QWEST CONTINUES TRANSITION FROM CIRCUIT TO PACKET VOICE ARCHITECTURE
Qwest Communications announced a commercial deployment of softswitching technology in its network in Boise, Idaho.  The carrier described the installation as a major milestone in its migration from circuits to a packet voice architecture.  Qwest plans additional packet-switched network deployments in Albuquerque, Denver, Minneapolis, Phoenix, Salt Lake City and Seattle.  Nortel Networks is supplying Qwest with the carrier-grade softswitch, its Succession Communication Server 2000, and trunking gateways.  Financial terms were not disclosed.  http://www.nortelnetworks.com/corporate/news/newsreleases/2001d/10_11_01_qwest.html   http://www.qwest.com
Qwest, October 11, 2001

NEC INTRODUCES BLUEFIRE ROUTERS/SWITCHES FOR IPV4 AND IPV6
NEC introduced a new line of enterprise routers and switches that implement IPv6 as well as IPv4 in hardware.  The new products include the BlueFire IX5010, a multiservice IP switch router that allows the integration of IP voice and data, ATM, Frame Relay, Packet Over SONET and Gigabit Ethernet.  It could be used for connecting a Gigabit Ethernet LAN to various WAN transport media, such as ATM or FR, or to consolidate ATM and FR traffic for transport across a Gigabit Ethernet/IP WAN network.  NEC is also introducing the BlueFire 700 IP switch series, offering a range of Layer 2/Layer 3 switch capacities from 4 Gbps to 96 Gbps.  The BlueFire products offer IPv6 and IPv4 QoS capabilities (DiffServ, RSVP and Weighted Fair Queuing) and could be integrated with NEC's IP telephony products to provide converged voice/data solutions.  Both products use chip sets developed by NEC.  The products have already been deployed in Japan and are now being offered through NEC and its resellers in North America.  http://www.cng.nec.com/cng/NewsEvents/NewPressPage.asp?release=2001101101%2Exml
NEC, October 11, 2001

MICROSOFT PUSHES TELEPHONY FEATURES IN MESSENGER/WINDOWS XP
A new version of Microsoft’s instant Messenger for Windows XP will include numerous design features to encourage consumers to make PC-initiated voice calls via select service providers.  Depending on their location, Windows XP users will have the option of choosing amongst Callserve, Dialpad, Net2Phone and Telus.  Microsoft said it is also planning to partner with additional PC-to-phone service providers.  An update for users of earlier Windows versions will also be available.  http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2001/oct01/10-11XPPhonePR.asp 
Microsoft, October 11, 2001

DELTATHREE LAUNCHES SIP NETWORK WITH MICROSOFT WINDOWS XP SERVICE AND OTHER VOIP APPLICATIONS
deltathree announced the launch of its Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) infrastructure for supporting the new PC-to-Phone service in Messenger/Windows XP, as well as other SIP applications and devices.  deltathree said migrating its network to SIP would enable it to roll out new applications at lower costs and with shorter development cycles.  http://corp.deltathree.com/eng/press/press_i.html
deltathree, October 11, 2001

CISCO OFFERS TERMINATION SOLUTION FOR MICROSOFT PC-TO-PHONE SERVICE PROVIDERS
Cisco Systems outlined a service termination platform supporting Microsoft's new PC-to-Phone service for end user customers.  The Cisco line-up includes the AS5350, AS5400 and AS5850 universal gateways and Cisco 3660 multiservice access platform.  Service providers using the Cisco platform for this application include deltathree, Callserve Communications (Europe), Dialpad and Telus (Canada).  All expect to turn up the service on October 25, when Windows XP is officially released.  http://www.cisco.com
Cisco Systems, October 11, 2001

MSN MESSENGER SERVICE REACHES 42 MILLION, HOTMAIL AT 118 MILLION ACCOUNTS
Microsoft’s MSN Messenger Service was used by more than 42 million people worldwide in August, making it the most popular instant messenger service in 10 of 13 major markets, according to figures from Jupiter Media Metrix.  The free MSN Hotmail email service now has 118 million users.  In addition, the fee-based MSN Internet dial-up service has increased its subscriber base to 6.9 million.  In September, more than 270 million people visited MSN websites.
http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2001/oct01/10-11MSNOctMomentumPR.asp
Microsoft, October 11, 2001

YAHOO! REPORTS USER METRICS
During September, Yahoo!'s global audience grew to 210 million unique users, compared to 166 million in September 2000.  The company said 80 million active registered users logged onto one or more personalized Yahoo! services during September 2001, up from 55 million in September 2000.  Traffic increased to a record 1.25 billion page views per day on average during September 2001.  Yahoo! Messenger, Yahoo! Mail, and Yahoo! Groups, delivered 14.7 billion messages in September.  Also, during Q3, Yahoo! hosted and distributed 12.9 million hours of streamed audio and video corporate events for clients.  http://docs.yahoo.com/info/pr/investor_metrics.html 
Yahoo!, October 10, 2001

