SYLANTRO SYSTEMS INTRODUCES ITS APPLICATION SWITCH
Sylantro Systems, a start-up based in Campbell, California introduced an "application switching architecture" designed for the Applications Service Provider (ASP) business model.  Sylantro’s platform includes its own softswitch capability with a range of call routing and call state handling functions. This carrier-grade system supports SS7 signaling with ISUP, TCAP, LNP, and E911, and is a software-based solution that is deployed on industry-standard NEBS-compliant hardware running Sun Solaris OS.  The system is designed to be protocol and transmission independent.  The company said its system would be distinguished from the other softswitch offerings by its software’s ability to deliver end-user applications based on LDAP capabilities.  Sylantro will encourage the use of XML document sets to enable scripting for the majority of new applications development.  Users would be able to gain access to directory-based telephony enabled functions, ranging from simplified communications forwarding options that encompass a variety of communications devices to extensive click-to-dial support.  Investors in Sylantro include Mayfield Fund, Vanguard Venture Partners and Accel Partners. http://www.sylantro.com
Sylantro Systems, March 20, 2000

TAQUA SYSTEMS RAISES $56.3 MILLION FOR ITS CLASS 5 ACCESS SWITCH
Taqua Systems, a start-up developing a Class 5 access switch, secured $56.3 million in 3^rd round funding, bringing the total funding raised to date to more than $83.2 million.  Taqua's Open Compact Exchange (OCX) will offer Carrier Class 5 Switching, Carrier Class 4 Tandem Switching, SS7 Signaling Gateway functions, Voice Over ATM gateway functions and wireless local access capabilities.  The Taqua design puts all switching functions on line trunk cards that plug into a high capacity midplane.  An open API is used for high levels of software control over the services.  Taqua Systems is based in Hyannis, Mass.  Investors include Soros Private Equity Partners LLC, Vulcan Ventures, Amerindo Investment Partners, Dain Rauscher Wessels, Elijah Asset Management, Hambrecht & Quist and Pivotal Asset Management, Bessemer Ventures, Charles River Ventures and Columbia Capital.  http://www.taqua.com
Taqua Systems, March 20, 2000

ADC AND REDBACK NETWORKS TARGET VIDEO TRANSPORT SOLUTIONS
ADC will develop video interface modules for Redback Networks' multi-service platforms and gain the right to resell those products to the cable television market.  The companies said their joint solution would allow cable providers to deliver video, digital TV (DTV), high definition TV (HDTV), voice and data over SONET/IP networks.  http://www.redback.com  http://www.adc.com
ADC, March 20, 2000

• Redback offers a Subscriber Management System used to aggregate traffic from DSL, cable, and wireless service POPs onto a carrier network. It has also announced plans for SmartEdge products, which handle TDM and IP-based services, use several custom ASICs to provide optical cross connects, add/drop multiplexing, and deep packet processing functionality.
  

• ADC Telecommunications was among the companies that provided venture funding for Siara Systems, the developer of SONET/IP ASICs that was recently acquired by Redback Networks.

SIBERCORE INTRODUCES PACKET FORWARDING ENGINE MEMORY SCALING TO OC-768
SiberCore Technologies, a start-up based in Kanata, Ontario introduced its first "packet forwarding engine based on Ternary Content Addressable Memory (T-CAM) architecture that performs up to 100 million multi-layer, multi-protocol look-ups per second.  SiberCore said its packet-forwarding solution that can support OC-768 (40 Gbps), as well as OC-192 and OC-48 transmission systems. Each Ultra-2M device can hold 64K Layer 3 (IPv4) addresses, and can cascaded to support over one million IPv4 addresses in a single routing sub-system, with no search throughput performance penalty. http://www.sibercore.com/
SiberCore, March 20, 2000

• SiberCore was founded in 1998 by Dr. Ken Schultz, who pioneered CAM technology at Nortel Semiconductor. The company's Chief Architect (Randall Gibson) and the head of its ASIC design team (Farhad Shafai) also came from Nortel. 

XACCT ADDS RMON2 DATA COLLECTION CAPABILITY TO ITS IP USAGE BILLING SYSTEM
XACCT Technologies has added RMON2 data collection capabilities to it usage-based, IP billing and mediation platform.  RMON2 support alleviates the need to deploy additional proprietary "black-boxes" on the network to capture application-level information.  Carriers can use RMON2-compliant routers, switches and probes to capture data for use in into their back-office billing applications.  http://www.xacct.com/news/pressreleases/xacct_release_000320.htm
XACCT Technologies, March 20, 2000

360NETWORKS AND SHAW ANNOUNCE BANDWIDTH SALE, INVESTMENT
360networks inc. (formerly Worldwide Fiber Inc.) will provide US$170 million in dark fiber to Shaw Communications, a leading Canadian cable TV operator.  The three year deal covers four OC-48 channels between Vancouver and Toronto, and more than 12,000 km of dark fiber on two routes between Vancouver and Halifax.  In return, Shaw will make an equity investment of US$100 million in 360networks.   http://www.worldwidefiber.com/
360networks, March 20, 2000

