POCIT LABS DEVELOPS BLUETOOTH PEER-TO-PEER NETWORK ENVIRONMENT
Pocit Labs, a Swedish software development company, introduced a peer-to-peer (P2P) network client for handheld devices based on the Bluetooth standard.  Pocit's "BlueTalk" automatically creates an ad hoc network between users and services as they meet. This network would enable users to communicate with other users and electronic services in the vicinity without any need for external infrastructure.  The company believes such an environment would be a catalyst for Bluetooth applications.  Pocit plans its first BlueTalk release in June.  A software development kit (SDK) provides an application programming interface (API) that contains several functions, including authentication, access control, dynamic parameter storage and Bluetooth networking.  http://www.pocitlabs.com/
Pocit Labs, March 2, 2001

• Pocit Labs has previously announced a BlueTalk "flight lounge" instant messaging application that would automatically page the user's Bluetooth phone/PDA/laptop with personalized flight information, such as a flight’s boarding time, requests to go to the gate, etc.  The BlueTalk platform includes support for agents, which may be downloaded from any server in the vicinity acting on the user’s behalf.

ZAYANTE SHOWS WIRELESS BRIDGE FOR IEEE-1394 HOME NETWORKS
Zayante demonstrated a wireless bridge at last week's Intel Developers' Forum in San Jose that transferred MPEG-2 digital video content between two IEEE-1394 buses.  The proof-of-concept design incorporated Intel's 802.11b Wireless Access points and a modular 1394 software stack that provides the transport capabilities of the 400 Mbps 1394 bus.  Zayante's TNF Zboxes, connected wirelessly, form the two halves of a 1394-1394 bridge.  Zayante said that establishing a wireless connection between clusters of cabled 1394 devices follows a "no new wires" philosophy of interconnecting multiple rooms in a home that contain PC equipment and consumer electronic entertainment devices that are cabled together via 1394 in a room.  http://www.zayante.com/ 
Zayante, February 26, 2001

• In November, Intel Capital made a strategic investment in Zayante, a start-up developing IEEE-1394 High Speed Serial Bus silicon and IP software.  3Com also holds an undisclosed equity stake in Zayante and the companies have agreed to collaborate on the deployment of the IEEE-1394 technology in future 3Com high-speed home networking solutions.
• Zayante was co-founded by Prashant Kanhere, who is credited with developing and bringing to market important 1394 simulation technologies, and Michael Johas Teener, who was the chief architect of Apple Computer's Firewire technology.  He is also the former chair and editor of the IEEE-1394-1995 standard as well as the originator of the P1394b gigabit effort.
• The 1995 version of the IEEE-1394 standard specifies 400 Mbps transmission rates at a distance of 4.5 meters per hop. A new 1394b specification enhancement will enable speed increases to 3.2 Gbps, support distances of 100 meters on UTP-5, plastic optical fiber and glass optical fiber, and significantly reduce latency times by using arbitration pipelining.  http://www.1394ta.org/

SONY INTEGRATES IEEE 1394 INTERFACES INTO LATEST HDTV SETS
Sony introduced three HDTV sets featuring integrated digital tuners and two i.LINK (IEEE-1394) digital interfaces with the so-called 5C-endorsed Digital Transmission Content Protection software.  The i.LINK interface would allow copyright protected high-definition content to be transferred between the new televisions’ similarly equipped digital cable set-top boxes as well as satellite receivers, camcorders and video recorders.  Sony said it is "hopeful that i.LINK will open the door to unprecedented availability of high-definition content."  The IEEE-1394 interface is included on all of Sony's camcorder, laptop and desktop PC models.  http://64.35.93.160/pressrelease/116
Sony, March 1, 2001

ORESIS RAISES $65 MILLION FOR MULTISERVICE SWITCHING SYSTEM
Oresis Communications, a start-up based in Beaverton, Oregon, closed $65 million in third round venture funding, bringing its total private capital raised to date to over $100 million.  Oresis' flagship product is its ISIS-700 Integrated OmniService Switch, a carrier-class, software-programmable, multiservice switching system offering an integrated tandem softswitch, data, and Internet services. Investors include UBS Capital Americas, Sands Brothers, Silver Creek Fund, U.S. Bancorp Piper Jaffray, NTT Leasing, Comdisco, Bessemer Venture Partners, Lightspeed Venture Partners, ComVentures, JAFCO America Ventures, and Blueprint Ventures.  http://www.oresis.com
Oresis, March 5, 2001

• The Oresis ISIS-700 handles multiple circuit and packet switched voice services, as well as multiple data services, in a single switch without the need for any external gateways, media converters, or call control servers.  The platform uses a core ATM switching fabric to provide interworking between ATM, ISDN, IP, and SS7 signaling protocols as well as interoperating with existing ATM, Frame Relay, PSTN and IP networks.  Applications could include reducing dial-up Internet congestion within the PSTN, migrating Class 4 Tandem voice calls to a packet network infrastructure and providing multiservice edge switching for DSLAMs and enterprise customers.
• Oresis is led by Ali Sarabi, formerly General Manager and Director of Intel's Broadband and IP Telephony Lab; George Shenoda, co-founder of the ATM Forum and formerly CTO of ADC Kentrox; Chris Shaver, formerly VP of Engineering at ADC Kentrox; and Andrew Alleman, also formerly with ADC Kentrox.