CALY NETWORKS UNVEILS DYNAMIC MESH ARCHITECTURE FOR BROADBAND WIRELESS
CALY Networks, a start-up based in Gerrards Cross, UK and Sunnyvale, California, unveiled its dynamic mesh wireless network architecture that operates in the millimeter-wave spectrum (20 GHz and 40 GHz) for low-cost broadband access.  In the CALYnet system, every wireless node serves as a customer access point and routing node simultaneously.  There are no base stations. CALY’s “every-which-way” mesh would overcome line-of-sight obstacles and enable the network to be extended a node at a time.  Core elements of CALY’s platform will include advanced media access control layer software (MAC); Space Time Scheduled Multiple Access (STS/MA) wireless routing algorithms; a high-speed modem; and intelligent beam-steering antenna technology.  The system will combine Layers 1, 2 and 3 routing and switching capabilities at the air interface in a “router in the air concept”.  http://www.calynetworks.com
CALY Networks, October 11, 2001

• In April, CALY Networks announced $31 million in second round financing from Goldman Sachs, Sprout Venture Capital, Siemens Mustang Ventures, Pacific Technology Investment, ComVentures, Lucent Venture Partners, Nokia Ventures, and Worldview Technology Partners.
• CALY Networks is headed by Dr. Josef Berger, who previously served as Vice President of Strategic Sales at Netro Corporation and was a co-founder of Harmonic Lightwaves.

WIND RIVER ACQUIRES NEXT LEVEL’S VOICE SIGNALING EXPERTISE
Wind River Systems purchased the assets of the Telenetworks business unit from Next Level Communications.  The unit supplies embedded networking software, including VoIP signaling technologies, to telecommunications equipment manufacturers.  The principal products include software stacks that implement the signaling and control mechanisms used in VoIP networks. Wind River will also acquire a set of SS7 and ISDN signaling stacks protocols.  Wind River said its embedded networking technologies, operating systems and development tools combined with these new products would provide a complete environment for developing new converged voice/data networking equipment, such as VoIP terminals, VoIP-enabled enterprise switches, integrated access devices, media gateways, and softswitches.  Key Telenetworks employees will join Wind River.  Financial terms were not disclosed.  http://www.windriver.com
Wind River Systems, October 10, 2001

IBEAM FILES FOR CHAPTER 11, WILLIAMS TO ACQUIRE ASSETS FOR $25 MILLION
iBEAM Broadcasting, a web casting and streaming media service provider, filed papers for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.  Simultaneously, Williams Communications agreed to acquire all of the company’s assets for $25 million in cash, including substantially all of iBEAM's customer contracts, facilities and equipment.  The transaction includes a loan from Williams Communications to ensure uninterrupted operations of iBEAM until the deal closes.  The sale and the loan of operating funds to iBEAM are both subject to approval of the bankruptcy court.  http://www.williamscommunications.com/newsroom/newsreleases/2001/101101a.html   http://www.ibeam.com/ 
Williams Communications, October 11, 2001

• Over the last 18 months, IBEAM has delivered more than 1 billion audio and video streams.
• In June, Williams Communications invested $20 million in cash and $10 million in services in iBEAM in exchange for convertible preferred stock representing approximately a 49 percent ownership of the company.

ARDENT COMMUNICATIONS FILES FOR CHAPTER 11
Ardent Communications (formerly CAISnet), a provider of broadband access and bundled data services, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.  The company cited the ongoing downturn in the capital markets, exacerbated by the recent terrorist events for its inability to secure additional funding.  The company will continue network operations as it seeks to reorganize.  http://www.ardentcomm.com 
Ardent Communications, October 11, 2001

• Ardent Communications operates an MPLS-enable IP backbone with 29 POPs across the US.  Its services include DSL, T1 and DS3 connections, as well as Web hosting, colocation and other managed data services.  The company also provides service to certain hotel properties and public venues.
• In May, the company changed its name to Ardent Communications from CAIS, named a new management team, and changed its corporate mission to focus on its high growth ISP services rather than broadband connections in hotel rooms.

JUNIPER POSTS Q3 REVENUE OF $201.7 MILLION, PRO FORMA EPS OF $0.10
Juniper Networks posted Q3 net revenue of $201.7 million, compared with $201.2 million for the same period last year.  In Q2 of this year, Juniper’s revenues were $202.2 million.  Pro forma net income for Q3 was $32.5 million or $0.10 per share.  Actual net loss for the third quarter was $29.7 million or $0.09 per share, which includes amortization of goodwill and other purchased intangibles of $12.1 million, amortization of deferred compensation of $15.9 million, a charge to contract manufacturers of $39.9 million and impairment write-downs in equity investments totaling $11.0 million.  Separately, the company’s board of directors approved a stock repurchase program of up to $200 million over the next two years, effective immediately.  In a conference call, Juniper Networks said it expects flat revenue growth for Q4. http://www.juniper.net/news/pressreleases/2001/pr-011011.html
Juniper Networks, October 11, 2001

• Consensus earning estimates for JNPR for Q3 were $0.06 per share.

Daily Journal For Broadband Networking
Copyright 2001 Converge! Media Ventures Inc.
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