PC's Telecom Blog

MTN extends managed services partnership with Ericsson

2012-01-30T17:20:00.000+05:30

ACCRA, GHANA: MTN a leading telecommunications company with a presence in 21 countries in Africa and the Middle East, announced the extension of its managed services agreement with Ericsson for its Ghana operations. With 49 percent market share, MTN is the premier operator in Ghana which is one of Africa’s fastest growing markets. In 2011, it grew by around 18 percent in the country to serve over 10 million subscribers.

This announcement marks the extension of the first managed services contract between Ericsson and MTN, originally signed in 2009 in connection to the rollout of MTN's 3G network in Ghana. Under the extension, Ericsson is responsible for network operations, field maintenance and optimization.

Jon Hoffmann, CTO, MTN Ghana said, “Our first two years together achieved the results we were hoping for: we could focus on subscriber growth, and Ericsson delivered network reliability and efficiencies.”

MTN will retain full ownership of the network and responsibility for its strategic direction, while Ericsson will manage the network operations, optimization and field maintenance for MTN’s 3G sites.

"MTN and Ericsson collaborate in many areas across this and other regions for several years now and in Ghana we are especially pleased to have been part of the journey towards 10 million subscribers,” says Valter D`Avino, head of Managed Services Ericsson. “With Ericsson continuing to run the operations of the network, MTN will be able to dedicate even more time and focus on delivering innovative products and services relevant to the needs of their customers."

Globally, Ericsson has signed more than 300 managed services contracts in more than 100 countries. Ericsson manages networks on behalf of operators that serve over 850 million subscribers worldwide. By teaming up with Ericsson, operators can strengthen their competitive edge through improved network availability and capacity, while reducing their operating costs. This, in turn, increases market growth for mobile services, which helps improve the quality of services and the end-user experience.

CommunicAsia and BroadcastAsia to shape future of technology and communications

2012-01-30T17:05:00.000+05:30

SINGAPORE: CommunicAsia and BroadcastAsia, the most established infocomm technology (ICT) and media communications event of its kind in Asia, is poised to return with a large showing. Both shows have seen more than 85 per cent of their exhibition space taken up by exhibitors, with five months to go before the event – held from June 19-22, 2012 at the prestigious Marina Bay Sands and award-winning Suntec Singapore respectively.

As the premier global business networking platform and launch pad for companies to introduce cutting-edge technologies and solutions, CommunicAsia2012 and BroadcastAsia2012 will highlight pertinent industry developments and address emerging trends as well as provide enhanced networking opportunities for industry professionals from around the world.

EnterpriseIT, held in conjunction with CommunicAsia, will showcase innovative applications and end-to-end solutions across the entire value chain and transform the way companies operate and communicate internally and beyond. And once again, the event will present Asia’s largest contingent of satellite companies witnessed at any single event.

“CommunicAsia and BroadcastAsia today are the only truly international shows in Asia where business professionals across a range of industries come together in one city for one week. Strong support and endorsement from over 20 leading trade associations including the Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU), Asia-Pacific Satellite Communications Council (APSCC), Asia-Pacific Telecommunity (APT), Singapore Infocomm Technology Federation (SiTF) and others, helps to strengthen our mix of industry-leading exhibitors and visitors from across the globe,” says Victor Wong, Project Director of Communications Events, Singapore Exhibition Services (SES).

“We are proud to provide an efficacious launch pad for our exhibitors to showcase the latest and best that technology has to offer. This exclusive platform continues to play a pivotal part in driving the conversation for development within the industry.”

Following the success of last year’s event, which attracted a total of over 53,000 professional attendees from more than 100 countries, attendees to this year’s shows can look forward to a myriad of the newest technologies, products and solutions from 2,000 multinational and small and medium companies. Visitors can avail of opportunities to listen to industry luminaries, network with business leaders and government officials and forge business partnerships.

CommunicAsia2012: Shaping vision, creating reality
CommunicAsia2012 will feature breakthrough developments in NextGen Networks and satellite technology, as well as a sneak peek into the latest market-ready devices and mobile apps and solutions and dynamic industry deals set to alter ICT in Asia and beyond.

Leading returning exhibitors include Falcon Interactive, FiberHome, Globecast, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Irdeto, Netop Technology, PCCW Global, Prysmian, Rosenberger, ST Electronics, Tektronix and Tata Communications; new participants include Anritsu, Aver Information, Hitachi Critical Facilities Protection and Novelsat.

Fastidiously designed to meet the evolving needs of the global technology community
This year’s show will provide more exhibition space and hospitality suite options for exhibitors. There will be more than 20 international group pavilions, including representation from Australia, Belgium, Brunei, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Israel, Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan, UK, USA and more.

Five Techzones, focusing on ‘Fibre’ for NextGen Services, Cloud Services and Security, M2M, mCommerce and Telepresence – will feature cutting-edge products, technologies and solutions, presenting the most relevant and current solutions for businesses and enterprises across the value chain.

Setting the stage for global industry leaders to share their knowledge, the CommunicAsia2012 Summit will offer distinctly titled forums and workshops that address the most compelling issues and challenges for the ICT industry with the spotlight on mobile-driven trends this year. Extended sessions dedicated to mobile-focused topics encompassing m-Commerce, Mobile VAS, and Mobile Security issues will be added to the conference, alongside the latest tracks on Mobile Payments, Mobile Health, Customer Experience Management (CEM), and OTT Business Models.

In conjunction with CommunicAsia2012, EnterpriseIT2012 is expected to take up 40 per cent of exhibition space at Marina Bay Sands, with exhibitors comprising international software and IT systems providers, and companies offering enterprise solutions. These include key companies such as Consistel, CrimsonLogic, Emerson Network Power, Extreme Networks, Mindwave Solutions, NComputing, Planet Technology Corporation, Providence Solutions, SecureAge Technology, Starvision, Stellent Solutions and Terra Systems.

In addition, the CommunicAsia2012 Summit sessions will also feature tracks dedicated to enhancing enterprises’ capabilities, especially towards mobile technologies and applications such as M2M, mCommerce, Cloud Computing and more. These topics will cater to companies in the healthcare, retail, hospitality and other sectors.

BroadcastAsia2012: Integrating technologies, experiencing content
Asia’s leading digital media, entertainment and film industry event, BroadcastAsia continues to move beyond broadcasting to highlight the convergence of technologies and solutions relevant to the fast-changing media landscape.

BroadcastAsia2012 will showcase a global array of the latest technologies, applications, equipment and solutions in Film, Audio and TV with a spotlight on Multi Streaming Technologies, Hybrid Broadcast Broadband TV (HbbTV), Playout Services, Pro-Audio Technology, Over The Top (OTT) Technology, Cloud Broadcasting and Digital Radio.

Returning exhibitors at the show include ATG, Blackmagic, Evertz, EVS, Gospell, Grass Valley, Harmonic, Harris, Miranda, Salzbrenner Stagetec, Sennheiser, Snell, Tektronix, VSN and more. The exhibition welcomes some new exhibitors –Envivio, Hitachi Kokusai Linear, Ideal Systems, Nippon Electronics, NTT Electrics, Pliat and Toshiba among others - and locally-based companies Alphatron, AV Lite; Broadcast Professional, Cathay Photo, H Warta, Lemo, and more. Visitors can look forward to nine international group pavilions and a larger Cinematography/Film/Production Zone on the show floors.

Backed by an international panel of speakers and industry veterans, the BroadcastAsia2012 International Conference and Creative Content Production Conferences return this year with a behind-the-scenes look at the latest technologies and techniques panning out in the market. With the growing momentum behind Smart TVs, Cloud Broadcasting, Multi-platform and OTT delivery and the challenges of managing an effective PayTV model as well as digital asset management, the BroadcastAsia2012 International Conference will offer more sessions to address the latest needs and technologies in the broadcasting industry.

In its 3rd successful installment, the Creative Content Production Conference will return with two days of conference sessions and an add-on day of workshops this year. The conference will comprise a mix of topical issues, case studies and hands-on sessions to address the evolving challenges faced by production professionals from new media and visual effects to editing and IP rights.

Market for mobile healthcare apps will grow to $1.3 billion in 2012

2012-01-30T16:37:00.000+05:30

GERMANY: The smartphone application market for mobile healthcare will reach $1.3 billion in 2012 – up from $718 million in 2011. Despite this substantial growth, the mHealth market is still in an embryonic state – especially in comparison to the $6 trillion of the overall global healthcare market.

Several factors (especially, smartphone penetration), will continue, however, to drive mHealth market growth over the next couple of years. These findings are part of our new Mobile Health Market Report 2011-2016 report.

The increase of revenue stems from downloads, in-app advertisements, mHealth services, direct transactions and sensor sales. As a number of big healthcare companies published mHealth apps in 2011 that go far beyond a simple allergy tracker or pill reminder (e.g., Sanofi Aventis’ sensor-based iBGStar Diabetis monitoring app) sensors are a growing part of the landscape.

In 2012 the number of mHealth application users – mobile users who downloaded a smartphone mHealth application at least once – will reach 247 million. Compared to the 124 million users who downloaded mHealth smarthphone applications in 2011, this is a near doubling.

The technical aspects of the healthcare landscape are changing rapidly and fundamentally. Healthcare data, the number of healthcare apps and their usage on mobile phones is growing. It is all evolving around smartphones and sensors attached to the phone.

McAfee Mobile Security 2.0 combines powerful new security features for smartphone and tablet users

2012-01-30T12:37:00.000+05:30

SANTA CLARA, USA: McAfee has announced the next generation of McAfee Mobile Security software, providing smartphone and tablet owners with more controls to preserve their privacy and protection against financial fraud, identity theft and viruses.

Available now, McAfee Mobile Security 2.0 supports Google Android-based smartphones and tablets, including those running on Intel architecture as well as BlackBerry and Symbian smartphones. New features include McAfee App Alert, which provides important information about what apps are doing with users’ personal information. Call and SMS filtering block unwanted numbers and spam texts.

The app is also powered by the McAfee Global Threat Intelligence network, which constantly analyzes global threat data to identify and quickly block new threats with over-the-air app updates.

“McAfee Mobile Security 2.0 now offers Android, BlackBerry and Symbian users definitive mobile technology to protect against the most harmful threats to mobile devices today,” said John Thode, executive VP and GM, Consumer, Mobile and Small Business at McAfee. “It is increasingly clear that using a smartphone without security means any sensitive information, such as photos, bank account information or company data on that mobile device is at risk of falling into the wrong hands.”

A Cisco study recently found that half of the respondents would rather lose their wallet or purse than their smartphone – a startling indication of the integral role mobile devices play in our lives. With vast amounts of personal and business data now found on phones and tablets, mobile security threats continue to increase and threaten this information. McAfee Mobile Security software helps smartphone and tablet users embrace mobile technology with the peace of mind that comes from knowing their devices and data are safe from cybercriminals.

McAfee Mobile Security software provides:
Complete Anti-virus, Anti-spyware and Anti-phishing Protection: Scans for malicious code from files, memory cards, applications, Internet downloads and text messages.

Protection from Potentially Unwanted Programs: McAfee is the first to protect users from applications that include commercial spyware, adware and dialers, despite the fact that these programs may have been downloaded in conjunction with a program that the user wants.

Web Protection: McAfee SiteAdvisor protects against Web threats by blocking risky links within SMS, email and social networking sites. It also safeguards against potential phishing sites, browser exploits and malicious quick response (QR) codes.

Anti-theft Protection:
Device Lock: Prevents misuse of the user’s phone and personal data by remotely locking all data, including the data on the memory (SIM) card, and displaying a "contact me" message on the device.

Remotely Wipe Data: Protects the user’s privacy by remotely deleting the data on the phone and removable memory card. It can also back up data before the remote wipe to prevent the loss of data on the device.

Backup and Restore Data: Preserves irreplaceable personal information on demand, on a schedule, or before wiping a missing smartphone, then restores information to the new device.

Locate and Track: Helps users to recover their smartphone if it is lost or stolen. Users can view the device’s location on a map, send an SMS to prompt its return, and use a remote alarm to make it "scream”.

App Protection: McAfee App Alert for Android helps users keep private data private by interpreting how apps are accessing and possibly transmitting personal data.

Call and SMS Filtering: Easily filters out spammers, incorrect numbers and unwanted texts.

Online Management: The McAfee Web portal lets users quickly execute needed security tasks, such as backup, restore, locate, and remote lock and wipe.

Uninstall Protection: Prevents a thief or another user from bypassing their McAfee mobile protection.

McAfee Mobile Security 2.0 costs $29.99 for new subscribers. Existing McAfee Mobile Security subscribers can download the updated software for free.

Slow growth ahead for telecom service provider revenues and capex

2012-01-30T05:09:00.000+05:30

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA: The telecoms industry rebounded in 2011, with service provider revenues and capex growing robustly compared to the same period in 2010, according to Ovum.

In a new report, the independent telecoms analyst found that service provider (SP) capex and revenues grew an estimated 12 per cent and 7 per cent, respectively in 2011, with capex reaching $314 billion and revenues $1,962 billion.

However, the report forecasts that SP revenues will advance at a CAGR of 2.9 per cent over the 2010-2017 period, which is markedly down from the historic CAGR of 6.3 per cent achieved in 2004-2010. There is a similar slowdown with capex: capex expanded at a CAGR of 6.5 per cent in 2004-2010, but this will likely slow to 3.1 per cent in 2010-2017.

“2011 represents a good bounce-back for the industry,” noted report author and Ovum principal analyst Matt Walker. “Macroeconomic weakness is constraining top-line SP revenue growth. Service providers are coping with this reality by aggressively attacking their cost structures, both capex and opex.”

On the capex front, Walker explained that SPs have a number of tools to control costs without necessarily sacrificing competitiveness: network sharing, software-based network elements and features, pay-as-you-grow contractual terms, joint procurement, and M&A will all be important.

According to the report, on the opex side, carriers are increasingly turning to outsourcing, which has helped expand the telco infrastructure services market to US$71bn.

Walker commented: “This shift of SPs' opex to external vendors through outsourcing will bring new opportunities, particularly in the area of services. Also, mobile operators’ share of total capex will continue to advance, from 56 per cent in 2011 to 62 per cent in 2017.”

Telit selects Calixto as its India Competence Center

2012-01-27T16:12:00.000+05:30

NEW DELHI, INDIA: Telit Wireless Solutions, a global leader in the field of Machine-to-Machine (M2M) communications, has selected Calixto Systems Pvt. Ltd., a Bangalore- based leading embedded product realization company, as its India Competence Center. Calixto was chosen as the Telit Competence Center for India based on its expertise in designing GSM/GPRS/CDMA/GPS-based products and its proven capabilities in high-level system design, hardware design including PCB design, software and firmware development.

As part of its core distribution strategy, Telit-designated Competence Centers play a critical role in offering M2M design, development and integration assistance to customers worldwide. The main objective of the Competence Center is to identify and execute a design for a specific customer application based on Telit’s technologies. In conjunction with Telit's distribution network, the Competence Center will also work with customers to develop concepts and ideas to realize target solutions for GSM/GPRS/CDMA/GPS products.

Together with Telit, Calixto Systems has already developed four solutions based on Telit’s GL868-DUAL product, which is the smallest GSM/GPRS surface-mounted module in the market. The solutions include:

* Data Concentration Unit (DCU) for electrical sub stations.
* Unique GPRS tower-based tracking unit.
* Entry-level monitoring and control solution.
* Intelligent remote monitoring and control solution.

Asian capex expected to grow at more subdued 5.7 percent in 2012 compared to 29.1 percent in 2011

2012-01-27T14:00:00.000+05:30

SINGAPORE: “A number of Asian operators are bracing themselves for a quickening in 3G and 4G subscriber adoption in 2012,” says Jake Saunders, VP of forecasting. “Asian capital expenditure in 2012 is forecasted to increase 5.7 percent year-on-year to $58.8 billion.” Across the region, over 63 percent of the CAPEX budget for 2012 will focus on the construction of radio access network infrastructure, 8 percent on upgrades and capacity expansions to the core network, and 29 percent on development of new technologies and new businesses, construction of backhaul transmission facilities, etc.

Several Japanese operators are stepping up their 4G marketing and promotional campaigns:

* NTT DoCoMo is expected to have transitioned 100 percent of its subscribers to 3G/4G services by the end of March 2012 and switch off its 2G network completely. MTT DoCoMo completed a soft launch of its 4G LTE service in December 2010 and subscribers have ratcheted up to 0.66 percent (390,000) of the operator’s installed base.

