VillaMontage Targets Last Mile Residential Access
VillaMontage, a start-up led by Dave House (former chairman and CEO of Bay Networks) and Tony Clark (former VP of strategic planning with Nortel Networks), announced its plans for a content-aware software architecture and broadband access MMDS system aimed at the market for last mile residential access.  VillaMontage is developing a Broadband Operating System Software (BOSS) architecture that could support various local loop access options, including MMDS, DSL, and cable.  The multilayer software includes a hardware specific layer (with support for priority queuing and access class policing), an IP services layer (CoS, QoS, network address translation, routing, and security) and an application layer with APIs for third party, premium content applications.  On the hardware side, VillaMontage is developing an Internet Access System for multipoint multichannel distribution (MMDS) service delivery.  The company will leverage a proprietary Tetherless Network Transport Media Access Controller (TNT MAC) to regulate simultaneous transmission of voice, video and data streams.  The forthcoming line of service provider equipment will include a gigabit class, Multi-service Switching System (MSS) for connecting wireless POPs to optical backbones, and an outdoor Base Station array of antennas that together provide up to 360 degrees of MMDS coverage for up to 1,000 or more residences.  At the customer premise, VillaMontage will offer a broadband home gateway and an outdoor antenna/radio/modem. Service provider lab trials are anticipated by Q4.  The company is based in San Jose, California.  http://www.villamontage.com
VillaMontage, May 1, 2000

HotRail Unveils its First Two Chips for Fast System Interconnects
HotRail, a start-up IC designer based in San Jose, California, unveiled its first two CMOS transceivers for supporting multi-gigabit packet data rates across system backplanes.  The new ICs are the HotRail Channel parallel data transceiver, supporting up to 16 Gbps chip-to-chip transmission rates, and the SkyRail Link serial transceiver, which supports either 2.5 Gbps or 3.125 Gbps data rate interconnect applications at distances up to 30 meters.  Both products are now sampling.  HotRail also announced plans for a series of crossbar switch fabric ICs designed to meet the emerging demand for systems supporting interconnect data rates of 10 Gbps and greater.  http://www.hotrail.com/
HotRail, May 1, 2000

• HotRail is led by Rick Shriner, formerly president & CEO of Exponential Technology, a semiconductor start-up building a 500 MHz Power PC Processor.  The company has obtained $34.5 million in venture financing from Techfarm, Woodside Fund, Chase Venture Capital, Charter Ventures, Ontario TPP, Sky Capital, Selby Venture Partners, and Wasserstein Adelson Venture.

MRV Acquires JOLT (wireless optical), Optronics Int. (lasers for FTTH) and Quantum (WDM Filters)
MRV Communications will acquire Jolt Ltd., an Israeli start-up developing optical wireless systems.  JOLT, which has been an early developer of free space optical transmissions, was founded by Dr. David Medved, who is known for his pioneering work in the physics of over-the-air optics.  The company claims to have 3,000 wireless optical systems already installed in six continents. It currently offers an all-weather (except for heavy fog) wireless optical system supporting 2km links and mesh architectures.  http://www.jolt.co.il/

MRV will acquire Optronics International Corporation (OIC), a manufacturer of laser diodes and transceivers.  Its lasers are particularly suitable for fiber to the home applications. The company has 170 people and is based in Hsinchu Science Park, Taiwan. OIC was founded by Dr. C.J. Hwang, formerly with Bell Laboratories and Hewlett Packard Research Laboratories.

MRV will also acquire Quantum Optech (QOI), a manufacturer of optical thin film coating and filters for DWDM and CWDM.  QOI, which is located in Taiwan, was founded by Dr. W.N. Wang who is now a professor at the University of Bath, England

All three companies will be acquired for a combined 3.4 million shares of MRV common stock (valued at about US$234 million , based on 28-Apr-00 closing price).  http://www.mrv.com/
MRV, April 28, 2000

Qwest Offers Customer Web Controls for Data, IP and Voice Networks
Qwest Communications introduced a Web-based network management service that enables customers to monitor, manage and configure their network and billing across Qwest's multiple data, IP and voice networks.  The Web-based customer control provides historical and real-time network statistics, a trouble ticket manager, alarm configurations, customer network maps and enterprise users' access and profiles.  Major customers are already using the controls for Qwest's Dedicated Internet Access (DIA), Frame Relay, and Virtual Network Services (VNS).  http://www.qwest.com
Qwest Communications, May 1, 2000

CoSine Raises $70 Million in new Funding
CoSine Communications, a start-up developing an IP service delivery switching system, secured $70 million in new financing from its existing investors and Network Associates and Octane Capital.  http://www.cosinecom.com
CoSine Communications, April 30, 2000

• In September 1999, CoSine announced $58 million in a fourth round of financing, bringing the total amount raised by the company at that time to $92.5 million.  CoSine's product set includes an IPSX 9000 service processing switch with a 22 Gbps midplane (11 Gbps with protection), hot- swappable Services Blades, automatic failover and redundant power systems. The architecture creates a service-processing layer between the access concentration edge of service provider networks and their high-speed cores.  
• CoSine was founded by Dean Hamilton, previously General Manager of the Carrier Signalling Infrastructure business unit of Ascend Communications. Investors include Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, Norwest Venture Partners, Communications Ventures, Crescendo Ventures, Worldview Technology Partners, Lucent Venture Partners, BCE Capital Inc., Anschutz Investments and Wilson Investors.

Motorola and TI Join Broadband Content Delivery Forum
The Broadband Content Delivery Forum, an industry group initiated by Nortel Networks last month, added Motorola and Texas Instruments to its list of more than 50 other member companies.  The BCD Forum's first meeting will be held later this month at NetWorld+Interop 2000 in Las Vegas.  The group promotes open architectures for delivering rich multimedia content and an improved end user experience over emerging broadband networks.  http://www.nortelnetworks.com/  http://www.bcdforum.org
Nortel Networks, April 28, 2000

KPN Selects Nokia for its DSL Network in Holland
KPN will use the Nokia D50 Digital Subscriber Line Access Multiplexer (DSLAM) for its ADSL service in The Netherlands.  Financial terms were not disclosed.  KPN is the incumbent carrier in The Netherlands, serving over 8 million fixed network customers and close to 4 million mobile (GSM) customers.  http://www.nokia.com
Nokia, April 28, 2000

Mitel Announces Smart Access Device for VoDSL
Mitel introduced an integrated access device (IAD) with call controller intelligence and support for concurrent attachment to one or more analog PSTN trunks in addition to a primary VoDSL connection.  The Mitel SMART-1 I²AD connects an analog PBX, Key System, and Ethernet LAN to the VoDSL circuit and PSTN lines.  For service resilience, the device automatically routes calls to one or more analog PSTN trunks if the VoDSL service goes down.  It also offers selective call routing, for instance, 911 calls would always go over the analog circuit.  Mitel is working with CopperCom and Jetstream on VoDSL solutions.  http://www.mitel.com
Mitel, April 28, 2000

US West Reaches 136,000 DSL Subscribers
As of March 31, US West was serving 136,000 DSL customers, up from 110,000 at the end of December 1999.  US West said 95% of its DSL customers self-install the service.  US West also claims to be the most densely penetrated of any DSL provider nationwide, with more than 14% of qualified on-line customers taking the service. The company currently has 257 central offices DSL equipped and serves 529 subscribers in each of those COs.
http://www.uswest.com/news/042800.html
US West, April 28, 2000