MICROSOFT TARGETS WEB SERVICES WITH VISUAL STUDIO.NET
Speaking at the opening of COMDEX/Fall 2000, Bill Gates said “ninety-nine percent of the great Internet applications have yet to be written.”  Microsoft hopes to contribute to the development of next generation Internet applications through the launch of Visual Studio^.NET, its programming environment for Web services.  The beta 1 release of Visual Studio.NET occurs this week.  http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2000/Nov00/COMDEX2000KeynotePR.asp
Microsoft, November 12, 2000

MICROSOFT AND SAGEM LAUNCH FIRST POCKET PC WITH GSM/GPRS
SAGEM and Microsoft introduced a Pocket PC featuring dual-band GSM/GPRS capabilities for WAP/SMS services.  The 198-gram device offers the ability to place and receive mobile phone calls (GSM), including hands-free and speakerphone capabilities.  The General Packet Radio Services (GPRS) support will enable Wireless Internet browsing using MS Pocket Internet Explorer.  http://www.sagem.com/en/
http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2000/Nov00/SAGEMPR.asp
Microsoft, November 10, 2000

GATEWAY TO LAUNCH CONSUMER TOUCH PAD INTERNET APPLIANCE WITH INSTANT AOL
Starting in late November, Gateway will begin offering a Touch Pad home Internet appliance featuring Instant AOL service, as well as a new Gateway Connected Music Player.  Both devices will use HomePNA 2.0 networking to connect via existing telephone wiring to a home PC equipped with either DSL or cable modem access.  The Gateway Connected Touch Pad is a compact touch-screen device offering instant-on access to key AOL features including e-mail, instant messaging, the My Calendar service and Address Book feature, chat and Internet access. The device uses the new Transmeta Crusoe processor for lower temperature operation and power requirements. List pricing is $599.  The Gateway Connected Music Player ($299) shares a common music library with an existing PC, and/or could be connected to a stereo.  http://www.gateway.com
Gateway, November 10, 2000

GATEWAY AND BROADCOM PARTNER FOR INTERNET APPLIANCES
Gateway formed an alliance with Broadcom to develop adapters that allow stereos, TVs and other traditional consumer electronics to benefit from Internet connectivity.  The companies specifically plan an IP adapter that would play digital-quality movies on any TV in their homes from a common video library stored on a PC.  Gateway and Broadcom are also targeting Internet telephony devices with unique IP addresses that would enable telephone calls from anywhere in the home.  The devices would also feature phone-to-phone intercom capabilities.
http://www.broadcom.com/
Broadcom, November 10, 2000

NETPLIANCE SHIFTS BUSINESS MODEL TO ALLOW THIRD PARTY ISPS FOR ITS INTERNET APPLIANCES
Netpliance, a start-up that launched the “i-opener” Internet appliance earlier this year, announced a strategic shift in its business model from a direct consumer services to becoming “an enabling infrastructure and managed services” company.  Rather than deliver email and selected Web content to consumers directly using its Internet appliance,  Netpliance will offer its appliances and a Broadband Service Delivery (BSD) platform to other service providers.  Netpliance has formed a strategic relationship under which AT&T WorldNet Service will offer its I-opener appliances.  A second Netpliance offering through Earthlink is expected soon.
http://www.netpliance.com/corp/news_release1110B2000.asp
Netpliance, November 10, 2000

• The Netpliance i-opener Internet appliance features a 200-MHz Pentium-class processor, 32 MB of RAM, a 56K modem, USB ports, 10-inch LCD display and a keyboard with full size keys and a built in mouse.  The list price is $299.  A new broadband model will support cable modem, DSL and set-top box connectivity.

INTERSIL OFFERS SILICON DESIGN FOR SMALL HOME WIRELESS GATEWAYS AND ACCESS POINTS
Intersil introduced a complete board reference design for very small home wireless gateways and Access Points based on the 802.11 wireless Ethernet (11 Mbps) standard.  The complete board design measures approximately 2-1/2 x 3-3/4 inches and Intersil's PRISMII chips, including a new ARM-based Access Point Controller engine that performs the IEEE 802.11 Medium Access Controller (MAC), wired Ethernet MAC and gateway control functions.  http://www.intersil.com/
Intersil, November 10, 2000

• Intersil claims over 100 product design wins for its PRISM WLAN chip set, including products from Alcatel, Cisco, Compaq, 3Com, Dell, D-Link, Nokia, Nortel, Samsung, Siemens, SpectraLink, Symbol Technologies and Zoom.

CISCO TO ACQUIRE ACTIVE VOICE FOR ITS UNIFIED IN-BOX APPLICATION
Cisco Systems will acquire Active Voice Corporation, a provider of IP-based, unified messaging “In-boxes” for enterprises, for $266 million in stock.  Cisco will also pay approximately $30 million in stock for Active Voice's circuit switched PBX voicemail solutions, which will be sold after the acquisition closes, to a newly formed entity comprised of former Active Voice employees for $30 million.  Active Voice's Unity application is a common email/voicemail/fax mailbox accessible via any Internet-connected device.  Active Voice is based in Seattle, Washington. 
http://www.cisco.com/warp/public/146/pressroom/2000/nov00/corp_111000.htm
http://www.activevoice.com/
Cisco Systems, November 10, 2000

IRI, NEC AND MATSUSHITA FORM BROADBAND EXCHANGE INC.
Internet Research Institute (Japan), NEC and Matsushita Electric Industrial announced the formation of Broadband Exchange Inc., a joint venture that will provide high bandwidth interconnection services to cable television (CATV) operators and other access line providers, as well as Internet data center firms and ISPs in Japan.  Broadband Exchange’s interconnection service will support IPv6 and IP Multicast, as well as a content distribution platform.  http://www.nec.co.jp/english/today/newsrel/0011/0601.html
NEC, November, 2000

CANADA’S SHAW COMMUNICATIONS TO DEVELOP KA-BAND SATELLITE ACCESS
Shaw Communications announced plans to build and launch a Ka-band satellite for two-way Internet services in Canada.  Shaw is a leading provider of cable television and Internet services with approximately 2.3 million customers.  http://www.shaw.ca/investor_relations/press/press_set.html
Shaw, November 10, 2000