* KDDI’s WiMAX subsidiary achieved 1.237 million users (3.54 percent share of installed base) and 95 percent+ coverage of Japan’s main cities.

* SoftBank plans to launch its 4G TD-LTE service in mid-February or March and has announced that TD-LTE smartphones will be on retail shelves by mid-2012.

In China, China Mobile has reaffirmed its commitment to accelerate TD-SCDMA/TD-LTE development so as to further develop mobile Internet services and enable the “Internet of Things.” China Unicom’s investment strategy has been to accelerate 3G network building, optimize 2G network coverage, expedite indoor coverage, and establish WiFi hotspot zones to increase network capacity. China Telecom is focused on rolling out integrated information service projects, strengthened the integration of wireline and mobile IT platforms, and implementing risk control systems.

In India, by contrast, only 10 to 20 percent of base stations are 3G-based. Operators like Idea are adding around 2,000 new cell sites per quarter to their networks and almost 3,000 3G base stations in base station upgrades and new cell site deployments.

Apple retakes smartphone lead in Q4; Samsung grabs top spot for full-year 2011

2012-01-27T11:11:00.002+05:30

EL SEGUNDO, USA: After losing market leadership in the third quarter, Apple Inc. returned to the No. 1 rank in global smartphone shipments in the fourth quarter as consumers flocked to buy the newly introduced iPhone 4S. Meanwhile, based on strong sales of its broad line of smartphone products, Samsung has become the world’s largest smartphone brand for the entire year of 2011, marking the first time the South Korean electronics giant has held this distinction.

The table presents the shipments of smartphone companies that have reported results for the fourth quarter of 2011 to date. It doesn't include results of other major companies that haven't reported yet.Source: IHS iSuppli, USA.

Apple in the fourth quarter of 2011 shipped 37 million smartphones worldwide, up 117 percent from 17 million in the second quarter. This represented the strongest sequential quarterly growth among the Top 5 smartphone brands. Apple’s strong performance allowed it to slightly exceed Samsung’s total of 36 million.

Apple in the fourth quarter took the top spot in the market, displacing Samsung, which dropped to second place. Previously in the third quarter, Samsung had usurped Apple to take over the No. 1 rank, which Apple had attained for the first time in the second quarter.

“Apple’s introduction of the 4S in the fourth quarter unleashed tremendous pent-up demand for the iPhone as consumers awaited the arrival of the latest model,” said Wayne Lam, senior analyst, wireless communications at IHS. “This caused the company’s smartphone shipments to surge, allowing it to retake market leadership by a slight margin. However, Apple and Samsung continue to run neck and neck in global smartphone shipments, setting up a tight battle for leadership that will continue throughout 2012.”

Samsung for the entire year of 2011 shipped 95 million smartphones, up an explosive 278 percent from 25 million in 2010. This industry-leading growth allowed it to pass both Apple and previous market leader Nokia to take the No. 1 rank for the entire year of 2011.

“Samsung advanced in 2011 because of its strategy of offering a complete line of smartphone products, spanning a variety of price points, features and operating systems,” Lam said. “This enabled Samsung to move past perennial market leader Nokia and to slightly exceed Apple’s total for the year.”

For its part, Apple posted the second-best performance of all smartphone brands for the entire year of 2011, with its shipments nearly doubling to 93 million units, up from 47 million in 2010.

The market share battle between Apple and Samsung reflects the competition between the two leading smartphone operating systems and ecosystems: Apple's iOS and Google's Android.

However, the other major Android licensees—Sony Ericsson and Motorola—did not match Samsung’s strong smartphone performance in the fourth quarter or for the entire year.

“The relatively small growth of Sony Ericsson and Motorola may indicate that the Android smartphone market is becoming too crowded as the various licensees compete for limited consumer mindshare and shelf space,” Lam said.

Source: IHS iSuppli, USA.

Global handset shipments reach 1.6 billion units in 2011

2012-01-27T05:14:00.002+05:30

BOSTON, USA: According to the latest research from Strategy Analytics, global handset shipments grew 11 percent annually to reach 445 million units in the fourth quarter of 2011. Apple was the star performer, capturing a record 8 percent market share worldwide during the quarter. Full-year handset shipments reached 1.6 billion units globally in 2011, with annual growth of 14 percent.

Alex Spektor, associate director at Strategy Analytics, said: “Despite continued macroeconomic difficulties in major markets like Western Europe, global handset shipments grew a reasonable 11 percent annually to reach 445 million units in Q4 2011. Apple was the star performer, shipping 37 million iPhones worldwide and capturing a highest-ever 8 percent market share. Apple’s growth was fueled by intense demand for its refreshed iPhone 4S, as well as the availability of three generations of iPhones at a variety of price points at operators like AT&T in the United States.”

Neil Mawston, executive director, added: “Nokia’s global handset shipments declined 8 percent annually to 113.5 million units in Q4 2011. Volumes were buoyed by the sales of Nokia’s low-end dual-SIM models in emerging markets like Southeast Asia, but were a little soft overall, as initial shipments of Microsoft Lumia phones could not offset declining Symbian sales. Hot on Nokia’s heels, second-ranked Samsung captured 21 percent share with shipments of 95 million units. Samsung’s 18 percent annual growth was fueled by robust shipments of its broad Galaxy-branded 3G portfolio, headlined by the Galaxy S2 superphone.”

Tom Kang, director at Strategy Analytics, added: “Smartphone specialist Apple shipped 93 million handsets worldwide in 2011, nearly doubling the previous year’s volumes. Currently, in just its fifth year of participation in the handset market, Apple is on track to ship well over 100 million units during 2012. China is becoming a key market for Apple this year, and we expect Apple’s share to grow rapidly in 2012, despite countless copycat rivals.”Source: Strategy Analytics, USA.

Apple becomes world's largest smartphone vendor in Q4 2011

2012-01-27T03:11:00.000+05:30

BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--According to the latest research from Strategy Analytics, global smartphone shipments grew 54 percent annually to reach a record 155 million units in the fourth quarter of 2011. Apple reclaimed top position as the world’s number one smartphone vendor during the quarter.

Alex Spektor, Associate Director at Strategy Analytics, said, “Global smartphone shipments grew 54 percent annually to reach a record 155.0 million units in Q4 2011. Apple overtook Samsung to become the world’s largest smartphone vendor by volume with 24 percent market share. Apple’s global smartphone shipments surged 128 percent annually to 37.0 million units, as distribution of the iPhone family expanded across numerous countries, dozens of operators and multiple price points.”

Neil Mawston, Executive Director at Strategy Analytics, added, “While Apple took the top spot in smartphones on a quarterly basis, Samsung became the market leader in annual terms for the first time with 20 percent global share during 2011. With global smartphone shipments nearing half a billion units in 2011, Samsung is now well positioned alongside Apple in a two-horse race at the forefront of one of the world’s largest and most valuable consumer electronics markets.”

Tom Kang, Director at Strategy Analytics, added, “Nokia’s global smartphone market share halved from 33 percent in 2010 to 16 percent in 2011. A lackluster touchscreen smartphone portfolio and a limited presence in the huge United States market caused Nokia’s shrinkage last year. Nokia’s partnership with Microsoft will be very much in focus during 2012, and the industry will be watching closely to see how swiftly the two companies can expand in the high-value 4G LTE market that is rapidly emerging across the United States, Japan and elsewhere.”Source: Strategy Analytics, USA.

Ethertronics EtherSmart LTE 1.0 phone adaptive antenna solution nominated for GSMA global mobile awards in best technology breakthrough category

2012-01-26T23:00:00.000+05:30

SAN DIEGO, USA: Ethertronics, a leading technology company enabling innovative antenna and RF system solutions to deliver the best connected experience, announced its EtherSmart LTE 1.0 Phone Adaptive Antenna solution has been nominated for the GSMA 2012 Global Mobile Awards in the Best Technology Breakthrough category.

As part of its active antenna systems portfolio, EtherSmart LTE 1.0 is being recognized for its ability to meet global wireless carrier and OEM specifications for the challenging industrial designs that exist for LTE mobile phones.

EtherSmart LTE 1.0, a Phone Adaptive Antenna system solution, uses Active Impedance Matching techniques to enable a 50 percent reduction in physical antenna volume while maintaining optimal performance and consistent connection to the network. The additional space can be used to add more components for increased functionality.

Alternatively, these techniques can be used to cover a wider bandwidth in the same antenna volume. In addition, for OEMs, time-to-market is reduced since EtherSmart LTE 1.0 is able to dynamically re-tune itself when changes are made to the device during the design process.

Significantly reducing the antenna design process allows OEMs to save time and money in bringing products to market. This solution includes patented tuning capabilities that result in better phone performance – even in the smallest of form factors and independent of how a person holds their phone. EtherSmart LTE 1.0 is unique in that no other solution like it is available on the market.

“We are thrilled that our EtherSmart LTE 1.0 Phone Adaptive Antenna Solution is being honored by the GSMA,” said Laurent Desclos, president and CEO of Ethertronics. “This acknowledgement validates our vision that active antenna system solutions are the future of mobile devices. This is the first generation of our active antenna systems portfolio with much more innovation to come. Our global team is dedicated to developing innovative solutions for next-generation networks such as 4G LTE and beyond.”

“Reflecting the intensity of competition and innovation across the mobile ecosystem, we saw a record 600 entries and an exceptionally high quality field of contenders vying for this year’s Global Mobile Awards,” said Michael O’Hara, chief marketing officer, GSMA. “It is a significant achievement to have made the shortlist, and our warmest congratulations go to all the nominees. We look forward to the unveiling of the winners at the Mobile World Congress next month.”

ITU approves G3-PLC as new worldwide smart grid standard

2012-01-26T21:30:00.000+05:30

SUNNYVALE, USA: Maxim Integrated Products announced that its G3-PLC protocol has been approved by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) as a new low-frequency, OFDM-based narrowband powerline communications (NB-PLC) standard.

In partnership with Electricité Réseau Distribution France (ERDF) and Sagemcom, Maxim developed the G3-PLC specification to promote open-endedness and interoperability among smart grid implementations. Currently, the G3-PLC is the only NB-PLC standard that supports the IPv6 internet protocol to allow new internet-based energy management systems.

The specification also optimizes bandwidth, corrects errors, and provides a higher data rate that supports two-way communication for demand response and other smart grid applications. The result is an increase in the performance reliability of crossing transformers, enabling a dramatic reduction in deployment costs.

Last year, Maxim introduced the MAX2992, a PLC modem that pairs with the MAX2991 analog front-end (AFE) to provide the first fully compliant G3-PLC chipset solution. Today, several manufacturers offer ITU-compatible G3-PLC solutions based on this chipset, and one such solution is already being deployed in France. With the approval of G3-PLC as an international standard and with available solutions from multiple sources, utility companies can now plan their deployments utilizing G3-PLC to achieve cost-effective smart grid systems with confidence.

Adding intelligence into the existing power grid is a capital-intensive undertaking, and utilities have not wanted to make such a large investment without assurance that the standard they have chosen will be widely adopted. With the ITU’s support, G3-PLC has become one of those accepted standards.

“The approved ITU NB-PLC family of international standards will be a fundamental building block for realizing a robust smart grid anywhere in the world, and will allow utilities to start immediate deployment of NB-PLC on a worldwide basis,” stated ITU Secretary-General Dr. Hamadoun Touré.*

Maxim and 11 other companies founded the G3-PLC Alliance last year to support the deployment of the G3-PLC protocol. “Both the formation of the G3-PLC Alliance and the final NB-PLC standard approval from the ITU provide the standardization and support that utilities need to begin deployments with the G3-PLC protocol,” said Michael Navid, executive business manager for Powerline Products at Maxim.

“The rapid ITU standardization and industry support for the G3-PLC Alliance are testaments to the advantages of G3-PLC and its ability to meet the speed, robustness, and ranges demanded by large-scale powerline networks.”

“One of the goals for the G3-PLC Alliance is to support standardization around the G3-PLC specification as an open international standard,” said Jean Vigneron, secretary-general for G3-PLC Alliance. “ITU is the first standards organization that has fully adopted it. We have this international standard today thanks to the dedication of many experienced experts in the field of communications and advanced metering infrastructure for the past several years.”

The G3-PLC open-standard approach and its global support enable developers to seamlessly adapt this next-generation PLC platform.

Spectrum Networks expands network with new data center connection

2012-01-26T20:46:00.000+05:30

SEATTLE, USA: Spectrum Networks, one of the largest, independent Internet providers in the Northwest, has expanded its network presence in the Puget Sound area with a new point of presence (POP) in Kanobe/BDS data center located in Bothell, Washington.

This new data center addition complements Spectrum Network’s existing deployments in many of the region’s premier data centers including the Westin Building, Pittock Block Building (Portland), Adhost Data Center at Fisher Plaza, 1000 Denny and Sabey’s Intergate Tukwila campus.

With the addition of this new connection, Spectrum Networks is now interconnected to Black Rock Cable’s extensive fiber optic network in the North Puget Sound region, thus providing first-rate access to Ethernet transport services between data centers for thousands of North Sound businesses via Spectrum Network’s reliable, ultra high-speed and enterprise-quality IP network infrastructure.

“By adding Spectrum Networks to our carrier partners, we also add great route diversity and increased IP transport and transit capacity for our co-location and data center customers. Spectrum Networks’ premium bandwidth ensures that we are able to provide and exceed our 99.999 percent service-level agreement (SLA), which our customers require in today’s marketplace,” said William Nelson, CEO, Kanobe.

“The addition of our Bothell connection continues to fulfill Spectrum Networks’ vision to expand into new markets and allows us to offer our premier services to regions of customers who demand high-availability network connections for their business operations. We are excited to continue to support the needs of business and IT professionals in the Northwest,” added John van Oppen, CEO, Spectrum Networks.

Rural Broadband Summit at Broadband MEA tackles digital divide in the Middle East and Africa

2012-01-26T17:20:00.000+05:30

LONDON, ENGLAND: Broadband MEA, the premier event driving sustainable growth of broadband in the Middle East and Africa, is attracting top industry representatives in the region to its first ever Rural Broadband Summit to be held on 25 March 2012. As MEA governments and industry players alike work towards bridging the digital divide to improve rural broadband, the summit will explore the opportunities and innovations required to achieve connectivity in these territories.

With a focus on Internet accessibility the Rural Broadband Summit 2012 will provide a vital opportunity to hear from exciting emerging players in the industry. It also provides the perfect platform for targeted discussion and thought-provoking analysis of key issues, such as the challenges of making the economics of broadband delivery work for business and achieving ROI.

Richard Jones, partner at Ventura Team LLP, is set to chair the summit. He says: "The Rural Broadband Summit is incredibly important as an event as it deals with the unserved and under-served parts of the market - the parts that need attention to avoid the creation of digital divides and to support the rural economies."

Unique presentations from leading analysts at the summit will address the topic of navigating the regulation in different markets as well as other key areas in the broadband space. A critical question to be debated on the day is the technology choices for rural broadband as well as rural network sharing, achieving return on investment from rural broadband network coverage and key trends around broadband connectivity in Africa.

Acting chairman, CEO and head of Telecommunications Technologies Unit of the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Lebanon, Imad Y. Hoballah, PhD, will speak on working towards an efficient ICT sector policy (e-governance, e-commerce, e-health, e-education) to serve remote areas. Hoballah’s presentation will touch on matters such as the government’s role in achieving broadband connectivity for remote areas, licensing obligations, development of local content and applications and technology innovations utilised in fast rural broadband deployment.

Hoballah says: “The TRA of Lebanon is pleased to participate in the Rural Broadband Summit - 2012. As a speaker at this world-class event, I will highlight the importance of the synergy among all stakeholders to serve rural areas through an efficient ICT sector policy. Immense value will be delivered to the rural regions when technology innovations - like cloud services - are coupled with local content and applications and supported by appropriate regulations and policies. I am looking forward to meeting industry leaders and stakeholders to discuss and exchange ideas and thoughts about how ICT drives social and economical growth in the MEA region.”

Hoballah is also president of the Arab Regulators’ Network (AREGNET), vice chairman of the Arab Spectrum Management Group (ASMG) and VP of the Arab Infrastructure Regulators Forum (AIRF).

Leading network access specialist, The Kenton Group, is officially sponsoring the Rural Broadband Summit, with its Managing Director John Larkin commenting: “Broadband MEA is a fantastic event as it brings key players together to address the critical issues surrounding rural broadband in the MEA region. It raises the question of what technology choices are available for rural broadband and tackles how to achieve them.”

