VENDORS FORM WIRELESS DSL CONSORTIUM SEEKING MMDS-DOCSIS INTERFACE STANDARD
Six leading communications and semiconductor companies formed a new Wireless DSL Consortium with the goal of establishing an open, standard air interface for the 2 to 4 GHz Point to Multipoint Broadband Wireless Access market.  The spectrum covers the multichannel multipoint distribution service (MMDS) in the US and Canada, as well as the 3.5GHz bands being made available in other countries.  The consortium will pursue a multifaceted standard that takes advantage of multicarrier design that is significantly enhanced by smart antenna and smart system technologies to increase capacity and coverage. One of the consortium members claims to be in the late stages of developing such a technology.  The air interface will be based on Data-Over-Cable Service Interface Specification (DOCSIS) with enhancements for in both the MAC (Media Access Control) and physical layers.. A reference point physical layer will be based on time division multiple access/frequency diversity duplex (TDMA/FDD) technology.  Founding members of the consortium include ADC, Conexant Systems, Gigabit Wireless, Intel, Nortel Networks and Vyyo.  http://www.wdslconsortium.com/
The Wireless DSL Consortium, July 11, 2000

• Vyyo's DOCSIS+ air interface will be used as the initial reference point by the new Wireless DSL Consortium for defining open wireless standards.   http://www.vyyo.com
  

• The new physical layer standard pursued by the Consortium is based on a technology known as MIMO-OFDM (multiple-in multiple-out orthogonal frequency division multiplexing).  It uses "smart antennas" to enable non-line of sight operation.

NEW BROADBAND WIRELESS INTERNET FORUM SETS CHARTER FOR VOFDM
A new Broadband Wireless Internet Forum (BWIF) has been created to drive the adoption of a single, unified broadband wireless access industry standard based on Vector Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (VOFDM) technology.  BWIF members agree to cross-license to other BWIF members, the technologies required to implement the standard on a worldwide, royalty-free basis.  Cisco Systems is contributing several patent-pending Broadband Wireless intellectual property innovations based on VOFDM.  Broadcom Corporation is also leading the group.  An open meeting will be held on July 26, 2000 in Denver, Colorado for interested parties.   The BWIF is organized by the IEEE Industry Standards and Technology Organization (IEEE-ISTO).  http://www.ieee-isto.org/bwif/
BWIF, July 11, 2000

Last year, the FCC approved a request by Clarity Wireless (Cisco Systems) for the regular use of Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing Modulation ("OFDM") at stations operating in the Multipoint Distribution Service (MDS) and the Instructional Television Fixed Service (ITFS) bands.  In September 1998, Cisco Systems acquired Clarity Wireless, a developer of microwave technology for last mile access, for $157 million in stock.

CONVERGENT NETWORKS ACQUIRES SOFTSWITCH VENDOR, ADDING CLASS FEATURES TO MEDIA GATEWAY
Convergent Networks will acquire Technology Control Services, a start-up developing service creation softswitches and applications, in a stock-swap transaction.  Financial terms were not disclosed.  TCS offers an Intelligent Services softswitch that provides both call control and an open service creation environment for delivery of carrier-class services, including traditional CLASS features, and enhanced applications, like unified messaging and pre-paid calling card services.  The company already has supply agreements with BT, Stonehenge Telecom and Embratel.  Convergent Networks offers the Integrated Convergence Switch, a next generation packet switch that provides interworking and adaptation between traditional TDM and packet switched networks.  The platform serves as an alternative to traditional circuit switches and as a solution for offloading Internet dial-up traffic.  The company plans to integrate the TCS softswitch technology into its convergence product line, thereby creating a full, next-generation voice switching solution based on an unbundled switching model  TCS has more than 100 employees and is based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.  Convergent Networks is based in Lowell, MA.  http://www.convergentnetworks.com  http://www.techcontrol.com
Convergent Networks, July 11, 2000

Last month, Convergent Networks outlined plans for adding VoDSL capabilities to its platform using DSP-based feature modules.  These will enable the ICS platform to receives ATM-based voice and data traffic originating from customer xDSL integrated access devices (IADs) via a DSLAM.  When combined with a softswitch, the platform would allow carriers to deploy IADs at the customer premise to efficiently concentrate voice/data over local loops.

ABOVENET TO OFFER OPTIMIZED CONNECTIVITY TO AOL DATA CENTERS
Metromedia Fiber Network announced an agreement with America Online under which its AboveNet Communications subsidiary will offer co-location with optical IP connectivity into AOL data centers.  Under the arrangement, content-provider customers of AOL and MFN will have access to AboveNet's "one-hop" Internet backbone as well as direct connection to AOL's network.  MFN said the service would offer "superior delivery of content to AOL members," including rich media services like video streaming.   http://www.mmfn.com/index_new.html
MFN, July 11, 2000

DELTATHREE.COM SEES INTERNET TELEPHONY TRAFFIC RISE 37% IN Q2
deltathree.com, which operates a global IP telephony backbone, reported that its subscriber base increased to 3.1 million users in Q2, up about 40% over the previous quarter.  During Q2, deltathree.com carried 67 million telephony minutes, compared to 49 million minutes in Q1 (up 37%).  During the quarter, deltathree.com signed several strategic alliances, including ones with Priceline.com (name your own price model), Arbinet (a full online exchange for automated delivery of telephony bandwidth), StoreRunner.com (shopping with Internet telephony), chinadotcom and China Unicom (traffic termination for regular phones and mobile phones in China).  For the quarter, the company reported revenues of $7.9 million and a net loss of $8.6 million or ($0.30) per diluted share.  http://www.deltathree.com/
Deltathree.com, July 11, 2000

Some Yahoo! Traffic Growth Metrics
Yahoo! reported quarterly earnings two cents above market expectations.  Its quarterly report also provided an expanded insight into some of the parameters of its traffic growth.

