NARUS DEVELOPS "CONTENT METERING" FOR IP USAGE-BASED BILLING
NARUS introduced new "content metering" capabilities that will enable its IP Billing Mediation System to transform certain network traffic into billable events using third-party billing systems.  More specifically, the new NARUS Content Metering Service system enables ISPs to track and bill accurately for music (MP3 and others), video, and other high-value content. Service providers could, for example, develop an "MP3-on-demand" service whereby subscribers can be automatically billed whenever a music file is downloaded.  Other NARUS modules would enable ISP, portal providers and Web site operators to track and bill for a wide range of activity -- from the volume of traffic going to specific domains, down to "micro-transactions" or billing for individual web links or URLs selected by individual customers.  The NARUS platform uses hardware appliances known Semantics Analyzers that are installed through a network to capture application-level usage information in real time.  The company claims its system can scale to support real-time usage collection and billing in large Voice-over-IP environments representing 50,000,000 active subscribers with 5,600 billing events per second – over 400,000,000 events per day.  NARUS is a start-up based in Palo Alto, California.  http://www.narus.com/press/june26_ibi_platform.html
NARUS, June 26, 2000

• NARUS will release an "open source" API that may be used by any company intending to implement the approved IPDR.org Network Data Management - Usage (NDM-U) Version 1.0 specification.  The IPDR standard is aimed at streamlining the effort required to collect, process and apply usage information in IP networks.  http://www.narus.com/press/june26_ipdr.html
  http://www.ipdr.org

WILLIAMS EXPANDS CAPITAL EXPENDITURES TO ACCELERATE NETWORK ROLLOUT, NEW DATA CENTERS
Williams Communications plans to spend nearly $1 billion over the next several years to build dedicated data centers, expand its network colocation facilities and to scale up its IP network.  The expansion will increase Williams' capital expenditure program for 2000 and 2001 to $5.8 billion.  Part of the new spending will be used to construct and equip new or expanded colocation and data center facilities, increasing space by nearly 700,000 square feet from its current 1.25 million square feet.  The company currently has 28,000 miles of its planned 33,000-mile network deployed.  http://www.williamscommunications.com/
Williams, June 26, 2000

AEERIE ORDERS 8.9 MILLION MILES OF CORNING'S LEAF FIBER FOR NATIONAL NETWORK
Aerie Networks, a new national bandwidth carrier backed by major energy companies, agreed to purchase 8.9 million miles (14.24 million kms) of Corning's LEAF fiber.  The deal was valued in excess of $1 billion over four years.  Aeerie has already secured access to 14,958 miles of rights of way across the continental US from 12 energy pipeline and communications companies.  Its network architecture calls for 432-fiber count cable to be installed throughout its planned long-haul routes.  The company will begin laying conduit later this summer and plans to complete its network build out in 2004. Aeerie investors include BP Amoco, Buckeye Partners, CMS Energy, Explorer Pipeline, Kinder Morgan, Marathon Ashland Pipe Line, National Fuel Gas, Plantation Pipe Line, PG&E, Sempra, Sun Pipe Line and TEPPCO, among others.  Aeerie is based in Denver.  http://www.aerienetworks.com   http://www.corningfiber.com
Corning, June 26, 2000

• Aeerie Networks is led by Peter Geddis (CEO), formerly COO of Qwest.

GLOBAL CROSSING SELECTS LUCENT'S 80-CHANNEL DWDM IN BRAZIL
Global Crossing will deploy Lucent Technologies' 80-channel WaveStar OLS 400G platform in the Brazilian portion of its network.  The system will be installed with 10 Gbps capacities, making it among the largest optical networks in South America.  Additionally, Global Crossing this month will begin testing Lucent's WaveStar LamdaRouter all-optical switch.  The product uses arrays of microscopic mirrors to direct and route optical signals from fiber to fiber.  Commercial deployments of the optical switch could begin as early as September.
http://www.lucent.com/press/0600/000626.nsb.html
Lucent Technologies, June 26, 2000

BROADWING DEPLOYS CORVIS' LONG-HAUL OPTICAL PLATFORM
Broadwing Communications began commercial deployment of Corvis' long-haul optical platform along a fiber route from Phoenix, Arizona to El Paso, Texas.  The Corvis system allows the transmission of optical signals up to 3,200 km without electrical regeneration.  Broadwing's first all-optical route uses state-of-the-art, non-zero dispersion-shifted fiber.  Upgrades for the rest of the network are planned throughout the year.  Broadwing is the first to deploy the Corvis platform.  http://www.broadwing.com
Broadwing, June 26, 2000