John Larkin will also be giving a presentation at the summit on unleashing the potential of copper networks for rural broadband which will include an overview of defining the problem, the market potential, the challenges faced and the solutions that can cost effectively meet demand.

Also speaking on the day is Jaume Salvat, CEO of Andorra Telecom. Salvat, who says: “I’m looking forward to sharing our experiences at Broadband MEA and discussing our ideas about the deployment of broadband infrastructures in rural areas. I’ll also be exploring how to ensure true broadband services to the inhabitants and businesses in those areas, allowing the same opportunities and the right economic development.”

Jayhun Mollazade, CEO at AzQtel LLC, says: “As a wireless network operator in Azerbaijan we’ve achieved considerable success in the provision of broadband Internet access services. Broadband MEA 2012 will be a great opportunity for different companies to showcase the progress that they have made in the broadband industry.”

A host of high level government and industry executives will speak at the summit including Nima PourNejatian, Chief Technology Officer at MobinNet Telecom Co. (MTC); Ntokozo Khumalo, African Business Producer at ETV and Labib Matta, Senior Partner at Next Gen Advisory Group.

TIA pushes for wireless spectrum and public safety network legislation

2012-01-26T00:28:00.000+05:30

WASHINGTON, USA: Following President Barack Obama’s State of the Union address, Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA) President Grant Seiffert issued the following statement:

“We deeply appreciate President Obama’s commitment to extend broadband access to all Americans. We also thank him for his strong support for innovation and research and development and we’re pleased that he noted the importance of the tech industry’s contributions to economic growth and creation of jobs in the United States.

“We ask again that the President urge Congress to act swiftly to ensure passage of wireless spectrum and public safety network legislation, which will lead to creation of an estimated 100,000 new jobs in ICT industries and, over time, produce indirect benefits of an estimated $4 to $8 billion per year. I must stress again that spectrum auction authority for the FCC is crucial to ensure that demand for mobile data can be met to allow technologists to continue to innovate.“

“Auction authority is vital to America’s future competitiveness. Currently spending on telecommunications equipment in international markets outpaces spending in the United States more than 4-to-1. US companies need the government to address issues such as the spectrum crunch to create ideal conditions domestically and to provide a level playing field for trade to help narrow that gap.

“TIA also encourages the Obama Administration to fully implement the recommendations in its 'Innovation Package: A Roadmap for Growing Jobs & the Economy’. The Innovation Package provides a concrete set of policy recommendations for the US government to implement to recapture global competitiveness, drive investment, and enable forward-looking technologies.”

802.11ac WLAN software for RFIC test

2012-01-25T19:34:00.001+05:30

ALBUQUERQUE, USA: ZTEC Instruments has released the ZProtocol WLAN, a comprehensive 802.11ac demodulation software solution for analysis, characterization and test of the next generation of Wi-Fi RF integrated circuits (RFIC).

The exponential growth of digital media and wirelessly connected devices requires faster and more reliable wireless protocols. A fifth-generation (5G) Wi-Fi standard, designated 802.11ac by the IEEE, achieves wireless data rates in excess of 1 Gbit/s by extending the existing 802.11n protocol with wider instantaneous bandwidth up to 160MHz, more MIMO channels, and higher density modulation up to 256QAM.

Although the 802.11ac standard is still in draft form, RFIC manufacturers are already demonstrating 802.11ac chips, such as Broadcom who showed the BCM4360 at the most recent Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. 5G Wi-Fi systems will be available for home networking this year, with 5G smartphones and tablets expected to follow in 2013. In-Stat studies predict that one billion 802.11ac devices will ship by 2015.

Engineers must test these new 802.11ac devices with IEEE standard-compliant hardware and software tools. ZProtocol WLAN offers fast, flexible and easy to use test software that complies with the 802.11ac Wi-Fi standard.

Christopher Ziomek, president, ZTEC Instruments, said: "ZTEC is pleased to provide our customers with leading-edge tools that allow them to test and characterize their next generation Wi-Fi devices. With ZProtocol WLAN, they can accelerate their time to market for 5G Wi-Fi products."

NI announces test solution for 802.11ac WLAN

2012-01-25T18:41:00.000+05:30

AUSTIN, USA: National Instruments announced early access support for testing next-generation 802.11ac WLAN chipsets and devices. This announcement exemplifies how NI's modular, software-defined wireless test platform continually expands to address the latest cellular and wireless connectivity standards including 802.11ac.

NI's 802.11ac WLAN test solution provides flexibility in testing 802.11ac devices in addition to testing 802.11a/b/g/n devices. It works with a wide range of signal bandwidths including 20, 40, 80 and 80+80 160 MHz for both Tx and Rx for up to 4x4 MIMO configurations.

"By supporting the latest WLAN standard, 802.11ac, we are demonstrating the power of NI's software-defined, modular test systems," said Dr. James Truchard, president, CEO and co-founder of National Instruments. "Our modular test platform delivers faster test times and lower total cost of ownership, and by combining it with LabVIEW, we help engineers address the latest emerging wireless standards."

Data center to drive Ethernet switch revenue growth through 2016

2012-01-25T17:09:00.000+05:30

REDWOOD CITY, USA: According to a recent report by Dell'Oro Group, the L2-3 Ethernet Switch market is forecast to approach $28B in 2016, with future growth to be driven primarily by sales of Ethernet switches optimized for larger data center deployments.

By 2016, 10 Gigabit Ethernet in the Ethernet Switch market is expected to comprise the majority of revenue. Also expected by 2016 is robust growth in 40 Gigabit Ethernet and 100 Gigabit Ethernet with the combined technologies expected to exceed $3 billion.

"We expect the Ethernet Switch market to experience two significant years of market growth in 2013 and 2014 from the migration of servers towards 10 Gigabit Ethernet," said Alan Weckel, senior director of Dell'Oro Group. "We believe that in 2013, most large enterprises will upgrade to 10 Gigabit Ethernet for server access through a mix of connectivity options ranging from blade servers, SFP+ direct attach and 10G Base-T. We further anticipate that in 2014, small and medium businesses will upgrade to 10 Gigabit Ethernet. Looking toward the second half of the decade, 40 GE and 100 GE switches will be an important growth driver for the Ethernet switch market."

The report also shows that Fixed 10 Gigabit Ethernet revenues are projected to grow the most during the forecast period. Vendors with current Ethernet Switch offerings in this segment include: Alcatel-Lucent, Avaya, Brocade, Cisco, Extreme, Dell, HP, IBM, and Juniper.

Wireless platforms market to reach $155.2 billion by 2016

2012-01-25T16:32:00.000+05:30

DUBLIN, IRELAND: Research and Markets has announced the addition of the "Wireless Platforms Market - Global Forecasts & Analysis (2011-2016)" report to its offering.

Wireless networks such as Personal Area Networks (PANs) LANs, Cellular Networks enable effective communication by not depending on the availability of wires or cables. The borderless communication spurred by the invention of wireless network infrastructure and enhancement in application platforms have led to evolving human accessibility using mobile devices.

The wireless computing platforms are expected to have a favorable effect on enterprises as they can utilize new and innovative mobile operating systems, end user devices and wireless network infrastructure. Where personal computers shifted computing power to the desktop from mainframes, wireless devices supplement laptops and desktops, giving employees powerful end user devices that are well-connected and offer vital business data owing to integration with enterprise information systems.

In value terms, the global wireless platform market stood at $61.5 billion in year 2011 and is expected to reach $155.2 billion by year 2016, at 20.3 percent CAGR during the projected period.

Avaya accelerates mobile collaboration for enterprises with Avaya Flare communicator for Apple iPad tablets

2012-01-25T15:43:00.000+05:30

NEW DELHI, INDIA: Avaya, a global provider of business communications and collaboration systems and services, announced the availability of Avaya Flare Communicator for iPad tablets.

Avaya Flare Communicator broadens the next-generation user experience of the Avaya Flare Experience currently delivered on the Avaya Desktop Video Device, to include the market-leading consumer tablet. Avaya Flare Communicator provides mobile workers with secure, next-generation, unified communications and collaboration capabilities over both Wi-fi and 3G networks.

Avaya Flare Communicator for iPad tablets is enabled by the Avaya Aura unified communications architecture, which delivers integrated applications to a broad range of fixed and mobile devices. Today, Avaya takes secure mobile collaboration a step further by making the Avaya Flare Communicator a download from the Apple App Store. Additional consumer devices and operating systems will be supported later this year.

Global GPS navigation and LBS market 2010-2014

2012-01-25T15:01:00.000+05:30

NEW YORK, USA: Reportlinker.com announced that a new market research report is available in its catalog: Global GPS Navigation and LBS Market 2010-2014.

TechNavio's analysts forecast the Global GPS Navigation and LBS market to grow at a CAGR of 50.2 percent over the period 2010–2014. One of the key factors contributing to this market is the growth in the sales of smartphones. The Global GPS Navigation and LBS market has also been witnessing its increasing applications in the automobiles. However, the availability of alternate satellite system could pose a challenge to the growth of this market.

Key vendors dominating this market space include Garmin Ltd, TomTom NV, Magellan, and Mio Technology Corp.

Huawei completes acquisition of CIP Technologies

2012-01-25T14:35:00.001+05:30

IPSWICH, UK: Huawei, a leading global information and communications technology (ICT) solutions provider, announced the acquisition of the Centre for Integrated Photonics Ltd (CIP), a world-leading photonics research laboratory, from the East of England Development Agency (EEDA).

CIP will significantly deepen the optical R&D capabilities of Huawei and demonstrates the company’s ongoing commitment to R&D in the UK. The CIP R&D team, which is located in Ipswich, will be retained by Huawei and will form the core of the new Huawei UK R&D centre, part of Huawei’s global R&D network.

CIP has a reputation as a world-class incubator in fibre optic transmission and carries out world-leading cutting edge research work in this hi tech area. Huawei will continue to invest in fibre optic R&D to ensure that CIP remains an innovator in this important technology sector.

EEDA’s chairman, Prof. Will Pope, said: “This is a tremendous investment success story for EEDA, which acquired CIP in 2003 from its then American owners to save it from closure. EEDA’s mission was to ensure that a key UK technology company was not lost from the hi tech business base of the East of England.

“Following re-structuring and investment in the business we’re very pleased to find such a prominent acquirer for the company where the skills of the staff and the accumulated know-how are to be exploited on an international scale. The agreement with Huawei follows a rigorous and competitive tender process which has generated a positive return for the taxpayer, has demonstrated yet again the value for UK plc of EEDA’s hi tech investments in the East of England and I am confident we have made the right decision for CIP and its employees. Huawei is a world-class organization and their involvement in funding R&D in the region is most welcome.”

“As a world-leading ICT solutions provider, Huawei aims to build up its business in global markets and will continue to increase investment in the UK, reaffirming its commitment to customers, suppliers and business partners,’’ said Victor Zhang, CEO of Huawei UK. “Currently, Huawei has six research facilities in Europe. I’m confident that CIP’s strong research abilities and its talented staff will further extend our European research presence to the UK, a key and important market to the company.”

CIP’s CEO, Peter Wharton, added: “We had a good level of interest from potential acquirers, but the management team and staff overwhelmingly backed EEDA’s view of the Huawei bid because we believe its industry-leading R&D capabilities and investment in CIP will lead us to have many more significant achievements in the future. The last six months of working closely with Huawei has more than met our expectations, building the foundations for an excellent working relationship.”

EEDA was advised in the transaction by the London office of Woodside Capital Partners.

Siklu sold over 1,000 E-band wireless backhaul links in 2011

2012-01-25T13:11:00.000+05:30

Mobile World Congress 2012, PETACH TIKVA, ISRAEL: Siklu, provider of EtherHaul E-band radios, has established a leading position in the wireless backhaul over millimeter wave market with its strong performance in 2011. With more than 1000 EtherHaul links installed and running successfully under varying weather conditions all over the world, Siklu has solidified its position as a front-runner in millimeter wave systems.

The Siklu EtherHaul solution has been performing stably in trials under diverse weather conditions, from the harsh European winter to the rainy monsoon season in India. Operators also benefit from a small form factor that facilitates fast site acquisition and deployment, as well as plug and play setup that reduces installation time.

“Siklu’s leading position has been achieved through its game-changing design,” says Gaby Junowicz, VP of marketing and business development at Siklu. “We’re seeing numerous customers standardize on Siklu for their urban wireless links because of the unmatched throughput-price combination.”

Siklu’s high capacity gigabit wireless backhaul solutions support next generation 4G/LTE and broadband bandwidth requirements, at the lowest cost in the industry. “In order to maintain its leadership position, Siklu will continue to leverage its innovative all-silicon technology to deliver systems perfectly suited for LTE/4G small and picocell backhaul,” Junowicz continues.

A10 Networks signs on SCOPE ME as authorized support provider for Middle East

2012-01-25T12:16:00.000+05:30

DUBAI, UAE: A10 Networks, the technology leader in Application Networking, has named Scope Middle East (SCOPE ME), a leading speciality distributor and technology solutions provider in the Middle East, as its authorized support provider for the region. This development further strengthens the relationship between the two companies who had signed a distributorship agreement in September 2011.

As per the arrangement, Scope ME will provide support contracts and professional services to A10 Networks' wide customer base in the Middle East. These support contracts can be customized to suit the requirements of each individual customer.

Mark Edge, sales director, EMEA, for A10 Networks indicated the importance of the agreement and its strategic implications in consolidating the company’s position in the Application Delivery Controller (ADC) market in the Middle East which is valued at over $20 million (AED 73 million) annually.

“We entered the region with the intention of rapid market capitalization. Signing Scope Middle East on as a distributer in 2011 was the first step towards this goal. Differentiating ourselves by providing superior and highly dedicated customer support was the next logical phase.

“We have experienced first-hand Scope Middle East's technical expertise and professionalism. They already have a well-established support center and extensive experience in security and networking products and we believe that our customers stand to benefit greatly from this,” he said.

Scope ME already handles hundreds of support contracts with customers in the region from various segments of industry such as telecom, government, education, internet service providers etc. The certified engineers, who have extensive networking and security experience, are capable of providing 24/7 support via telephone, web and email in multiple languages including English, Arabic, Hindi and Urdu. In addition, customers can opt for a dedicated support engineer.

“We are extremely excited to build upon what has already proved to be a mutually beneficial relationship. There has been a good reception to A10 Networks’ AX Series solutions in the region and as a value-added distributor; we have worked closely with a number of their customers. Our contact center engineers have been trained and certified by A10 Networks and we are all geared up to provide world-class support,” said Fadi AbuEkab, CEO of Scope Middle East.

SCOPE ME is one of the Middle East’s premier technology solutions providers. Its vendor base includes well known leading global technology vendors like Blue Coat, Legrand, Kaspersky, SpliceCom and intranet technology specialist Adenin Technologies.

Ascom Wireless offers superior voice quality through interoperability with Motorola's WiNG 5 WLAN architecture

2012-01-24T21:00:00.000+05:30

GOTHENBURG, SWEDEN: Ascom Wireless Solutions and Motorola Solutions have teamed to optimise functionality between their communication solutions. The companies have conducted joint testing on Motorola´s WLAN architecture and Ascom´s handsets to ensure superior voice quality, trouble-free interoperability and scalability.

With Ascom Wireless Solutions as a certified Motorola Wireless Network Solutions Partner, the joint certification process ensures interoperability between the Ascom i62, VoWiFi handset to operate on 802.11n networks, and Motorola’s WiNG5 wireless LAN network architecture, ensuring clear business-critical communications for users in healthcare and retail markets.

As one of the first-ever VoWiFi handsets to operate on 802.11n networks, the Ascom i62 offers unique capabilities such as superior interoperability with almost any network supplier, optimized integration and state-of-the-art administrative efficiency. Deploying it over Motorola’s unrivalled portfolio of wireless network solutions, customers can realize the benefits of seamless connectivity and wireless coverage that put real-time information in the hands of users.

Belden's Magnum router terminal server simplifies integrating serial devices into smart grid initiatives

2012-01-24T20:13:00.000+05:30

ST. LOUIS, USA: Belden Inc. has released the new Magnum 10XTS Router Terminal Server. The Magnum 10XTS targets large substation installations with large numbers of serial and Ethernet instruments and the need for high-speed WAN access.

