• Last year, Cisco Systems made a $100 million investment in Liberate.
• Last September, Microsoft debuted its rival software platform for delivering enhanced TV and interactive services to TV set-top boxes.

WORLDCOM LAUNCHES WEB-ENABLED CUSTOMER SERVICE HOSTING
WorldCom began offering a hosted Web Center service that combines the functions of traditional call centers with online communications features, including e-mail, online collaboration, instant messaging, toll-free calling, voice mail, interactive voice response, and call-back request or fax.  The WorldCom network routes each query, regardless of contact medium, to the appropriate service agent for the customer's request.  WorldCom continuously updates each customer contact into an integrated database record.  The Web Center service resides in WorldCom's global network, rather than in equipment dedicated to a single call center.  Companies could use the WorldCom Web Center to place their service agents in “virtual touch points” anywhere with a PC, Internet access and a telephone.  http://www.worldcom.com/about_the_company/press_releases/display.phtml?cr/20010822
WorldCom, August 22, 2001

BELL LABS DISCOVERS REMARKABLE MICROLENSES IN MARINE ORGANISMS
Researchers from Bell Labs have discovered that chalk-like calcite crystals in the skeletons of marine creatures known as brittlestars have a remarkable dual function, acting as armor as well as optical receptors for an all-seeing compound eye.  The company said the discovery of this multifunctional biomaterial might lead to better-designed optical elements for telecommunications networks.  In particular, the researchers are intrigued by the thousands of calcite crystals running through the skeleton of the brittlestars that form a kind of primitive compound eye.  The calcite crystals act as microlenses that compensate for birefringence and spherical aberration - physical effects common in lenses that distort light.  Bell Labs said such biomimetic lenses may prove useful as components of optical networks, and in chip design, where they could potentially improve optical lithography techniques.  http://www.lucent.com/press/0801/010822.bla.html
Lucent Technologies, August 22, 2001

GERMANY’S QSC ENHANCES ITS RESIDENTIAL DSL SERVICE
In an effort to differentiate its DSL offering, QSC AG, a leading alternative DSL provider in Germany, doubled the upstream performance of its residential DSL service to 256 Kbps.  Downstream performance is rated at 1.024 Mbps.  The company is offering flat rate pricing of euro 59 (US$53.89) or euro 51 (US$46.58/ student concession) per month.  QSC says it can install 95% of its new customers within 4 weeks.  http://www.q-dsl.de/
QSC, August 22, 2001

QUALCOMM AND NORTEL DEMONSTRATE PACKET DATA CALL TRANSFER ACROSS 3G
QUALCOMM and Nortel Networks successfully completed the first end-to-end live 3G CDMA2000 1X Mobile Internet Protocol (IP) call.  Mobile IP will provide "always on" access to a carrier's entire network, enabling wireless users to access Web and data services while moving between network nodes without dropping the session.  The call was performed in Nortel Networks' Wireless Internet Interoperability Lab in Richardson, Texas, using QUALCOMM’s MSM5105 platform and Nortel Networks' 3G infrastructure equipment, including the Nortel Networks Shasta 5000 Broadband Service Node and Metro Cell CDMA2000 1X radio access products.  http://www.qualcomm.com/cda/pr/view/0,1800,648,00.html
QUALCOMM, August 22, 2001

AELUROS RAISES FUNDING FOR 10/40 GBPS PHYSICAL LAYER ICS
Aeluros, a fabless semiconductor start-up based in Palo Alto, California, recently closed $10 million in Series A financing for its development of highly integrated physical layer ICs for 10/40Gbps networking applications.  Product plans have not been disclosed, but Aeluros has said that its architecture will lead to products with lower power and higher levels of integration compared with its competitors.  The company is funded primarily by New Enterprise Associates, Worldview Technology Partners, and the Stanford School of Engineering Fund.  http://www.aeluros.com
Aeluros, August 22, 2001

• The executive management team at Aeluros includes Mr. Nader Gamini (COO), who previously served as Director of Advanced Packaging at Stanford Microdevices, where he oversaw the packaging of OC192 products and RF devices; Dr. Stefanos Sidiropoulos (CTO and interim CEO), previously a design manager at Rambus, where he was responsible for the Rambus interface circuits that are shipping in 30 million DRAMs per month; and Dr. Don Stark (VP Engineering), who was most recently VP Engineering at Rambus.

SOLECTRON TO ACQUIRE IPHOTONICS FOR OPTICAL MANUFACTURING EXPERTISE
Solectron agreed to acquire Iphotonics, a privately-held provider of core optical manufacturing services serving leading OEMs.  Financial terms were not disclosed.  Iphotonic’s services include design, prototyping, full-scale manufacturing and testing for optical networking and optical subsystems.  The company has a design, prototyping and manufacturing facility in Glen Burnie, Maryland, and an engineering and development center in Fremont, California.  http://www.iphotonics.com  http://www.solectron.com/solectron?func=show&url=/news/pr_08_21_2001.html
Solectron, August 21, 2001

TELLABS TRIMS WORKFORCE, CONSOLIDATES FACILITIES
Citing reduced spending by major communications carriers, Tellabs announced plans to layoff about 1,000 people, close two facilities and further cut operating expenses.  Tellabs plans to close a manufacturing facility in Drogheda, Ireland, and consolidate that work into other manufacturing facilities in Shannon, Ireland, and Espoo, Finland.  Tellabs also will discontinue plans to open an office building in Chelmsford, Massachusetts.  http://www.tellabs.com/news/01news/nr082201.shtml
Tellabs, August 22, 2001