NETRAIL ATTRACTS $50 MILLION TO EXPAND ITS NETWORK
NetRail, a facilities-based provider building a Tier One network across the US, raised $50 million from UBS Capital Americas and Summit Capital Group to expand its infrastructure.  The Atlanta-based company has secured $75 million over the past 9 months.  NetRail is targeting high bandwidth applications, such as video content distribution and virtual private networking services.   http://www.netrail.net
NetRail, June 26, 2000

• NetRail's network uses Lucent's CBX-500 ATM switches and Juniper Networks' M-40 routers.

WAVESPLITTER NAMES NEW CEO
WaveSplitter Technologies, a start-up developing optical amplifier and DWDM components, named Bill Diamond as its new President and CEO.  Diamond most recently was vice president of marketing at E-TEK Dynamics and was a major contributor to the company's successful IPO.  Prior to E-TEK, Diamond directed the worldwide marketing activities for Lucent Technologies' Optoelectronics business unit.  WaveSplitter is based in Fremont, California.  http://www.wavesplitter.com/
WaveSplitter, June 26, 2000

SOLINET SYSTEMS RAISES SEED FUNDING FOR NEW OPTICAL TRANSMISSION SYSTEMS
Solinet Systems, a start-up based in Ottawa, Canada, secured US$15 million in seed funding to pursue its vision of optical transmission systems.  The company was founded last month by a group of senior design engineers formerly with Nortel Networks and Lucent Microelectronics.  Investors include Bessemer Venture Partners, Worldview Technology Partners and Altamira Financial Services.  http://www.solinetsystems.com/
Solinet Systems, June 26, 2000

LUCENT INVESTS IN ISPSOFT FOR PROVISIONING TOOLS
Lucent Technologies' New Ventures Group announced an equity investment in ISPSoft, a start-up based in Tinton Falls, New Jersey.  The company is developing ISP software tools for automated provisioning and bulk provisioning with different classes of service.  Financial terms were not disclosed.  The deal is the 21st venture announced by Lucent's New Ventures Group.  http://www.ispsoft.com.
http://www.lucent.com/press/0600/000626.cob.html
Lucent Technologies, June 26, 2000

• ISPSoft is led Dr. Binay Sugla, formerly a researcher at Lucent's Bell Laboratories, where he was the designer and co-implementor of two significant systems, the Network Flight Simulator - a real-time simulator for public networks, and CAPER - a visual programming environment for parallel and distributed systems.

BROADSOFT RAISES $23 MILLION FOR ITS CONVERGED SERVICE MANAGEMENT
Broadsoft, a start-up developing a converged voice/data service creation and delivery architecture, secured $23 million in a second round of venture financing.  Broadsoft's platform allows a consumer to use a Web server to manage call waiting, voice mail, conferencing, auto-attendant and follow-me-anywhere features.  The system is transport independent and will interoperate with the circuit-switched PSTN, as well as IP and ATM networks.  Broadsoft's investors include BroadBand Office, Comdisco Ventures, Crescendo Ventures, Bessemer Venture Partners, Charles River Ventures and Columbia Capital.
http://www.broadsoft.com
Broadsoft, June 26, 2000

• Broadsoft was founded in 1998 by Michael Tessler and Scott Hoffpauir, both of whom previously were with Celcore (DSC/Alcatel USA).  The company is based in Gaithersburg, Maryland.

BRIX NETWORKS DEVELOPS TOOLS FOR HIGH VALUE IP SERVICES
Brix Networks, a start-up based in Billerica, MA., named a former UUNET executive and a former RSA Security executive to its senior management team.  Rick Mealy, formerly UUNET's director of hosting services, joined Brix Networks as VP of worldwide sales.  John McNamara, formerly vice president of operations for RSA Security, was VP of manufacturing.  Brix Networks has raised $25 million in two rounds of venture capital funding to date.  The company is developing an integrated system that would enable ISPs ensure the performance of high value IP services to business customers over the public network.  Product plans have not yet been disclosed.  http://www.brixnet.com/
Brix Networks, June 26, 2000

• Brix Networks is led by Tom Pincince, who previously founded New Oak Communications, a developer of extranet VPN switches that was acquired by Bay Networks.  The Oak products are now Nortel Networks' Contivity product line.