The Magnum 10XTS offers two routing ports via a T1/E1 card, as well as up to eight Ethernet ports or up to 28 serial ports for protection and SCADA devices and IRIG-B time coding. Like other members of the next-generation Magnum "10" Series, the 10XTS is an IEC 61850-3 compliant networking device with the hardening required for substation applications and the only dual hot-swappable power supplies in the industry. Magnum is a trademarked product line of Belden's GarrettCom brand.

The product will first be demonstrated at DistribuTECH 2012 in San Antonio, Texas, Jan. 24-26, in booth 3133.

"The Magnum 10XTS Router Terminal Server provides IP routing capabilities, next generation reliability, extensive security features and the port configurability to enable large operations to be integrated into Smart Grid systems and meet NERC CIP requirements," said Lee House, GarrettCom GM. "By providing for high density serial port configurations, multiple Ethernet ports, as well as wide area connectivity, the 10XTS is designed for flexibility in managing legacy or next generation substation networks."

By providing the same combination of high port density with flexible configurability and hot-swap power as other members of the 10 Series, the 10XTS provides the connectivity necessary in today's more complex substations and reduces the potential points of failure in a substation communications system.

Digi releases next gen ZigBee smart energy gateway

2012-01-24T19:10:00.001+05:30

MINNETONKA, USA: Digi International introduced the ConnectPort X2e for Smart Energy, a low-cost, enhanced version of the company’s ZigBee Smart Energy gateway. The gateway connects ZigBee Smart Energy devices from a Home Area Network (HAN) to an energy service provider via broadband.

It offers additional memory and processing power for over-the-air updates of connected Smart Energy devices, making it easier for utilities and application partners to establish and maintain large Smart Energy device deployments. The ConnectPort X2e also provides an upgrade path to Smart Energy 2.0.

“Managing the device network is a significant barrier to Smart Grid adoption,” said Larry Kraft, senior VP of global sales and marketing, Digi International. “To make widespread deployment a reality, the industry needs open architecture and lower-cost solutions for connecting large Smart Energy device deployments. With our partners, we have experience in deploying tens of thousands of Smart Energy devices into people's homes. The ConnectPort X2e leverages that experience into a platform designed to solve real-world deployment challenges.”

The ConnectPort X2e’s additional processing power allows support for more complex local energy efficiency applications, and the increased memory enables support for the impending ZigBee Smart Energy 2.0 standard. The gateway runs the open platform Linux operating system further protecting an organization’s investment in the device. As part of the open Digi X-Grid Solutions, the gateway can connect to numerous types of devices to enable a wide range of services.

All Digi Smart Energy gateways feature the iDigi Device Cloud, allowing Smart Energy devices to easily and securely integrate energy consumption data into new and existing Smart Energy applications. The ConnectPort X2e for Smart Energy automatically connects to the iDigi Device Cloud for easy installation and management of connected devices and is programmable in iDigi’s application framework.

The ConnectPort X2e for Smart Energy is available now. A Wi-Fi version will be released in Q2 2012.

Ekinops intros 20G transponder, doubling 10G capacity of existing transport networks

2012-01-24T18:32:00.000+05:30

PARIS, FRANCE: Ekinops, a leading provider of next-generation optical equipment, has announced a unique technology that allows Service Providers to double the capacity over their optical networks, with a lower cost per 10G. The new transponder will carry two standard 10Gs in the ITU standard 50GHz grid.

Ekinops’ new product offering allows service providers to install two 10G circuits, where they could previously install only a single 10G service, doubling the network’s capacity. It can be used on existing Ekinops networks or over third party line systems. This new 10G technology takes advantage of Ekinops’ industry leading DynaFEC (Dynamic Forward Error Correction), allowing it to be deployed over existing line systems even if they utilize older, poorer-performing fiber.

"While 100G will take many years to replace 10G as the primary service rate, it is refreshing that Ekinops is heavily concentrating on making practical improvements on a more vital and valuable type of solution," said Mark Lutkowitz, principal, Telecom Pragmatics. "The bulk of capital expenditures on optical equipment by carriers will remain based on 10G technology for an extensive period of time."

The Ekinops 20G transponder costs significantly less per 10G circuit than existing 10G transponders available on the market. The performance-enhancing capability of DynaFEC also offers additional cost-saving benefits, especially by eliminating regeneration points on older line systems.

“Service providers can deploy the Ekinops 20G transponder over existing systems without disrupting existing services,” said Francois Xavier Ollivier, COO at Ekinops. “Our customers are very excited about our new 100G solution and many are ready to utilize it where it makes economic sense. However, the move to 100G is a major financial jump and in many parts of their network, customers are just looking to double the capacity.”

The T-Chip is at the heart of the Ekinops 360 industry-leading metro, regional, and long haul transport system. It uniquely concentrates the system’s transport intelligence into a highly compact and efficient design. It can be programmed quickly for virtually any type of functionality and enables Ekinops to deliver new features and protocol support well ahead of standard industry chip sets. The unparalleled capabilities of the T-Chip yield reductions in costs, footprint, and ongoing power consumption and speed manufacturing delivery times to customers.

Orange and the Wikimedia Foundation to offer Wikipedia in Africa and the Middle East at no extra cost

2012-01-24T17:00:00.001+05:30

PARIS, FRANCE: In the first partnership of its kind, Orange and the Wikimedia Foundation will provide more than 70 million Orange customers in Africa and the Middle East (AMEA) with mobile access to Wikipedia - without incurring data usage charges.

Orange and the Wikimedia Foundation today announced a major partnership designed to make knowledge more easily available to Orange mobile customers throughout Africa and the Middle East. In the first partnership of its kind for Wikipedia, Orange and the Wikimedia Foundation will provide customers in both remote and urban areas of AMEA with access to Wikipedia.

In 2009, Orange and the Wikimedia Foundation formed the world’s first mobile and Internet partnership to expand the reach of Wikimedia’s projects through channels on Orange mobile and web portals in Europe.

This new partnership will be gradually launched throughout 2012 across 20 African and Middle Eastern countries where Orange operates, with the first markets launching early in the year. The initiative is part of the Wikimedia Foundation's mobile strategy that aims to reach the billions of people around the world who access the Internet solely through mobile devices.

Any customer with an Orange SIM and mobile internet enabled phone will be able to access the Wikipedia site either through their browser or an Orange widget. They can access the Wikipedia encyclopaedia services for as many times as they like at no extra charge as long as they stay within Wikipedia’s pages.

Telit facilitates first-of-its-kind ‘Smart Farm’ in South Korea

2012-01-24T16:23:00.000+05:30

SOUTH KOREA: Telit Wireless Solutions, a global leader in machine-to-machine (M2M) wireless technology, announced the successful completion of its first “smart farm” system in South Korea. The technology specifically allows farmers to monitor and control cold climate greenhouses remotely via their smart phone. The benefits include significantly reduced use of labor, water and energy and reduction in crop losses.

Following an initial pilot program, Telit’s remote M2M wireless control system is now in operation on several working oriental melon farms and will be installed and connected in more than 1,000 oriental melon greenhouses in Seoungju County South Korea in 2012.

Telit initiated the smart farm project in partnership with Disys, a South Korean designer of mobile applications. The company underwent a one-year development phase with SK Telecom. SK Telecom expects strong demand for this service and is planning to create a separate communication payment system to provide subsidies and lessen installation cost burdens to farmers.

With the smart farm system, oriental melon farmers are able to maintain consistent crop temperatures by remotely covering or uncovering their crops inside large, clear vinyl greenhouses at night or during any cold weather. Previously, South Korean farmers were required to manually cover crops, which are easily damaged during extreme cold. Seoungju County is the biggest oriental melon farming area in South Korea with more than 60,000 greenhouses.

Additional smart farm features are planned, including temperature and humidity sensors that can enhance the growth and health of crops while reducing the amount of water and energy required. Surveillance cameras will also be installed to prevent the theft of crops and provide a visual check of the greenhouses for farmers.

Octoshape and Crunchfish solidify mobile partnership

2012-01-24T15:27:00.000+05:30

ATLANTA, USA: Octoshape and Crunchfish announced a partnership that integrates Octoshape Infinite HD technologies into Crunchfish mobile application development platforms.

The combination of Crunchfish’s unique mobile app design and Octoshape’s high quality and efficient global content distribution technology sets the stage for rapid monetization of broadcast quality content on all connected devices. The first apps for iPhone, iPad and Android were showcased at CES in Las Vegas this year.

“When we started Crunchfish AB we had the dream of making technology that made a difference in people's lives,” said Paul Cronholm, co-founder and CEO at Crunchfish AB. “The collaboration with Octoshape realizes improved media experiences for people all over the globe on any device. We at Crunchfish are proud to do this together with Octoshape.”

In today’s connected device market, media companies and content aggregators face stiff challenges. Obstacles on the network side include providing high quality video experiences for which people are willing to pay. Hurdles on the application development side include providing consistent UI and consumer experiences across a diverse range of devices. The partnership between Octoshape and Crunchfish resolves these issues for broadcasters by combining the best-in-class video distribution technology from Octoshape with the innovative application development experience of Crunchfish.

“We find ourselves at the beginning of an explosion in global media distribution via connected devices,” said Michael Koehn Milland, CEO of Octoshape. “We are pleased to partner with Crunchfish to help our customers rapidly develop compelling and consistent user experiences to their device audiences.”

Interoute and Bezeq create new Internet super highway between Europe and Israel

2012-01-24T14:50:00.000+05:30

LONDON, ENGLAND: Bezeq International, Israel's leading Internet and international telecoms provider, has selected Interoute Communications Ltd, owner and operator of Europe's largest cloud services platform, to expand its physical network right into the heart of Europe. "JONAH"- the 2,300km submarine cable - will connect Israel to Europe using Interoute’s pan-European fibre optic network from the Interoute landing station in Bari, Italy.

This strategic project gives Israel true telecommunication independence, thanks to this new Bezeq International owned cable "JONAH". Interoute’s landing station in Bari, Italy was chosen because it gave the ability to directly interconnect with Interoute’s network, and opens up possible business opportunities with the major operators already connected to Interoute’s network looking to reach Israel and the rest of the Middle East directly.

"JONAH", Bezeq International's advanced cable is equipped with two optical fibre pairs, which gives it a potential capacity of over 7 Terabit/s. This newly available capacity will improve the Internet infrastructure in Israel and help eliminate the bottleneck in connections abroad.

Isaac Benbenisti, Bezeq's CEO, said: “Our co-operation with Interoute enables us to take a significant step in the development of our international infrastructure to better serve Israeli as well as global customers. Interoute's network offers us flexible access to an extensive pan-European footprint, empowering our ability to deliver the best performance and set new standards of Internet service in Israel and the region.”

Gareth Williams, Interoute's CEO, added: “This new submarine cable brings digital Europe and Israel closer together. We are extremely proud to be a part of this new ‘Internet super highway’, which will play an active role in the development of business in the Middle East and North Africa. This project highlights Interoute’s expertise in developing and managing networks for partner businesses. Through this agreement Bezeq International has access to the massive size and scale of Interoute’s advanced fibre optic network, creating a virtual pan European network for Bezeq and its customers that’s available instantly.”

Amino selects Celeno Wi-Fi for connected IPTV STBs

2012-01-24T13:44:00.000+05:30

RA’ANANA, ISRAEL: Amino Communications, leaders in IPTV/OTT solutions, has selected Celeno Communications, a leading provider of semiconductors for multimedia Wi-Fi home networking applications, to provide a range of wireless products that complement Amino’s range of award-winning IPTV set-top boxes (STBs).

Celeno's OptimizAIR technology will help Amino offer whole home Wi-Fi networking robust enough for HD IPTV distribution, multi-room DVR and Over the Top (OTT) video and Video on Demand (VoD) consumption anywhere in the home.

Amino and Celeno will offer the following wireless solutions in the market place:

* Wi-Fi/Ethernet bridges powered by Celeno’s CL1830 SoC to wirelessly enable after-market IP STBs, including the Aminet A130, A140 and A540. These powerful bridges will enable whole-home wireless PVR functionality, allowing the consumption of centrally stored content anywhere in the home.

* Wi-Fi/USB dongles powered by Celeno’s CLR250 chip to wirelessly enable after-market IP STBs to receive HD IPTV and OTT content.

“With Celeno’s field-proven Wi-Fi technology and rich Wi-Fi chipset portfolio, we are able to offer our Telco customers devices that combine all the quality they’ve come to expect from Amino devices with additional wireless functionality,” said Amino’s CEO, Donald McGarva.

“Our Wi-Fi portfolio provides superior home networking infrastructure to customers such as Amino, combining high performance for flicker-free video with the flexibility and ease of use required by consumers,” said Gilad Rozen, CEO of Celeno.

Amino recently announced it would enhance its entire IPTV product range with OTT capability to deliver a richer, more dynamic entertainment experience for consumers. All Amino devices now provide operators with the ability to offer a compelling mix of broadcast, on-demand, and content from the open Internet including social media, gaming and applications.

Wireless History Foundation opens nominations for 2012 Wireless Hall of Fame

2012-01-24T08:00:00.000+05:30

AUSTIN, USA: The Wireless History Foundation announced that nominations for the 2012 Wireless Hall of Fame will be due no later than March 15. Nominations will be accepted in four categories: Service Provider, Technology, Industry Associate, and Pioneer. A candidate must be recommended by one nominator and two seconders.

“"Wireless has a rich, fascinating history, and the Wireless Hall of Fame offers the premier platform to recognize individuals who have made game-changing contributions to this industry," said WHF executive director, Liz Maxfield.

Candidates are nominated by their peers and selected according to a consistent set of criteria by a committee composed primarily of Hall of Fame members. Inductees will be honored at the Wireless Hall of Fame Dinner on October 8 in San Diego, the evening before the CTIA Enterprise and Applications 2012 tradeshow.

Thirty-two individuals have been inducted into the Wireless Hall of Fame since its inception in 2000. Current members represent ground-breaking achievements in all areas of technology, business and public service. Eligibility for the Wireless Hall of Fame is based on an individual’s contributions to the advancement of wireless services, products, and programs.

Packet Plus intros breakthrough interactive networking stack debugger

2012-01-23T20:09:00.000+05:30

PORTLAND, USA: The new P+ 1000 embedded packet debugger provides unprecedented ability to control and interact with networking designs and is priced for the individual engineer. The P+ 1000 offers packet-by-packet control, an ability to work at any layer of the protocol stack, symbolic editing, and packet injection.

In addition the P+ 1000 provides a comprehensive approach to working with security protocols including at speed encryption/decryption, and key management. This allows the engineer to view, edit, and set triggers as if the traffic is in the clear, and create specific test cases to validate the operation of security protocols.

The P+ 1000 utilizes an embedded approach that leverages the resources of the target design. This makes it possible to have the tool at first silicon or first prototype, when the engineer needs it most. This is combined with compiler-based tool generation that makes it flexible enough to easily handle protocol extensions, and proprietary protocols. This approach creates a tool that can be used for multiple protocols, and across several projects. For wireless designs the tool uses the target design's radio, the radio that engineers prefer working with.

Current networking development tools are lacking. Custom tools are expensive to develop, have a limited interface, and are poorly maintained. Protocol analyzers lack the control and precision needed in development. Chassis based loading tools are too late and too expensive for the individual development engineer.

The P+ 1000 is the first product from Portland, Oregon based Packet Plus. It has a strong team with networking industry, embedded systems and tool development experience with staff from Cisco, PMC-Sierra, Extreme Networks, and Synopsys. The P+ 1000 will be available in March of 2012 and pricing starts at $9,500 per individual engineer. Consulting services are available to integrate into your design, and Packet Plus is able to quote embedded support now.

Oclaro samples 20G VCSEL

2012-01-23T19:17:00.000+05:30

SAN JOSE, USA: Oclaro Inc., a tier-one provider and innovator of optical communications and laser solutions, is sampling a 20G VCSEL (Vertical-Cavity Surface-Emitting Laser).

Having shipped well over 100 million VCSELs, including more than 500 thousand 10G VCSELs in the last year alone, Oclaro is currently the world's largest supplier of VCSELs and its products have been designed into high-volume consumer electronics products such as notebook computers, optical cables, optical mice and smart phones.

By continuing to offer new VCSEL solutions that deliver higher data rates, Oclaro can enable customers to develop faster performing products at better price/performance points. Oclaro will be showcasing its leading family of VCSELs at this week's Photonics West Show in the Oclaro booth #1101.