BELLSOUTH TRIALS NORTEL NETWORKS' CENTREX IP
Government offices of the State of Georgia will begin testing Centrex services operating over a BellSouth IP network.  BellSouth will evaluate Nortel Networks' platform to determine the viability of rolling out Centrex IP to all its business customers.  http://www.bellsouthcorp.com/proactive/documents/render/32082.vtml
BellSouth, March 20, 2000

ADERO ACQUIRES STARBURST SOFTWARE FOR ITS CONTENT DISTRIBUTION NETWORK
Adero, a start-up developing content distribution services, will acquire StarBurst Software for an undisclosed sum.  Starburst offers distribution management solutions that provide scalable, transmission of content to distributed devices such as Internet Web Servers, Intranet Web Servers, Extranet Web Servers, kiosks, ATM machines, TV set top boxes etc.  http://www.starburstsoftware.com  http://www.adero.com/news/pr/03-20-00.html
Adero, March 20, 2000

• Adero recently unveiled a network architecture designed for rapid deployment of Web content, distributed applications and e-commerce services.  Core features of the service include intelligent routing of static and dynamic Web site content to distribution nodes in 30 countries, customer traffic logging and reporting capabilities, network monitoring, and customer billing.   Adero also supports multicasting of live media streams, which reduces network bandwidth by transmitting one stream from the origin server to an Adero node near the end-users.  The company's Commerce service will distribute transaction processing to the edge of the Adero network, nearer to customers.  The distribution network also provides localization, including local payment methods, currencies and languages.

CISCO REACHES ONE MILLION ADSL PORT SHIPMENT MILESTONE
Cisco Systems has shipped over million ADSL subscriber ports on DSLAMs to its service provider customers worldwide.  The company noted 38 new DSL customers in the last calendar quarter of 1999.  http://www.cisco.com/warp/public/146/pressroom/2000/mar00/sp_032000.htm
Cisco Systems, March 20, 2000

• Cisco Systems acquired NetSpeed Inc. for its DSLAMs and DSL modems in March 1998 for $236 million in stock

CISCO INTRODUCES ITS 11 MBPS WIRELESS LAN SOLUTION
Cisco Systems an IEEE 802.11b-compliant wireless LAN solution that includes access points, and PC Card, PCI and ISA client adapters, Ethernet clients, as well as line-of-sight outdoor bridges.  The products provide Ethernet-like bandwidth at rates up to 11 Mbps.  http://www.cisco.com/warp/public/146/pressroom/2000/mar00/smb_032000.htm
Cisco Systems, March 20, 2000

• Cisco Systems acquired Aironet Wireless Communications for its wireless LAN solutions in November 1999 for $799 million in stock

ARROWPOINT BOOSTS HORSEPOWER OF ITS WEB SWITCH TO HANDLE 11 BILLION HITS/DAY
ArrowPoint Communications announced new high-speed processors that boost the power of its CS-800 Content Smart Web Switches to handle 11 billion hits per day.  The company released performance benchmarks from ZD Labs outlining Web switching in a test bed of 47 Web servers.   http://www.arrowpoint.com/
ArrowPoint Communications, March 20, 2000

• Last October, Alcatel signed an OEM agreement to resell ArrowPoint Communications' Content Smart web Switches. 

3COM ANNOUNCES RESTRUCTURING
3Com announced a corporate restructuring to focus on three networking markets: consumers, commercial customers, and network service providers. 3Com's plans include:

• transition out of its large enterprise LAN core business by discontinuing its CoreBuilder.  Extreme Networks will provide 3Com customers with a migration path to its BlackDiamond chassis switches.  
  

• transition out of its large enterprise WAN core business, discontinuing its iPathBuilder and NetBuilder product lines
  

• sell its existing analog modem and PC card modem business to a new venture formed with Accton and NatSteel Electronics.  
  

• acquire Call Technologies, a leading developer of Unified Messaging (UM) and Operational Systems and Support (OSS) software solutions for service providers, for $90 million. The deal adds service creation capabilities to 3Com's CommWorks architecture and Total Control multi-service access platform for carriers.  Call Tech. is based in Reston, Virginia.
  

• form alliances with Inktomi for web-caching, F5 for load balancing, Apropos Technology for call center solutions based on LAN Telephony, and Sonic Wall for firewall capabilities.
  

• resell Copper Mountain Networks' DSL concentrators and customer premise equipment.  

http://www.3com.com/news/0320/index.html
3Com, March 20, 2000

• Separately, 3Com reported quarterly sales of $1.415 billion, down 4% sequentially and up slightly over the same period last year.  Net income was $97.4 million or $0.27 per share, excluding one-time gains and charges.