SUMITOMO TO DISTRIBUTE APPIAN'S OPTICAL SERVICES ACTIVATION PLATFORM
Appian Communications, a start-up developing an Optical Services Activation Platform that is designed to migrate legacy voice and private line services to Ethernet services over SONET/SDH optical network infrastructure, announced a multi-million dollar agreement under which Sumitomo will be its master distributor in Japan.  Sumitomo and its wholly owned subsidiary, Presidio Venture Partners, also made a strategic investment in Appian.  http://www.appiancom.com
Appian Communications, March 5, 2001

• Appian’s Optical Service Activation Platform (OSAP) uses distributed packet switching to replace TDM structures with an "Etherband" architecture that lets service providers guarantee bandwidth from 64 Kbps to 10 Gbps per customer, as well as dynamically modify SLAs as needed on a customer-by-customer basis.  Appian's system uses proprietary packet switching to provide software definable Guaranteed Bit Rates (GBR) and Maximum Burst Rates (MBR).  The platform also supports IP Class of Service (CoS) based on MPLS, IP TOS (including DiffServ) or 802.1p standards.
• In December, Appian received $60 million in third-round funding.  Investors include Tudor Investment Corporation, Technology Venture Partners, Amerindo Investment Advisors Inc., Anschutz Investment Company, Essex Investment Management Co., Chase H&Q, Deutsche Bank, Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan & Co., Robertson Stephens, Thomas Weisel Partners, North Bridge Venture Partners, Matrix Partners and Venrock Associates
• Appian was founded in March 1999 by Mick Scully (formerly Wellfleet and Bay Networks), Harsh Kapoor (formerly NexLAN/3Com), Anand Parikh (former co-founder of Lightstream) and Gregg Savage (formerly New Oak Communications/Bay Networks).  The company's name refers to the ancient highway across the Roman Empire.

CISCO SYSTEMS INVESTS $25 MILLION IN INTEGRATED MICROMACHINES FOR ITS MEMS
Integrated Micromachines Incorporated (IMMI), a component manufacturing company specializing in MEMS technology, received a $25 million strategic investment from Cisco Systems as part of a $45 million equity investment led by Invesco Private Capital with participation from existing investors including Adams Capital Management, SunAmerica Ventures, Venture TDF and others. IMMI, which has produced MEMS products for the automotive and HVAC markets for six years, is now focused on optical MEMS for the broadband communication market.  The company is based in Monrovia, California.  http://micromachines.com
IMMI, March 1, 2001

• IMMI's MEMS-based optical switches are based on its proprietary ELITE (Extremely Low-loss Inductive Torsional Engine) design that enables highly scaleable, low insertion loss all-optical switching. This technology uses single-crystal silicon micromachining techniques and electromagnetic actuation, resulting in optical switches with an extremely low insertion loss (less than 3 dB in a 1024x1024 configuration).

TELIA SELECTS NOKIA AND SIEMENS FOR 3G UMTS INFRASTRUCTURE
Telia selected Nokia and Siemens for its planned UMTS-infrastructure deployments in Norway and Finland, with an option for Denmark.  The agreement covers country-specific 3G core and 3G Radio Access Solutions.  NetCom ASA, Telia’s Norwegian mobile operator, aims to activate its UMTS network in December this year. A fast roll out and wide population coverage (76.5%) are part of the Norwegian concession terms.  Financial terms were not disclosed.  http://www.telia.com/ 
Telia, March 2, 2001

AUSTRIA'S ONE SELECTS ERICSSON FOR UMTS EQUIPMENT
ONE, which operates a GSM-1800 mobile telephony network across Austria, selected Ericsson to supply 3G UMTS equipment.  Roll out of the 3G network will start immediately and is planned to be in commercial service by the middle of 2002.  ONE has gained 1.3 million customers (mobile, fixed line and Internet) since the company was launched in October 1998.  http://www.ericsson.com/press
Ericsson, March 2, 2001

• Ericsson has now been named as a vendor in 24 third generation (3G) agreements announced to date.

LEVEL 3 REAFFIRMS 2001 FINANCIAL GUIDANCE, CONTINUES TO SEE STRONG DEMAND
Level 3 Communications expects first quarter communications revenue of $360 to $370 million, meeting or exceeding its previous forecasts.  The company also remains comfortable with its previous revenue estimates for the full year, given that over 65% of projected 2001 revenue is in backlog and that this number continues to increase amid continuing strong demand for its bandwidth services. 
http://www.level3.com/us/news/newsreleases/0,1345,2001Mar02-5335,00.html
Level 3 Communications, March 2, 2001