VCSELs are semiconductor laser diodes that take advantage of optical technology to connect electronic devices such as peripherals, workstations, displays, disk drives and docking stations. For example, a VCSEL in a notebook computer allows data transfer with another computer or enables the user to transfer video content such as movies from their computer onto a high-definition (HD) television.

Because VCSELs are extremely reliable and can meet the stringent requirements of consumer devices, they are rapidly becoming adopted in all areas of consumer electronics. Oclaro has secured the volume leadership position in this market by leveraging its proven expertise in optical laser technology and reliability and its ability to quickly achieve the high-volume production capacities needed for consumer products.

"Just as we are continually addressing the increased bandwidth requirements of the core optical network, we are also committed to meeting the demands of the consumer industry by enabling customers to increase the data transfer rates between various devices such as computers, disk drives or HD TVs," said Karlheinz Gulden, senior director, Product Management at Oclaro. "With the introduction of reliable 20G VCSELs, Oclaro is helping its customers to double the bandwidth over existing solutions and be first to market with higher performing next generation consumer devices."

The new 20G VCSELs are available for sampling to customers today and are also ideally suited to address the growing 16G Fiberchannel transceiver market, which is starting to ramp this year.

ip.access signs Middle East distribution agreement with E-Pay

2012-01-23T16:04:00.000+05:30

CAMBRIDGE, UK: Pioneering developer of small cell mobile technology, ip.access, has signed a distribution agreement with E-Pay International, one of the leading systems integration and managed services suppliers to telecoms operators in the Middle East.

Under the terms of the agreement, E-Pay International will be able to specify, supply and install the market-leading range of ip.access small cell solutions to its operator customers. The agreement covers the full range of ip.access 2G and 3G solutions for the home, office and public small cell deployments, along with ip.access supporting network management tools.

Rob Jones, SVP worldwide sales, support and services at ip.access said: “The Middle Eastern market presents many challenges in terms of mobile network coverage and performance and we are delighted to be able to work with a partner with such tremendous knowledge of the region and an excellent track record of success. We foresee a strong demand for small cell deployments in the region and we aim to work closely with E-Pay International to be in the vanguard of these developments.”

E-Pay International works with a number of Tier One and challenger operator clients across the region, and in wider global markets, specialising in Telecoms solutions and banking services.

Mohammed Al-Barrak, CEO, E-Pay, said: “Our aim is to help our operator customers build and sustain new services. Working with ip.access and its world-leading range of small cell technology will increase our ability to deliver solutions that help the operator and the end-users get the most from their services.”

Small cell solutions are used by mobile operators to both improve mobile coverage in hard to reach areas and also to increase network capacity in busy locations. Earlier this year, ip.access passed the 500,000 milestone for globally deployed 3G small cells, confirming its status as the world’s leading vendor.

Small cells can be deployed in homes, offices, shopping centres, business parks or at street level to improve network performance and increase customer satisfaction. In the USA, the world’s largest roll-out of in-home small cell units – by AT&T – is powered by ip.access technology.

VITEC intros tactical 3G/4G video streaming to mobile devices for military FMV solution

2012-01-23T15:11:00.000+05:30

SUNNYVALE, USA: VITEC, a worldwide leader in advanced digital video solutions, has announced the addition of mobile streaming capabilities to the widely-deployed Optibase Full Motion Video (FMV) Streaming system.

The military-grade architecture delivers standard definition and high definition IPTV content, in real time, to iOS and Android phones and tablets over 3G, HSPA+, 4G LTE, WiFi and WiMAX networks, and seamlessly integrates with existing IP video environments.

Effective dissemination of video is rapidly becoming a must-have tool for ground troops, providing combat situational awareness in remote locations. But military IT and video groups are struggling to keep pace with constantly changing network bandwidth requirements and the wide range of mobile device platforms, operating systems and playback capabilities used by recipients in various sites.

Optibase FMVMS addresses the dynamics at the core of the FMV network and at the battlefield by combining broadcast-grade video quality with dense, flexible and easy to deploy mobile delivery technology that is certified for all types of networks and data rates.

FMVMS can be integrated with the widely-deployed EZ TV IPTV System and FITIS Situational Awareness and ISR Platform to enable rapid deployment of real-time streaming to phones and tablets. Offered in a blade form factor that integrates with award-winning Optibase Media Gateway (MGW) platforms, FMVMS is designed to be used as a video hub service or as an edge device that is positioned close to the users for optimal network utilization.

An integrated iPhone, iPad and Android EZ TV Mobile Player application offers full channel guide synchronization and user authentication for a secure, customized management solution for live streams and recorded video assets.

“Today’s mobile devices offer versatility and computational power that can revolutionize the battlefield. With FMVMS, we are able to enhance our tactical situational awareness solutions and allow our customers to disseminate critical video and metadata information faster and to more recipients, even in remote locations and while on the move,” said Eli Garten, VP of Optibase Product Management at VITEC.

“With this new technology we are able to address the growing need for a tactical mobile delivery solution that offers superb video quality in wide range of bit rates, designed from the ground up to fit military network topologies and trade-off between local and disadvantaged users. Our ability to dynamically and automatically detect the type of mobile devices in use makes FMVMS flexible, easy to deploy and easy to manage – attributes that will assist military organizations to quickly and cost-effectively deploy powerful new tools and services and make an immediate impact with increased video delivery capabilities.”

TTTech intros high-speed 20 Mbit/s TTP product line compliant to SAE AS6003 standard

2012-01-23T12:24:00.000+05:30

VIENNA, AUSTRIA: TTTech, the leading supplier of dependable networking solutions based on time-triggered technology and modular safety platforms, has announced the availability of a high-speed 20 Mbit/s TTP product line compliant to SAE AS6003 standard.

TTTech has combined the existing and mature TTP controller with a faster RS-485 physical layer to build high-speed TTP integrated product solutions. High-speed TTP is already baselined in multiple aircraft programs entering into service in the next years.

TTP (SAE AS6003) has been successfully utilized in commercial cross-industry applications since 2001, including FADEC, electric power system, environmental control, and fly-by wire systems of premier aircrafts such as the Boeing 787, Airbus A380, Embraer 450/500 and Bombardier CSeries.

With an advanced physical layer based on a star topology, TTP controllers support communication at 20 Mbit/s and effectively fill the gap between 100 Mbit/s avionics Ethernet networks and existing avionics fieldbuses. Further, TTTech has developed the DO-254 middleware layer to allow easy migration from previous databuses to TTP-based systems, thus providing a highly modular and scalable architecture.

“Based on proven mature DO-160, Level 5, physical layer technology that is already used in fly-by-wire systems, we have developed a high-speed TTP product line that extends the bandwidth capabilities of TTP. We have aligned the new product line with our customers’ needs and have already won multiple programs,” says Reinhard Maier, director of Product Management at TTTech.

TTP (SAE AS6003) technology and TTTech TTP products simplify system design of reusable embedded platforms and advanced integrated systems that are easier to integrate, test and upgrade.

Due to strictly deterministic communication and data efficiency, TTTech TTP products provide up to 5 times more bandwidth in comparison to existing solutions. Deterministic TTP (SAE AS6003) networks are designed for safety-critical by-wire applications in more electric aircraft, and offer strictly deterministic communication with µs-jitter and fixed latency.

Also for high-speed TTP - TTTech offers a full integrated development, testing and V&V environment to reduce costs, shorten time to market and support certification according to DO-178B and DO-254 DAL A.

Panasonic proposes 'new network lifestyle'

2012-01-23T09:34:00.000+05:30

OSAKA, JAPAN: Panasonic Corp. has published the details of its 60 GHz multi-gigabit wireless circuit technology on its website, aiming to accelerate the implementation of the "New Network Lifestyle" the company proposes.

Panasonic's ultra-high-speed wireless communication technology is based on WiGig and other network standards. Positioning it as a Smart Information Communication Technology (ICT), the company has been promoting its development and integration into network, communication and other electronic devices.

Panasonic hopes releasing the details of the technology and showing practical examples of the New Network Lifestyle to be enabled by the technology will expedite the progress towards achieving a convenient and comfortable future lifestyle.

Now the world is moving into an era where almost all information can be digitized and accessed via networks such as YouTube, Twitter and Facebook at home and outdoors, regardless of the platform. Along with the rise of a new generation of digital natives, the distribution of such rich expressive content will continue to grow, leading to a world in which data intensive content is exchanged on a daily basis anywhere.

The Smart ICT enables multi-gigabit wireless communication more than 20 times faster than conventional wireless LANs using the 60GHz frequency band, and through the optimization of both the transceiver core and peripheral circuits, it will also enable lower than 1W low-power, multi-gigabit wireless communication in the future.
As a result, this technology allows the transfer of a 30-minute long compressed high definition video content within just 10 seconds.

The low power feature makes the technology suitable for compact mobile devices such as smartphones, which will let users of such devices easily get a glimpse of the New Network Lifestyle the ultra-high-speed wireless communication will bring about.

Android will replace iOS as the most important platform to developers

2012-01-23T05:29:00.000+05:30

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA: Android has replaced Apple’s iOS in terms of importance to developers in the Asia-Pacific region in the last 12 months, according to Ovum. However, it is clear that iOS and Android form the core of developer support and that although these two platforms may vie for ultimate supremacy almost all developers support both platforms.

In its second annual developer survey, the independent technology analysts reveal that while iOS and Android form the core of developer support, there is significant drive behind Blackberry OS and an increasing interest from developers in Microsoft’s Windows phone.

Adam Leach, devices & platforms practice leader at Ovum and author of the research said: “The growing momentum behind Windows Phone indicates that Microsoft has managed to convince developers that its platform is worthy of investment. However, its main challenge now is to persuade consumers.”

In this year survey, the trends mirror closely changes in the wider smartphone market. Developers have been quick to respond to the exit of once-important smartphone platforms such as Windows Mobile, Symbian and WebOS and have embraced opportunities that have arisen through emerging platforms.

The research also shows a move away from traditional cross-platform mobile application development approaches (e.g. Java, Flash, WAP). Instead, developers are focussing their efforts towards web-based standards (e.g. HTML5), which seem to be the preferred approach to building cross-platform applications.

Yet, despite the increasing use of cross-platform programming approaches, most developers are still using vendor-specific distribution channels such as Android Market to deploy applications, as this is seen as the best way to reach the largest possible audience for their applications.

Leach said: “A smartphone platform’s success is dictated not only by the pull of consumers and the push of both handset vendors and mobile operators but also a healthy economy of applications delivered by third-party developers. Therefore, it is important for all players in the smartphone ecosystem to understand the choices developers are making today and the downstream impact of those choices.”

Operators turn to femtocells to improve enterprise coverage and capacity

2012-01-23T00:19:00.000+05:30

LONDON, UK: Infonetics Research recently surveyed operators about their plans to provide enterprise customers with femtocell and fixed-mobile convergence (FMC) services, such as enterprise femtocells, mobile PBX extension, unified communications, and dual-mode WiFi/cellular services.

The results are published in Infonetics’ Enterprise Femtocell and FMC Services: Global Service Provider Survey, which takes a deep dive into operators’ strategic roadmap for femtocell and FMC services, how they plan to evolve femtocell services into more sophisticated offerings in the future, and how they can integrate FMC for enterprise users.

“Although there was a notable injection of impetus into the market in 2010 and 2011, the enterprise femtocell segment is still very young. At this early stage, most operators are proceeding cautiously, launching enterprise femtocell solutions to improve in-building network coverage (a challenge for mobile operators that can strain relations with high-value enterprise customers), mobile voice call quality, and mobile data capacity. Once the basic needs of capacity and coverage are improved, the opportunity to sell other, more sophisticated FMC services will follow,” expects Richard Webb, directing analyst for microwave, mobile offload and mobile broadband devices at Infonetics Research.

Highlights
* 61 percent of the operators participating in Infonetics’ survey already offer femtocell and FMC services to enterprises, 29% plan to offer the services in 2012, and 10 percent by 2013 (Infonetics interviewed only operators that currently offer femtocell and FMC services or plan to by 2013).

* Femtocells top the list of technologies used to deliver wireless indoor coverage and capacity and show the most growth between now and 2013, followed by microcells/picocells and distributed antenna systems (DAS).

* While operators use multiple solutions to provide wireless indoor coverage and capacity, femtocells are arguably the most cost effective, and improve capacity as well as coverage, which not all alternatives (such as DAS) do.

* The percentage of respondent operators deploying dual-mode 3G/WiFi femtocells jumps from 5 percent in 2011 to 38 percent in 2013.

* Smaller competitive mobile operators are more advanced in the development of their enterprise femtocell service offerings, using the technology to target smaller businesses.

Globecomm awarded network upgrade infrastructure contract from major US broadcaster

2012-01-20T20:04:00.000+05:30

HAUPPAUGE, USA: Globecomm Systems Inc., a leading global provider of communications solutions and services, announced that it has received a network infrastructure contract from a major United States broadcaster valued at $1.6 million.

Globecomm has worked closely with this customer for many years building out and supporting their content distribution network with a reach that spans across millions of end-user customers.

Globecomm will upgrade the antenna infrastructure and related subsystems and anticipates completion of the project in the Company’s current fiscal year ending June 30, 2012.

Dov Cydulkin, VP of Asia Pacific, said: "The relationship that Globecomm has built with this customer over many years has resulted in a trust that enables this partnership to flourish. Globecomm continues to innovate and look for ways to provide both existing and future broadcast customers with cutting-edge technological solutions to serve their network needs in an ever growing complex network world."

Ericsson and ZTE resolve patent license issues

2012-01-20T18:04:00.000+05:30

STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN: In April 2011 Ericsson had filed lawsuits in Germany, UK and Italy against ZTE for infringing on several Ericsson patents related to GSM and 3G/UMTS cellular technology. The parties have now signed a global cross-licensing agreement and both parties have also agreed to drop all litigation.

"Ericsson has the strongest patent portfolio in the industry with over 27,000 patents and any company which sells mobile devices or systems needs a license from Ericsson. We have signed more than 90 patent agreements with different vendors worldwide. Now we can add ZTE to this group," says Kasim Alfalahi, chief intellectual property officer at Ericsson.

ZTE signed a royalty bearing cross-licensing agreement that complies with Fair, Reasonable and Non-Discriminatory (FRAND) royalty compensation for access to part of Ericsson's patent portfolio.

Deutsche Telekom and Lattelecom set up new telecom route between Western Europe and Russia via the Baltic states

2012-01-20T17:00:00.000+05:30

BONN, GERMANY & RIGA, LATVIA: Deutsche Telekom International Carrier Sales & Solutions (ICSS), the wholesale arm of Deutsche Telekom AG and Lattelecom announced that they have signed an agreement to jointly deploy the Baltic Telecommunications Highway. This Highway is deemed to serve the increasing Internet-traffic demands between Western Europe and Russia via the Baltic States.

The parties will cooperate to set-up a joint fiber-infrastructure across the Baltics, Poland and Germany, which will deploy a state-of-the-art network technology to allow transmission speed of up to n*10 Gbps. The Baltic Highway will provide first class quality transmission with unprecedented low latency. Beyond their respective home-countries, the parties will also make significant investments in Poland and Lithuania to complement the Baltic Highway.

“By partnering with Lattelecom, we bring businesses in the Baltic States and beyond access to a European next generation network. The Baltic states as well as Russia have witnessed a substantial surge in demand for network connectivity, and through the Baltic Highway we will jointly provide enhanced connectivity for the region”, said Holger Magnussen, senior VP, International Carrier Sales & Solutions (ICSS).

“With increasing volume and diversity of the Internet content as well as various data exchange services, the Internet data exchange consumption continues growing throughout the world. Therefore, Lattelecom early on the way is setting up a powerful data transmission highway which in the future will help Lattelecom in satisfying the ever growing need for high Internet speed of customers. Baltic Telecommunications Highway is a project of international importance as it will ensure Russian and other neighboring state telecommunications operators with the geographically shortest route for data flow to Europe and the rest of the world,” explains Lattelecom chairman of the Management Board and CEO, Juris Gulbis.

Ericsson appoints Ulf Ewaldsson new CTO

2012-01-20T15:02:00.000+05:30

STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN: Ulf Ewaldsson has been appointed senior VP, CTO, Head of Group Function Technology & Portfolio Management at Ericsson, effective from February 1. Ewaldsson brings to this position more than 20 years of experience in product management, industry development and customer relationship.