ORACLE AND CISCO SYSTEMS TEAM ON VOIP CONTACT CENTERS
Oracle and Cisco Systems agreed to jointly develop and deliver a joint VoIP solution for contact centers.  The offering would combine the Oracle E-Business Suite with Cisco's customer contact software platform and would be capable of managing all types of customer interaction, such as phone, e-mail, web collaboration, web chat, interactive voice response (IVR) and VoIP.  The solution will be available through Systems integration partners such as e-Loyalty and KPMG.
http://www.oracle.com/cgi-bin/press/pr.cgi
Oracle, July 11, 2000

QUARRY TECHNOLOGIES NAMES NEW CEO
Quarry Technologies, a start-up developing a network-aware applications delivery switch, named Jamie B. Bader as its new President and CEO.  Bader previously served as President of Oak Technologies' Frequency Control Group.  Jean Hammond, founder of Quarry Technologies, will remain with the company as Chief Strategy Officer.  http://www.quarrytech.com/press_release_7_10_bader.html
Quarry, July 11, 2000

• Quarry is developing an Application Service Edge Switch.  The platform will use custom ASICs incorporating a unique Prioritized Weighted Fair Queuing technique to enable fine-grained packet prioritization over service provider networks. The platform will provide high performance routing, MPLS, Differentiated Services, and VPN technologies. In addition to its own ASICs, the box will use network processors from Sitera (now Vitesse).

LARA NETWORKS NAMES NEW CEO
Lara Networks, a developer of Network Application Processors (NAP) for Internet infrastructure, named Kamal Gunsagar as its CEO and Jayan Ramankutty as its new President and COO. Ajit Medhekar, founder and interim President of Lara Networks, continues a role with Lara Networks as chairman.  Lara Networks offers a series of high-performance Network Database Search Engines built using IBM's 0.18-micron copper process technology.  The search processors are optimized to scan silicon-based tables at speeds exceeding 80 million look-ups per second and can house tables holding one million addresses.  http://www.laranetworks.com
Lara Networks, July 11, 2000

LAYERONE BUILDS NETWORK OF NEUTRAL COLOCATION FACILITIES
LayerOne Inc, a new venture based in Dallas, Texas, announced plans to open carrier-grade neutral colocation facilities in 12 US locations by the end of the year.  Its first NEXUS facilities are operational in Chicago and Miami. http://www.layerone.com
LayerOne, July 11, 2000

LEVEL3 TO BUILD COLOCATION FACILITIES IN TAIWAN, KOREA
Level3 Communications will build colocation facilities in Taiwan and in Korea offering direct connectivity into its global network via its North Asian undersea fiber-optic cable system.  Level3 estimates that the cost of bandwidth in key Asian markets is still 8 to 11 times higher than in the United States or Europe.  http://www.level3.com/us/news/newsreleases/0,1909,20000711,00.html
Level3 Communications, July 11, 2000

WILLIAMS CONFIRMS CORVIS' LONG-HAUL, ALL OPTICAL TRANSMISSION
Williams Communications successfully completed testing of an all-optical terrestrial transmission spanning 3,200 kms without signal regeneration.  The transmission used Corvis' optical platform carrying multiple OC-48 signals.  Current network architectures usually require regeneration every 400-600 km. http://www.corvis.com
Corvis, July 11, 2000

• In April, Williams Communications will purchase $200 million in Corvis products upon the successful completion of the field trials.

OKI SEMICONDUCTOR ALIGNS INTO 3 GROUPS
Oki Semiconductor re-organized its forces into 3 operating divisions:  optical components, silicon solutions and R&D.  The optical components division includes Oki's laser products, 10Gbps GaAs integrated circuits and other components; the silicon solutions group offers computer telephony devices; ASICs; a System-On-a-Chip (SOC) platform; system LSIs; and memory devices.  http://www.okisemi.com
Oki Semiconductor, July 11, 2000

VXTEL SECURES $12.6 MILLION FOR ITS VOICE/PACKET SILICON
VxTel, a start-up developing silicon for high-density voice-over-packet systems, secured $12.6 million in new funding from Sequoia Capital, TeleSoft Partners and Raza Venture Fund.  The said it is pursuing a unique signal-processing architecture.  Product specifics have not yet been disclosed.  VxTel is based in Fremont, California and has facilities in Colorado and Bangalore, India.  http://www.vxtel.com/
VxTel, July 11, 2000