initial services at the Internet infrastructure management space.  Product plans were not disclosed.  http://www.ultradns.com
UltraDNS, March 7, 2000

PORTERA SECURES $33 MILLION FOR WEB-HOSTED APPLICATION SERVICES
Portera, a start-up developing Web-hosted, subscription-based application and business services, raised $33 million in venture financing from Van Wagoner Capital Management, Integral Capital Partners, Hambrecht & Quist, Institutional Venture Partners, Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, Oracle, RRE Ventures, and Weiss Peck & Greer.  Portera has partnered with Oracle, Sun Microsystems, Cisco, EMC, DigitalThink and Concentric to deliver its industry-specific back-office outsourcing services.  Customers include Vodafone Airtouch, Inventa, Exodus Communications, Asera, E.piphany and Baan.  Portera is based in Campbell, California.  http://www.portera.com
Portera, March 7, 2000