Ulf Ewaldsson is currently Head of Product Area Radio within Ericsson's Business Unit Networks and a member of Ericsson's research board. In this position he has been instrumental in defining the creation of some of the products that reflect Ericsson's technology leadership such as HSPA and LTE in the Radio Access Network (RAN), the multi-standard radio base station RBS6000 and the Antenna Integrated Radio Unit: AIR.

Hans Vestberg, president and CEO, Ericsson, says: "Ulf has spent more than 20 years in positions that have taken him very close to our customers and the development of the telecommunications industry. I am happy that he can now bring his vast experience from different markets and customers to lead our technology function in the shaping of the Networked Society, where everything that benefits from a connection will be connected."

Ulf Ewaldsson says: "Ericsson has the industry leading research organization with a strong focus in the wireless area and the IP and application domain as well as being the industry driver and leader in open standardization and industry forums. I look forward to join this team and lead its continuous success."

Femtocell market set to double in 2012, Airvana expands lead

2012-01-20T05:37:00.000+05:30

LONDON, ENGLAND: Infonetics Research released excerpts from its third quarter (3Q11) 2G/3G/4G Femtocell Equipment market share, market size, and forecast report, which tracks femtocells by market segment and technology.

“This year the femtocell market will scale up significantly and break out into clearer market segments: consumer, enterprise, and rural and metro public space femtocells. As price points continue to come down, we expect to see global femtocell revenue nearly double this year while unit shipments grow at nearly 140 percent compared to 2011,” predicts Richard Webb, directing analyst for microwave, mobile offload and mobile broadband devices at Infonetics Research.

Market stats
* Worldwide revenue from 2G and 3G femtocells used in consumer, enterprise and public spaces grew 9 percent sequentially in the third quarter of 2011, with 2G femtocell revenue declining and 3G femtocell revenue ramping.
* Year over year (3Q10 to 3Q11), global femtocell revenue is up 37 percent.
* W-CDMA/HSPA femtocells accounted for 72% of all femtocells shipped in 3Q11
4G LTE femtocells are expected to start shipping in late 2012.
* Femtocell market leader Airvana is the first to break through the $25 million quarterly revenue threshold, expanding its revenue market share lead significantly.
* The Cisco/ip.access partnership maintains its lead in terms of femtocell unit share, and increased its quarterly femtocell revenue to its second-highest level to date, but did not gain revenue market share as other players also posted notable gains, including Huawei and NEC/Ubiquisys.
* A growing number of operators are offering free femtocells to their consumer subscribers, including SFR France, Softbank in Japan, and Cosmote in Greece.

Lumia 900 to trigger smartphone renaissance for Nokia and Microsoft

2012-01-19T19:30:00.000+05:30

EL SEGUNDO, USA: With the introduction of its critically acclaimed Lumia 900, Nokia Corp. has set the stage to regain some of its lost smartphone market share—and to re-establish Microsoft Corp.’s Windows Phone as a leading contender in the cellphone operating system (OS) business.

Largely based on Nokia’s strong support, Windows Phone is set to regain the No. 2 rank in the smartphone operating system in 2015. Finnish-based Nokia in 2009 lost its second-place worldwide ranking because of rising competition from Google Inc.’s Android and Apple Inc.’s iOS.

In 2015, however, Windows Phone will account for 16.7 percent of the smartphones shipped, up from less than 2 percent in 2011, according to the IHS iSuppli Mobile & Wireless Communications Service at information and analysis provider IHS (NYSE: IHS). This will allow Windows Phone to slightly surpass Apple’s iOS to retake the market’s second rank behind Android.Meanwhile, Nokia stands to stem its plunge in smartphone market share. Once the perennial leader in global smartphone shipments, Nokia by the second quarter of 2011 had fallen to the third rank in the market behind Samsung and Apple.

“One of the hottest new products unveiled at the Consumer Electronics Show was the Lumia 900, a Windows Phone-based smartphone sporting a flashy set of features that makes it competitive with the best alternatives offered by the Android camp,” said Wayne Lam, senior analyst for wireless communications at IHS. “This hot product represents Nokia’s first step to reclaim its market share. Combined with Nokia’s efforts to drive the development of the Windows Phone ecosystem, the Lumia 900 and its successors will help Microsoft to reclaim its No. 2 ranking in smartphone operating system market share in 2015.”

Coming to America
The Lumia 900’s flashy feature set, along with Nokia’s strategy for selling the product, shows that the company is targeting the North American region, a market that, even in the height of Nokia’s dominance, historically had been an Achilles’ heel for the company.

“The introduction of the Lumia 900 shows that Nokia believes the road back to smartphone dominance runs through North America,” said Francis Sideco, senior principal analyst for consumer and communications at IHS. “And the way to win North America is through its operator channels.”

The Lumia 900 was developed with North American market dynamics and smartphone users in mind, with the product having been designed in and launched first in the region—another departure from Nokia’s historical approach of repurposing devices designed in and for other parts of the world. The smartphone’s large 4.3-inch organic light-emitting diode (AMOLED) touch screen display, 12-megapixel camera as well as partnerships with Rogers, Telus, AT&T and T-Mobile are concrete examples of Nokia executing on this strategy.

LTE to the party
Another feature of the Lumia 900 also illustrates how serious Nokia is about addressing the North American market: its support of the high-speed Long Term Evolution (LTE) 4G standard.

“In the past, Nokia always introduced new technologies in its home European market first,” Sideco said. “However, for the Lumia 900—Nokia’s first LTE phone—the company initially is rolling it out in North America. This demonstrates Nokia’s commitment to re-enter the region.”

Furthermore, Nokia is targeting the mobile network operator (MNO) channel to sell its phones in North America. Nokia previously eschewed the MNO approach, limiting its penetration into the region.

The company likewise is leveraging Microsoft’s business/enterprise sales channels to appeal to corporate customers in the region, offering value-added services in a play for the enterprise sector. Such moves will position Nokia to compete with Research In Motion Ltd., whose Blackberry phones are popular among corporate users.

Opening windows of opportunity
Although Nokia is not the only seller of Windows Phone smartphones, the company is expected to dominate the market, accounting for 50 percent of all Microsoft OS-based handsets sold in 2012, IHS iSuppli predicts. The company’s share then is set to rise to 62 percent in 2013. Nokia’s portion of the market will begin to decline in 2014, as other companies increase their sales of Windows Phone products.

Nonetheless, Nokia will drive the development and expansion of the Windows Phone market, opening up opportunities for other players, Lam said. “Because of Nokia’s support, apps developers will eagerly shore up the Windows platform. This will cause other makers of Windows Phone devices, such as Samsung and HTC, to offer more products supporting the OS—further expanding the market.”

Source: IHS iSuppli, USA.

FreeWave sees wireless M2M taking hold in many industries for 2012

2012-01-19T16:08:00.000+05:30

BOULDER, USA: FreeWave Technologies, manufacturer of the most reliable, high-performance spread spectrum and licensed radios for critical data transmission, said that 2012 will be a banner year for wireless data radio communications across many industrial and geographical markets.

As one of the early pioneers of 900 MHz wireless technology in 1993 (which now has expanded into additional multiple spectrums), FreeWave has seen the evolution of wireless machine-to-machine (M2M) communications grow and gain traction across both traditional and, more recently, newer growth markets, such as the Smart Grid.

M2M communications are widely regarded as a strong growth opportunity not only by FreeWave, but by businesses that are recognizing that by wirelessly connecting machines, devices, sensors, equipment, etc. they can make their existing processes more productive and open entirely new ways of using data.

"In the past, myths about security concerns and overall reliability issues with wireless technology had to be hurdled, but today, it is clear that wireless is here to stay," said Ashish Sharma, chief marketing officer of FreeWave Technologies. "Many diverse and dynamic markets, such as oil and gas, utilities in electric power and water and government/defense will continue to look for ways to streamline their operations and as a result there will be exciting, new innovations for addressing issues previously deemed cost-prohibitive, not technically feasible or lacking in sufficient reliability."

These sentiments are echoed across the world because wireless increasingly is becoming the top solution for communications technology due to growing demand and innovation. In addition, people and companies will continue to have a large appetite for data and knowledge, and therefore will want more of it, faster. This idea, in conjunction with increasing security standards and lowering the power consumption necessary to effectively run wireless communication devices, will continue to be a key driver of demand and innovation as well.

More sophisticated ways of doing things – such as asset tracking and machine-to-machine communications (at lower costs) – will continue to emerge in the wireless industry and particularly in three key industrial markets, FreeWave sees the following trends taking shape as well.

Twilio announces expansion to five European countries

2012-01-19T15:00:00.000+05:30

LONDON, UK: Twilio, the cloud communications company, has today announced the expansion into five European countries. The San Francisco based startup is launching phone numbers for Austria, Denmark, France, Ireland, and Poland for use with the Twilio Voice API which is used to make and receive telephone calls programmatically. In addition, Twilio is announcing the availability of its SMS API for UK phone numbers.

Twilio’s communications platform simplifies a century of complex telecommunications technologies into simple, web-based building blocks that anyone with access to basic software programming skills can use to build incredibly powerful and robust applications.

"As Twilio expands to Europe, we are better able to empower its thriving developer communities," said Thomas Schiavone, product manager at Twilio. "Our goal is to offer developers one API with complete global reach for any communication application they build."

Twilio opened its London office, its first outside the US, in October 2011. The company swiftly followed the launch with an announcement of $17 million in Series C funding, part of which will be used to aid global expansion. Since launching in the UK market, the company has seen growth of over 375 percent in recent months.

"Twilio's API has enabled us to connect effortlessly with Airbnb guests and hosts, worldwide,” said Andrew Vilcsak, Mobile Platform Lead at Airbnb. “We're able to reliably verify the phone numbers, provide 24/7 phone support, and help our guests connect with their hosts before they arrive."

Knowlarity raises Rs. 34 crores from Sequoia Capital

2012-01-19T12:40:00.000+05:30

NEW DELHI, INDIA: Knowlarity, a pioneer in cloud based telephony solutions in India, has raised Rs. 34 crores in funding from Sequoia Capital. The two-year old company has more than 40,000 Indian SME customers use its products and boasts enterprise clients such as MakeMyTrip, Glaxo Smith and Adani group etc.

The funding will be used to strengthen its R&D activities and expand marketing operations, to fuel growth. Further, after establishing its presence in India and Indonesia, Knowlarity now plans to extend to other international markets.

“SMEs in India are actively looking for the products we offer- SuperReceptionist – the hosted office PBX allows an SME to have PBX without having to buy messy hardware in the office and Superfax – a fax to email service allows an SME to receive faxes in email. Knowlarity taps into this market to develop many innovative, inexpensive and hosted telephony based business products that are aimed specifically at SMEs,” said Ambarish Gupta, co-founder, Knowlarity.

“Knowlarity has set benchmarks in telephony by providing hosted IVR services for a range of Indian enterprises with 99.9% reliability,” said Pallav Pandey, co-founder, Knowlarity. “We provide user friendly technology, enabling a customer to sign up online for a free demo for couple of days and purchase after using it“

Mohit Bhatnagar, MD, Sequoia Capital, said: “Knowlarity best represents the new wave of Indian Telecom 2.0 companies that are going to change the way people communicate in our country. Cloud Telephony-based services in India are at an early stage and Knowlarity, has been able to build aggressive leadership in this space.”

Knowlarity’s product range includes SuperFax, SuperReceptionist, SuperConference and SuperCaller. For larger enterprises the company is providing hosted IVR solutions integrated with their existing IT Systems. The company also powers services for social projects such as m-Governance for Mid Day Meal scheme.

Motorola Solutions Venture Capital invests in Retailigence’s $2.6 million funding round

2012-01-18T20:15:00.001+05:30

SCHAUMBURG & PALO ALTO, USA: Motorola Solutions Inc., through its strategic investment arm Motorola Solutions Venture Capital, has invested in Retailigence, a mobile marketing service for retailers focused on local product and brand availability. The funding will be used to advance the development of the service, accelerate integration into major retail systems, and dramatically expand retailer coverage.

As the worlds of online and offline retail commerce merge, it has become essential for brick-and-mortar retailers to provide solutions that connect with consumers seamlessly both online and in-store. Retailigence facilitates these connections by integrating with local retail systems and aggregating data. A retailer’s highly actionable “available inventory” information then is distributed to shoppers with high purchase intent via applications utilizing Retailigence’s services.

Retailigence information is demanded by mobile consumers using smart devices to find products locally for purchase. With the proliferation of location-aware applications, consumers now are equipped with sophisticated shopping tools that can be even more powerful when connected to existing and emerging retail solutions.

“Motorola Solutions is an established leader in retail, and we are very excited to be working with them to accelerate the adoption of our service throughout the retail industry,” said Jeremy Geiger, founder and CEO of Retailigence.

“The rising availability of shopping-assisted options across all shopping channels means that retail stores must be visible when shoppers are ready to buy,” said Reese Schroeder, MD of Motorola Solutions Venture Capital. “We believe that Retailigence is implementing critical technology that can help brick- and-mortar retailers remain fiercely competitive.”

The results of Motorola Solutions’ annual Holiday Shopping Survey, released in December 2011, revealed that while shopper activity and spend remains higher in-store than online, retailers need to continue to address the needs of the omni-channel shopper. Online purchases increased more than 18 percent compared to 2010, and 63 percent of surveyed shoppers with smartphones downloaded a shopping application.

Retailigence has grown rapidly since launching in late 2010. The service now has more than 10 million active products that can be found at nearly 100,000 retail locations across the United States and Canada. The company also is seeing great success in the Japanese market where it recently launched with major Japanese IT and telecom partners.

LS Research announces TiWi-SL

2012-01-18T19:46:00.000+05:30

CEDARBURG, USA: Building on more than three decades of wireless product development leadership and expanding its popular TiWi product line, LS Research (LSR) announced TiWi-SL, a self-contained 802.11 transceiver module aimed at enabling easy wireless connectivity integration with any embedded system.

The FCC/IC-certified and ETSI-tested TiWi-SL utilizes the SimpleLink Wi-Fi CC3000 solution, launched by Texas Instruments (TI). Beyond the TiWi-SL module, LSR also announced that it is providing design services to customers looking to build Wi-Fi-enabled designs with TI's SimpleLink Wi-Fi CC3000 solution.

LSR's new TiWi-SL module offers customers an ideal avenue to quickly and simply integrate Wi-Fi connectivity on the full range of low-cost, microcontrollers (MCU)-based applications, including those in home automation, health and fitness, security and other markets.

The module's intelligent architecture is built in a way that moves nearly all functions required for Wi-Fi connections off of the host processor and onto the SimpleLink Wi-Fi CC3000 solution itself. This speeds the integration of Internet capabilities on the embedded processor and simplifies the design process, making it easier to add Wi-Fi to an application, even without previous RF expertise.

"The launch of TI's SimpleLink Wi-Fi CC3000 offering reflects a major milestone in our commitment – together with partners such as LSR – to solving the challenges associated with the integration and certification of Wi-Fi technology on embedded applications," said Eran Sandhaus, general manager, emerging connectivity solutions, TI.

"With a solid history of building modules and supporting all aspects of customer design around TI's connectivity solutions, LSR opens the door today to simplified, Wi-Fi-based designs with a full support model and product-ready TiWi-SL module."

Quantenna 802.11n 4x4 MIMO solution wins multiple awards

2012-01-18T19:02:00.000+05:30

2012 International CES, FREMONT, USA: Quantenna Communications Inc., a leader in ultra-reliable Wi-Fi networking for whole-home entertainment, announced that its QHS710 802.11n 4x4 MIMO chipset has won two 2012 TV Innovation Awards in both the semiconductor and home networking categories, in addition to the Electronic Products 2011 Product of the Year Award.

Quantenna's leading high performance solution allows service providers to reliably distribute HD and 3D video over Wi-Fi in any size home, meeting the most stringent video quality requirements. The solution delivers unmatched reliability and performance over Wi-Fi for applications where perfect signal quality matters, anywhere in the home at more than 200 feet, including through concrete walls.

“It’s an honor to have been selected for these awards, particularly by independent experts in the industry, said Dr. Sam Heidari, CEO, Quantenna. “Our 802.11n product is truly changing the way service providers deploy multimedia TV in the home. We are excited to be leading this revolution of Wi-Fi to enable consumers to watch and share video content wirelessly in ways that were never possible before.”

