APPIAN DELIVERS ETHERNET OVER SONET
Appian Communications, a start-up developing an Optical Services Activation Platform with Ethernet as its universal packet services customer interface, announced a new software and hardware release that adds support for standards based Ethernet over SONET, Ethernet Flow Control capabilities, carrier-class redundancy and NEBS certification to its box.  More specifically, the new capabilities include support for the ITU X.86 “Ethernet over transmission payloads” recommendation, which has now been recognized by the IEEE 802.3 Ethernet over SONET working group.  ITU X.86 defines a standard approach for linking, or mapping, Ethernet into a transmission payload (e.g., SONET or SDH).  Appian’s Active Flow Control capabilities are based on IEEE 802.3x Ethernet flow control, which would provide automatic throttling at customer premise devices when critical traffic thresholds are reached.  The company has filed for key patents covering its Dynamic Service-based Queuing (DSQ) and packet scheduling mechanism for controlling TDM/private line quality latency and data jitter.  These would enable the Ethernet/SONET services to carry applications such as H.323 VoIP, full broadcast quality videoconferencing and time critical transaction processing.  Appian believes the ITU X.86 Ethernet over SONET support combined with active flow control will be critical for delivering standards-based Ethernet private lines as premium rate services with five-nines service availability.  Additional resiliency features of the Appian platform include Ethernet media card redundancy and IEEE 802.3ad link aggregation support for full 1:N equipment protection.  Appian began commercial shipment last month.  Customers include telx, a bandwidth trading service in NYC.  Appian is based in Boxborough, MA. http://www.appiancom.com
Appian Communications, April 16, 2001

• In March, Appian 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.  
  
• In December, Appian received $60 million in third-round funding, bring its total financing to more than $80 million since it was founded in March 1999.  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).  The company's name refers to the ancient highway across the Roman Empire.

CASPIAN NETWORKS PREVIEWS ITS APEIRO IP SUPERSWITCH
Caspian Networks, a start-up founded by Dr. Lawrence Roberts, unveiled the first details of its forthcoming Apeiro IP superswitch, a core platform for the heart of service provider networks.  Key features include a distributed switch fabric that scales “infinitely” from 155 Tbps in its initial 19" rack configuration.  The product is being designed to accommodate scaling of dynamic routing protocols (MPLS, IS-IS and BGP) and will use additional distributed application processors to provide software processing power as switching capabilities are increased.  Apeiro will incorporate dynamic routing redundancy and will have an Element Management System (EMS) that is fully distributed and integrated into the system itself.  It will also feature a carrier-controllable delay variation capability that allows carriers to apply predictable delay variation guarantees on whole flows of real-time traffic across the IP backbone.  The ability to strictly control delay variation on traffic could be used for tiered services.  A formal product introduction later this year will provide further details on the technology.  Caspian is based in San Jose, California.  http://www.caspiannetworks.com
Caspian Networks, April 16, 2001

• Caspian Networks recently named Bill Sickler as its new president and CEO, replacing Grahame Rance, who left the company last month to become CEO of SBS Technologies, a producer of embedded computer components.  Sickler most recently served as CEO of Gadzoox Networks, a manufacturer of storage network hubs and switches.

• Caspian also recently laid-off 30 people (8% of its workforce) and re-organized its corporate structure

• In December, Caspian Networks raised $85 million in third round funding, bringing total investment to date to over $140 million.

• Caspian Networks was founded by Dr. Lawrence Roberts, who is credited with the design, initiation, planning and development of the ARPANET, the world's first major packet network.

WAVESMITH NETWORKS PARTNERS WITH AP ENGINES
WaveSmith Networks, a start-up developing a next generation multiservice switch, announced a strategic partnership with AP Engines, a provider of workflow-enabled service creation and network usage management systems for telephony and broadband providers.  The partnership will provide billing mediation functionality required for integration of WaveSmith’s multiservice switch into carrier environments.  http://www.wavesmithnetworks.com  http://www.apengines.com
WaveSmith Networks, April 16, 2001

• WaveSmith Networks is building a next generation multiservice switch supporting ATM, Frame Relay, TDM/CES and IP services. The switch scales to 320 Gbps and hundreds of ports in a single node.  By using integrated components and miniaturized connector technology, WaveSmith plans to deliver a 600% capacity-to-footprint improvement over incumbent products.  Its solution will use a high-speed serial core fabric that is agnostic to services and protocols, including ATM, Frame Relay, TDM, IP and optical lambda.  The architecture will also feature an Open Call Model that collapses the control plane so that any service connection can be controlled natively through the transport fabric, effectively enabling flow-through provisioning that ties in directly with a carrier’s existing network management system. 

BROADWING DEPLOYS EMC'S STORAGE IN OPTICAL MEDIA CENTERS
Broadwing has deployed EMC's enterprise storage solutions in its most advanced hosting centers connected directly to its intelligent, optical, switched network.  Broadwing's new Optical Media Centers are located in Cincinnati, Dallas, Santa Clara and New York City.  Broadwing and EMC's Media Solutions group are also working together to develop media asset management and content distribution solutions for enterprise customers.
http://www.broadwing.com/press/releases/2001q2/04_12_2001.asp
Broadwing, April 13, 2001

CYPRESS ACQUIRES HIBAND FOR 10 GBPS PHY TECHNOLOGY
Cypress Semiconductor completed its acquisition of HiBand Semiconductors, a provider of mixed-signal integrated circuits for SONET, Ethernet, Fibre Channel, and InfiniBand.  The company is currently in the final stages of the development of a 10 Gbps physical layer device for Ethernet.  HiBand is based in Scotts Valley, California.  http://www.cypress.com/press/releases/210413.html
Cypress, April 13, 2001

RED-M RAISES $35 MILLION FOR BLUETOOTH SOLUTIONS
Red-M, a start-up developing Bluetooth network product solutions, and parent company Madge Networks N.V secured up to $35 million second round funding. The transaction also includes a cash payment to Madge Networks N.V. of $8.65 million in exchange for Red-M shares.  Red-M is developing a Bluetooth Internet access server that provides data, voice and video services to a range of Bluetooth enabled devices.  The company is based in Wexham Springs, UK.  http://www.red-m.com
Red-M, April 13, 2001

COGNIGINE NAMES ENGINEERING TEAM FOR OPTICAL NETWORK PROCESSORS
Cognigine, a fabless semiconductor start-up developing high performance network processors, appointed Mike Bershteyn as vice president of software engineering and Andre Chartrand as vice president of hardware engineering.  Bershteyn previously was a Fellow and a senior director of Cadence, where he was leading emulation software technology development.  Chartrand formerly served as VP of engineering for Velio Communications, another star-up developing terabit silicon solutions for switch/router backplanes.  http://www.cognigine.com
Cognigine, April 13, 2001

• Last August, Cognigine raised $14.5 million in second round funding for its development of optical systems processors capable of handling OC-192 and scaling to OC-768 wire speeds.

KATSINA OPTICS SECURES $10 MILLION
Katsina Optics, a start-up based in Milpitas, California, announced first round funding of $10 million from Chugai Mining Co. Ltd. of Japan.  The company said it will develop test and measurement systems for DWDM as well as proprietary optical thin film technologies that allow for rapid deposition of high quality complex coatings used in an array of optical component devices.  http://www.katsinaoptics.com/
Katsina Optics, April 15, 2001