Now in its third year, the 2012 TV Innovation Awards, administered by IMS Research, have grown to become one of the premier endorsements of innovation in television. According to its president, Ian Weightman, “One of the main reasons that the TV Innovation Awards have become so sought-after is that each entry is judged on a completely level playing field. This ensures that companies, ranging from the biggest names in consumer electronics to innovative start-ups can measure objectively how their products stack-up against those of their competitors.”

In addition to winning multiple 2012 TV Innovation Awards, Quantenna’s QHS710 802.11n 4x4 MIMO chipset was honored with Electronic Products’ “Product of the Year” Award. The editors of Electronic Products — a leading trade publication for electronic design engineers — evaluated thousands of products launched in 2011.

The winning products were selected on the basis of innovative design, significant advancement in technology or application and substantial achievement in price and performance. 2011 marks the 36th annual Electronic Products’ “Product of the Year” Awards, which recognizes the best products in the industry.

Unleashing a new realm of wireless video distribution that promises to transform the way millions of people transmit, share, and watch HDTV in the home, the Quantenna QHS710 solution was offered as the first fully compliant 802.11n chipset with 4x4 MIMO, dynamic digital beamforming, and support for four spatial streams with unequal modulation. These technologies when combined enable up to 600 Mbps PHY data rates and best-in-class throughout and performance.

INSIDE Secure NFC solutions Kovio RF barcode ready

2012-01-18T18:38:00.000+05:30

AIX-EN-PROVENCE, FRANCE: INSIDE Secure announced that its family of NFC solutions can now be used to interact with the Kovio RF Barcode wireless tag, an affordable NFC tag solution based on Kovio's printed silicon technology platform.

Mobile devices powered by INSIDE's MicroRead and SecuRead NFC hardware and Open NFC protocol stack can now make it possible for brands, retailers, advertisers, mobile operators, and retail system integrators to provide instantaneous, personalized and contextual experiences to everyone who purchases, uses or interacts with everyday consumer goods.

"We have worked closely with Kovio to ensure that our MicroRead and SecuRead NFC hardware and our Open NFC protocol stack are fully capable of communicating with wireless tags based on the Kovio RF Barcode technology, and we are excited by the possibilities this collaboration can bring to retailers and brands everywhere," said Didier Serra, executive VP and GM for North America for INSIDE Secure.

"Over the coming year, INSIDE and Kovio will be engaging with major retailers, brands and wireless operators on ways to deploy this solution to enable a new communication medium for interacting with consumers at the point of sale and create new opportunities in brand marketing and advertising at the item level."

By combining proprietary high-performance silicon inks with high throughput and low- cost graphics printing technologies, Kovio RF Barcode tags can be printed in days on flexible substrates at a fraction of the cost of conventional silicon technology, making them practical and affordable enough to be used to extend the convenience and power of real-time personalized permission marketing to mass-market consumer products.

"The affordability and service model enabled by the Kovio RF Barcode tag offers a breakthrough opportunity for retailers and brands to connect the online and physical worlds, creating a direct and instantaneous communication medium for them to interact with consumers at points of sale and use," said Amir Mashkoori, president and CEO of Kovio. "Through our work with INSIDE, consumers, brands and retailers will soon have a broad range of smartphones and other mobile devices they can use to revolutionize the shopping experience."

Tropos 1410 delivers secure field area networks for smart grid and other industrial apps

2012-01-18T18:26:00.000+05:30

SUNNYVALE, USA: Tropos Networks announced the Tropos 1410 wireless mesh router and wireless bridge for field automation applications. The new product line extends advanced enterprise-class security to utility and industrial applications that monitor and control field automation devices.

Furthermore, it provides communications for these applications for as little as half the cost of competitive proprietary, low-speed wireless networks per connected automation endpoint.

Tropos 1410 wireless mesh routers and wireless bridges create secure, IP-based field area communication networks serving thousands of automation endpoints such as intelligent electrical devices, industrial process controllers and SCADA devices. The highly integrated, next-generation hardware design of the Tropos 1410 allows it to achieve a cost up to 50 percent lower than that of single-purpose, proprietary, lower-speed communication offerings.

The product line’s integrated firewall and VPN extend enterprise-class security to legacy devices installed in the field that have lacked state-of-the-art security technology. In addition, the Tropos 1410 can be centrally managed by the Tropos Control wireless network management, monitoring and control application.

“Adding the Tropos 1410 to our product line enables secure field communications for an extensive array of utility and industrial customers for as little as half the price of our competitors,” said Tom Ayers, president and CEO for Tropos. “The new line includes the first board-level product from Tropos, enabling developers working on a wide variety of field automation applications to embed secure, low-cost, standards-based wireless communications into their products.”

Utility, mining, oil and gas as well as other industries are increasingly using wireless communications networks to monitor and control assets in the field and large outdoor facilities. These field area networks support a diverse set of applications including automated metering infrastructure and distribution automation for utilities; telemetry and mining management systems for mining; wellhead monitoring and logging for oil and gas; traffic signal management and video monitoring for transportation; process control for refining and chemicals; and SCADA for a wide variety of vertical markets.

In the past, companies have been forced to rely on proprietary low-speed wireless communications systems with little security to implement their field area networks.

The Tropos 1410 delivers the most advanced set of security features available for field area networks. Each Tropos 1410 wireless mesh router and bridge will include a built-in firewall and a built-in IPsec VPN. They implement a multi-layer, multi-application security model that provides defense-in-depth and enables traffic from different applications and user groups to be segregated on separate virtual local area networks (VLANs), each with its own address space, quality of service (QoS) policies and security policies including the capability to create one or more standard IPsec VPNs per VLAN.

The Tropos 1410 employs RADIUS, 802.1x, and 802.11i authentication, AES encryption and HTTPS-based remote access to secure field area networks from unauthorized devices, users and snooping. The Tropos 1410’s operating software complies with the requirements of NIST FIPS 140-2 Level 2 for U.S. government cyber security and NERC CIP 002-009 for utility critical infrastructure protection.

Tropos offers two product variants in the new line, the Tropos 1410 and the board-level Tropos 1410-B. The Tropos 1410 comes in a ruggedized, weatherized enclosure suitable for use in extreme outdoor environments. The Tropos 1410-B is a module suitable for integration into Smart Grid devices such as smart transformers and intelligent electrical devices as well as into a wide range of industrial process controllers and SCADA devices.

Both products can be configured via software load to be either a bridge that connects to any standard 802.11b/g/n wireless network, including Tropos mesh networks, or a fully functional Tropos wireless mesh router. Each supports an 802.11b/g/n wireless connection with full MIMO and a wired connection using 10/100BASE-T Ethernet, RS-232 serial or RS-485 serial. Their Ethernet and serial interfaces will support utility and industrial control protocols, including DNP3, Modbus, SEL Mirrored Bits and IEC 61850, to facilitate integration of utility and process control devices.

Pricing for the Tropos 1410 and Tropos 1410-B with bridging software will be $549 and $399, respectively. They will be available in March 2012 through Tropos’ authorized distributors and resellers as well as online. The units with routing software are priced at $749 for the Tropos 1410 and $599 for the Tropos 1410-B, and will be available in Q3-2012. An upgrade from bridging to routing software will also be available in Q3-2012 at a price of $200 per unit.

DrayTek unveils latest solutions for next generation networks

2012-01-18T18:00:00.000+05:30

ITEXPO East 2012, HSINCHU, TAIWAN: DrayTek Corp., a Taiwan-based networking solutions provider, announced to co-operate with ABP Technology to showcase the latest solutions including IPv6 for small office and centralized network management system for next generation networks at ITEXPO East from Jan31 to Feb3 2012 in Miami FL, USA (Booth: 316, 319).

"The implementation of IPv6 has been speeded up by the government and carriers worldwide, especially in the States,” said Calvin Ma, CEO of DrayTek Corp. “DrayTek hence launches the small office IPv6 solution to meet the trend and provides the centralized management solution based on TR-069 to lower the maintenance costs.”

IPv6 solution for small office
Vigor2850 Series, VDSL2 security firewall targeted at the small office segment utilizes WAN 1 for a VDSL2 or ADSL2+ feed. You can upgrade to VDSL2 when the infrastructure or affordable rate is available. It can do load-balancing and failover when you configure LAN4 as Gigabit Ethernet WAN and USB 2.0 port for the mobile broadband feed that establishes the reliable business network.

Moreover, Vigor2850 Series provides comprehensive firewall and VPN features to ensure the security for the office network and remote access. Admin can use multi-subnet to isolate public and corporate network or divide different workgroups to prevent the data leakage. It also gives more flexible WLAN which allows you to choose 2.4G or 5G band to reduce the interference.

Centralized network management system
VigorACS SI centrally manages many important router features without the technician visits. It is very easy to configure LAN, WAN, WLAN or VoIP for each Vigor router. One of the major functions is to schedule firmware or configuration updates for selected devices at one time. With VigorACS SI the administrator gets a message the moment VigorACS SI recognizes that the connection is down. Especially for surveillance and monitoring tasks this is one of the mandatory features.

VigorACS SI along with Vigor3200 Series (Multi-WAN Security Router), Vigor2920 Series (Dual-WAN Security Router), VigorAP 800 (PoE 802.11n Access Point), Vigor3900 and Vigor2760 Series win the 2012 Taiwan Excellence Awards. That assures DrayTek’s achievements in innovation, quality, R&D design and brand and marketing management segments.

Telsis unveils SMS SafeGuard

2012-01-18T17:00:00.000+05:30

UK: Telsis, the innovator in SMS network infrastructure and services, has unveiled the SMS SafeGuard, a unique three layered firewall that protects mobile network operators and their customers from fraudulent, malevolent and malicious messaging activities, including spam, phishing, denial of service, malware and bullying.

At the transport level, SMS SafeGuard blocks fraudulent messages that sap network resources and undermine profitability, such as spoof and fake attacks. It also protects against messages containing malware designed to exploit vulnerabilities in various handsets.

At the content level, SMS SafeGuard enables operators to strengthen their brands by protecting customers from unwanted content such as spam, phishing and inappropriate content.

At the personal level, SMS SafeGuard gives phone users a set of personalisation controls including blacklists and acceptable time windows for receipt of messages.

SMS SafeGuard is a network-based solution and therefore protects all phone users, no matter what type or age of handset they have. It is a low-risk drop-in package able to co-exist with any type and make of messaging network.

The Telsis SMS SafeGuard platform also supports a range of SMS Smart Services that enhance the social and working lives of phone users, allowing operators to quickly roll-out differentiating services that attract customers and offer new revenue opportunities.

XConnect announces major partnership with DE-CIX to create Germany’s first next gen network/VoIP communications exchange

2012-01-18T09:30:00.000+05:30

LONDON, UK: XConnect, the leader in federation-based IP interconnection and ENUM-registry services, has entered an exclusive partnership agreement with DE-CIX, the world’s largest Internet exchange (IX), to establish the first Next Generation Network (NGN)/VoIP federation in Germany, enabling service providers to directly exchange IP voice and multimedia traffic.

The partnership will create a secure and scalable federation hub and central carrier ENUM-based routing and number-management platform that will enable hundreds of fixed, mobile, ASP and Web 2.0 operators to interconnect securely end to end on an all-IP basis.

Interconnection via the hub will benefit operators significantly. It will reduce the technical complexity and commercial and operational costs of NGN interconnection, allowing for migration from bilateral, legacy-network TDM interconnects to IP. In addition, operators will be able to securely and multilaterally interconnect to multiple networks via a single IP connection to the hub, supporting the interworking and interoperability of IP voice and multimedia services, such as HD voice, video and Unified Communications (UC).

The ENUM registry will, for the first time, offer a central number-management and number-portability platform for German operators, facilitating ENUM-based number discovery and routing that will enable calls to be delivered accurately and directly across networks.

DE-CIX, a wholly owned subsidiary of the largest European Internet industry association, eco, already provides direct and settlement-free Internet interconnection infrastructure services to more than 400 operators.

The partnership agreement announced today combines DE-CIX’s experience in managing high-volume Internet exchange services and market reach with XConnect’s expertise and global leadership in carrier-neutral NGN interconnection services and technology. XConnect currently operates other national federations in Europe, Asia and Africa, and the company is in talks about establishing additional federations.

"We are delighted to join with XConnect in spearheading VoIP federation initiatives in Germany,” said DE-CIX CEO, Harald Summa. “Partnering with XConnect will enable DE-CIX to consolidate our leading market position by delivering additional VoIP and Next Generation Network peering, as well as interconnection services.

“The complexities and associated costs of interconnecting networks have become a key concern for service providers. The partnership will address these challenges, providing cost and service efficiencies while driving adoption of new services.”

XConnect CEO, Eli Katz, said: “In line with the global trend of evolution to IP-based communications, we are thrilled to have been selected by the world’s leading Internet exchange to bring all-IP telecoms and Interconnect 2.0 services to Germany and beyond.

“Our partnership will, for the first time, enable operators in Germany to launch IP voice and new multimedia services on a cross-network basis, which the legacy PSTN infrastructure cannot support. This will bring new revenue opportunities, as well as cost savings, to all operators.”

J. Scott Marcus, director at WIK-Consult GmbH, said: "The benefits of a migration to hub-based IP interconnection for voice and multimedia communications have long been recognised. Now for the first time in Germany, this arrangement brings together the key enabling elements to provide the catalyst for direct IP voice interconnection and the widespread adoption of cross-network services, such as HD voice, video and Unified Communications.”

World IPv6 launch solidifies global support for new Internet protocol

2012-01-17T20:36:00.001+05:30

WASHINGTON, USA & GENEVA, SWITZERLAND: Major Internet service providers (ISPs), home networking equipment manufacturers, and web companies around the world are coming together to permanently enable IPv6 for their products and services by 6 June 2012.

Organized by the Internet Society, and building on the successful one-day World IPv6 Day event held on 8 June 2011, World IPv6 Launch represents a major milestone in the global deployment of IPv6. As the successor to the current Internet Protocol, IPv4, IPv6 is critical to the Internet’s continued growth as a platform for innovation and economic development.

“The fact that leading companies across several industries are making significant commitments to participate in World IPv6 Launch is yet another indication that IPv6 is no longer a lab experiment; it's here and is an important next step in the Internet’s evolution,” commented Leslie Daigle, the Internet Society’s chief Internet technology officer. “And, as there are more IPv6 services, it becomes increasingly important for companies to accelerate their own deployment plans.”

ISPs participating in World IPv6 Launch will enable IPv6 for enough users so that at least 1 percent of their wireline residential subscribers who visit participating websites will do so using IPv6 by 6 June 2012. These ISPs have committed that IPv6 will be available automatically as the normal course of business for a significant portion of their subscribers. Committed ISPs are: AT&T, Comcast, Free Telecom, KDDI, Internode, Time Warner Cable and XS4ALL.

Participating home networking equipment manufacturers will enable IPv6 by default through the range of their home router products by 6 June 2012. Committed equipment manufacturers are: Cisco and D-Link.

Web companies participating in World IPv6 Launch will enable IPv6 on their main websites permanently beginning 6 June 2012. The inaugural participants are: Facebook, Google, Microsoft Bing and Yahoo!

Content delivery network providers Akamai and Limelight will be enabling their customers to join this list of participating websites by enabling IPv6 throughout their infrastructure.

As IPv4 addresses become increasingly scarce, every segment of the industry must act quickly to accelerate full IPv6 adoption or risk increased costs and limited functionality online for Internet users everywhere. World IPv6 Launch participants are leading the way in this effort.

In-app purchases will dominate smartphone app business

2012-01-17T19:30:00.001+05:30

EL SEGUNDO, USA: What’s the best way to make money in the smartphone apps market?

Surprisingly, the answer is to give away apps for free—and to generate revenue on subsequent sales of in-app purchases.

In-app purchases will rise to account for 64 percent of total market revenue in 2015, up from 39 percent in 2011. Revenue from in-app purchases will increase to $5.6 billion in 2015, up from $970 million in 2011, according to the IHS Screen Digest Mobile Media Intelligence Service.

“Smartphone users overwhelmingly prefer free apps to paid apps, as we estimate 96 percent of all smartphone apps were downloaded for free in 2011,” noted Jack Kent, senior analyst, mobile media for IHS. “In 2012, it will become increasingly difficult for app stores and developers to justify charging an upfront fee for their products when faced with competition from a plethora of free content. Instead, the apps industry must fully embrace the freemium model and monetize content through in-app purchases.”

The business model of offering apps for free, then charging for in-app content, is known as “freemium.” This app strategy represents the fastest-growing segment of the global smartphone apps business, and will soon dominate the market.

By the end of the third quarter of 2011, free-to-download applications already represented 45 percent of the top-grossing US iPhone applications as well as 31 percent of the highest-earning US Android market applications. IHS Screen Digest calculates that 68 percent of the top-grossing US applications featured some form of additional content or functionality available via an in-app purchase.

Mobile games led the market, other app categories must follow
“Games pioneered the in-app business model,” Kent observed. “Now the approach has proven so successful, companies building other types of smartphone app must adopt this strategy if they are to maximize their mobile app revenues.”

Most in-app purchases at the end of the third quarter of 2011 in the US and UK involved buys of virtual currencies, such as additional chips for poker, or redeemable points in games. Virtual currencies so far have been almost exclusively employed in games, with other types of apps using in-app purchases for more specific item buys. IHS Screen Digest estimates 63 percent of in-app purchases on the US iPhone App Store at the end of the third quarter were for virtual currency.

The next most popular category of in-app purchase was for specific in-game functions or features, rather than general currency, which accounted for 22 percent of the most popular U.S. in-app purchases. Other popular in-app purchases include time-limited navigation services, dating and premium social network access, as well as specific functions or features for photo and video apps.

Payments for additional media content via in-app purchase did not make much of an impact on the top-performing apps in the third quarter of 2011, with just 2 percent of the top US in-app purchases offering additional television or video content, and none doing so in the United Kingdom. Time-limited subscriptions or in-app purchases to newspaper/magazine content did make an impact, however, in the United Kingdom—accounting for 5 percent of the top iPhone in-app purchases during the third quarter.

Source: IHS iSuppli, USA.

Symmetricom delivers multi-sync capability on TimeProvider 5000 master clock for Carrier Ethernet and LTE

2012-01-17T18:25:00.000+05:30

SAN JOSE, USA: Symmetricom Inc. announced new capabilities for its TimeProvider 5000, a leading carrier-grade IEEE 1588-2008 Grandmaster Clock built to handle stringent frequency and phase requirements of next generation networks.

Major enhancements include the addition of carrier-grade Network Time Protocol (NTP), Synchronous Ethernet (SyncE), and T1/E1 support to its industry leading Precision Time Protocol (PTP) synchronization platform. Service providers can ensure they have the necessary timing protocols for 4G/LTE services. The TimeProvider 5000 Master Clock is the first solution of its kind supporting legacy networks that will enable service providers to deploy the necessary synchronization protocols to support next generation services.

"The transition to Ethernet and the convergence of IP-based voice, data and video are placing new demands on network synchronization," said Daryl Inniss, Components Practice Leader at Ovum. "Upcoming rollouts of 4G/LTE mobile networks are also adding new and unique timing demand on wireless backhaul. The forward looking approach that Symmetricom is taking with its products and enhancements with the TimeProvider 5000 is well targeted to provide operators with solutions for the next wave of carrier services and network technologies."

INSIDE Secure intros open NFC stack for Google Android 4.0

2012-01-17T17:39:00.000+05:30

AIX-EN-PROVENCE, FRANCE: INSIDE Secure, a leader in semiconductor solutions for secure transactions, announced the availability of the latest version of its award-winning, open-source Open NFC protocol stack for the new Google Android 4.0 release, aka Ice Cream Sandwich.

Available for download from the Open NFC website, Open NFC version 4.3.3 for Google Android 4.0 is compliant with the Ice Cream Sandwich release Compatibility Definition Document (CDD) for NFC, and provides the NFC ecosystem with a consistent NFC API and functionality to implement NFC independently of the underlying NFC hardware.

It supports all the latest Android NFC features, including Android Beam and WiFi Direct pairing connection. In addition to these new Android services, Open NFC provides access to unique features such as card emulation and access to multiple secure elements.

“The Ice Cream Sandwich release brings even greater NFC functionality to the Android operating system, and INSIDE is making our latest version of Open NFC available to give connectivity chip vendors, smartphone and tablet manufacturers and software developers a head start in achieving NFC hardware independence,” said Charles Walton, COO for INSIDE Secure. “Once again, INSIDE is offering the Android community a complete, open-source NFC stack solution that can be used to greatly speed development and time to market, requiring only that the small hardware abstraction layer (HAL) portion be tailored for specific hardware.”

The complete, open-source HAL for INSIDE’s MicroRead and SecuRead also is available for download. The HAL allows the Open NFC protocol stack to be used immediately with INSIDE’s MicroRead and SecuRead NFC chip platforms, and provides a convenient model for developing HALs for NFC chips from other manufacturers. It brings consistency across multiple platforms and devices as well as improved interoperability.

According to Walton, Open NFC already has been deployed in millions of smartphones, and INSIDE anticipates this latest version of Open NFC will be incorporated into Android-based smartphones and tablets that will ship in 2012.

Open NFC supports several levels of functionality, from low-level RF control to high-level NFC Forum tag handling, peer-to-peer communications as well as Bluetooth and Wi-Fi pairing, interactions with single-wire protocol SIMs and other secure elements, and compatibility with smart cards and RFID tags based on Felica, Mifare and ISO 14443 standards.

Since it was introduced in 2009, the Open NFC protocol stack has become recognized as a cost-effective, open-standards NFC middleware solution, and has received significant industry support from a broad array of participants in the NFC ecosystem. Open NFC received a prestigious Sesames Award for software at Cartes & Identification 2010 because it offers a genuine breakthrough that brings significant benefits to OEMs and ODMs.

Gemalto receives “2011 Smart Grid Excellence” award

2012-01-17T10:40:00.000+05:30

SINGAPORE: Cinterion, the global leader in cellular machine-to-machine (M2M) communication and a Gemalto company, announced that its EU3 M2M module won a 2011 Smart Grid Excellence Award from SmartGrid.TMCnet.com. The award honors innovative technologies that enable smart grid deployments for global utility companies.

Cinterion's EU3 delivers always on, high-speed cellular communications and was designed specifically to meet the unique challenges and long-life requirements of global smart grid and automatic meter reading (AMR) applications. By enabling UMTS capabilities on the 900 MHz band, the module offers increased coverage area for high-speed communications even in very remote locations, which is essential for geographically diverse smart metering applications.

In addition, EU3 delivers reliable communications on both 2G and 3G networks to ensure solution longevity as wireless networks evolve and protect M2M technology investments now and in the future.

"EU3 was specifically designed for industrial AMR and smart grid applications and other long term deployments that require integration simplicity and secure communications," said Norbert Muhrer, CEO, Cinterion. "We are honored to be distinguished by TMC, in recognition of our 15 years of innovative leadership in the utilities, smart meter and smart grid M2M space."

Southern Cross Cable Networks selects CALIENT FiberConnect 320X for remote reconfiguration of network

2012-01-16T18:33:00.000+05:30

PTC'12, SANTA BARBARA, USA: CALIENT Technologies Inc. announced that Southern Cross Cable Networks, a trans-Pacific bandwidth wholesaler, has deployed the FiberConnect 320X photonic switch to give it the capability to remotely reconfigure its fiber network in seconds, adding further protection in the event of fiber breaks or repeater/transponder failures.

The announcement was jointly made during the PTC’12 Conference in Honolulu, Hawaii, where CALIENT is a Bronze Sponsor.

The Southern Cross Cable Network is a fully protected fiber-optic cable network linking Australia, New Zealand, Fiji and Hawaii directly to the US west coast. The network has 28,900 km of submarine and 1,600 km of terrestrial fiber optic cables, operated in a figure eight configuration. The network has a total of 11 landing points, including sites in Australia, New Zealand, and Fiji; as well as Hawaii, California, and Oregon in the US.

Southern Cross delivers the fastest and most direct route for all types of applications and maintains strict customer commitment agreements on bandwidth delivered. Southern Cross turned to CALIENT to install FiberConnect 320X photonic switches to provide it with the ability to remotely configure optical connections in a timely manner.

“Even though 90 percent of capacity on the Southern Cross Cable Network is configured for automatic protection on self-healing rings, there is always a small chance of multiple failures that require redirection of traffic to maintain service,” said Fiona Beck, Southern Cross CEO. “Until now this has been a manual intervention that would take time to implement. Because service availability is our top priority, we wanted to take advantage of photonic switching technology to eliminate delays when restoring traffic.”

“After reviewing the vendors in the photonic switching space, we came to the conclusion that CALIENT offered the best port density, price, and overall reputation and as a result we have now acquired and deployed their switches at all 11 sites in our network,” Beck said.

CALIENT’s FiberConnect 320X is based on the company’s patented 3D MEMS technology and uses a three-dimensional array of silicon micro mirrors to switch light paths. The FiberConnect 320X platform offers the industry’s highest density photonic switch with 640 total fiber terminations consisting of 320 transmit ports and 320 receive ports. The FiberConnect 320X is built with high reliability and redundancy for mission-critical carrier applications. The power supplies and all key electronics cards are hot swappable to eliminate a single point of failure.

“In a network like Southern Cross Cable Networks, each fiber on the network is carrying approximately 40 DWDM wavelengths, so every minute wasted during an outage could cost thousand of dollars,” said Atiq Raza, chairman and CEO of CALIENT. “Our FiberConnect 320X has proven itself at three of the Tier 1 carriers here in the US, I believe Southern Cross will be very pleased with the CALIENT solution.”

Fly presents DS109 with diamond cut glass and three color changeable rings

2012-01-16T18:06:00.000+05:30

NEW DELHI, INDIA: Fly Mobiles, has launched the new DS109, a stylish phone with diamond cut glass, diamond cut keypad and diamond shaped menu. The diamond cut glass makes the device look more stylish and elegant. The phone comes with three color changeable rings that help you match your phone to your different moods and attires.

The stylish and cost effective phone shall definitely be the right choice for today’s youth for whom mobiles phones are more of a style statement than simply being a communication device. It is a value for money device that boasts of fancy looks and impressive design.

Prem Kumar, MD, Fly Mobiles, India, said: "Mobile phones today are an integral part of one’s personality. DS107 is a very trendy phone that allows users to enjoy fashionable communication. We are committed to provide an enriching mobile experience to today’s youth while offering stylish and affordable handsets."

With a 32 GB expandable memory and a card slot for a micro HD card, it takes care of all your storage needs. All in all, the device lets one load as much data as desired and enjoy unlimited music, movies and videos. It has a capacity of 100 entries in phonebook and 50 SMS.

Key applications:
* Telescopic FM radio.
* Audio player with equalizer.
* Big speaker 20*30 mm.
* 100 entry phonebook, 50 SMS capacity.
* Dual SIM.
* 4.6 cm QQVGA color display.
* 1.3 MP camera.
* Auto call recording.
* Torch light.

FLY DS109 is priced at Rs. 1199/- and shall be available across the country.

CALIENT updates FiberConnect 320X with government/multi-tenant security features and configuration flexibility

2012-01-16T17:33:00.000+05:30

PTC'12, SANTA BARBARA, USA: CALIENT Technologies Inc., the global leader for photonic switching technology, announced a software upgrade to its FiberConnect 320X (FC320X) photonic switch that improves security in multi-tenant applications and adds new configuration flexibility.

The improvements are included in version 2.4 of the FC320X operating software. The software can be used to create port groups of any number of ports and assign a specific user to manage and view traffic from that port group. This is particularly important in multi-tenant applications, where secure virtual networks must be built and managed independently.

For government applications that involve multiple security clearance levels, the port group management feature supports seven user classification levels, which allows port group management to be segregated by security clearance level.

“The FiberConnect 320X is the highest density photonic switch on the market and the expanded virtualization features provide the security needed to truly make the best use of that density in government applications,” said Daniel Tardent, director of product marketing at CALIENT.

The FiberConnect 320X platform offers the industry’s highest density photonic switch with 640 fiber terminations or 320 ports (transmit and receive). It is based on CALIENT’s 3D microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) technology that uses silicon micro mirrors to switch incoming fiber-optic signals from port to port. The product has an installed base of 80,000 fiber terminations, is Telcordia proven and has been shipping for eight years.

To ease installation, the new software brings an innovative pre-configuration mode that allows the switch to be set up using dark fiber. Previously, the FiberConnect 320X needed lit fiber to be configured. Version 2.4 of the software also features a new graphical user interface (GUI), including an improved snapshot of all the ports with color coordinated statuses and a simplified process of enabling cross-connections, now in as little as three clicks.

For telecom users, the new software expands the number of TL1 commands that can be used, providing better switch information in telecom networks that leverage the TL1 management protocol.

Version 2.4 of the software is now shipping with all FiberConnect 320X switches, and is available for field upgrades.

Aruba announces smartphone and tablet-based PoS solution for retailers

2012-01-16T17:00:00.000+05:30

NRF 101st Annual Convention & Expo, NEW YORK, USA: Aruba Networks announced a new smartphone- and tablet-based point-of-sale (PoS) solution, to support the retail migration from static to mobile PoS. The solution was developed in partnership with Infinite Peripherals and LightSpeed, and enables retail sales staff to execute sales transactions reliably and securely from any location in a store.

A December 2011-January 2012 survey conducted by Aruba of more than 130 retail IT leaders, 56 percent said that they were upgrading in-store WiFi in 2012 to support advanced applications such as mobile PoS. Fifty-six percent of respondents also said that they would be rolling out Apple iPads and 38 percent said they would be deploying iPhones to their staff as part of these solutions in 2012.

“Mobile PoS systems built around smartphones and tablets are changing the way people shop, and offer retailers a number of benefits, including higher volume, an improved customer experience and more usable floor space at their locations,” said Sahir Anand, VP and research group director for retail and banking at Aberdeen Research. “In the not-too-distant future, shoppers and retailers will both see smartphone- and tablet-based PoS as the working standard and long checkout lines and crowded aisles will be a distant memory.”

The new solution combines Infinite Peripherals’ Linea-Pro, a combination barcode scanner/credit card swipe reader with LightSpeed Mobile, a mobile PoS application for the iGeneration, supported by Aruba access networks based on the Aruba Mobile Virtual Enterprise (MOVE) architecture.

Motorola Solutions’ platform simplifies deployment, management of mobile apps for retailers

2012-01-16T16:39:00.000+05:30

NRF 101st Annual Convention & Expo, NEW YORK, USA: Motorola Solutions Inc. unveiled the NX Integrated Services Platform – including the NX 4500 and NX 6500 – to simplify retailers’ deployment and management of branch office networking and communications.

This new branch office solution allows retailers to elevate the customer experience while reducing the burden for IT staff. Retail associates can now have mobile access to voice, data and advanced applications, all delivered by a single platform.

Retailers are challenged with managing complex interactions with today’s connected consumers, to build a consistent brand experience in-store, online and with mobile commerce. Increasing use of mobile devices along with bandwidth-heavy mobile applications, both by retail associates and shoppers, requires IT infrastructure that supports today’s needs with the flexibility to evolve for tomorrow.

Motorola also launched the Proximity Awareness and Analytics Solution, further advancing retailers’ abilities to offer personalized customer service. This solution brings real-time data collection, analysis and visualization to Motorola’s industry-leading WLAN portfolio. It enables innovative, real-time mobility-based loyalty programs and delivers actionable data for improving the effectiveness of store operations, enhancing customer engagement and conversion.

ip.access appoints new VP worldwide customer operations

2012-01-16T16:10:00.000+05:30

CAMBRIDGE, UK: ip.access, the pioneering developer of small cell mobile technology, announced a further strengthening of its management team.

The company confirmed that Gwyn Williams will join this month as VP of Worldwide Customer Operations. In his new role, Williams will assume responsibility and leadership for the company’s global professional services and customer support organisations.

Welcoming Williams, Rob Jones, senior VP, Worldwide Sales, Support & Services, said: “Gwyn brings a wealth of relevant experience to the process of delivering, developing and serving global customers. He is used to both managing complex technical integration and ensuring consistency of supply and first class support. Our established customer operations team already supports more than 60 operators worldwide, and Gwyn's expertise will be invaluable as we deliver larger and more complex projects to quicker timescales in today's maturing small cell market.”

Prior to joining ip.access, Williams was director for Worldwide Service Product Management for Tekelec. He has also held senior customer and professional services support roles across Europe with Tektronix and SignalSoft as well as managing operator relationships and technology integration with Lucent Technologies.

“As the size and scale of our installed base continues to grow, Gwyn’s in-depth understanding of how to solve the technical and business challenges our customers are facing, will be invaluable to our service delivery, our customer support and our success going forward,” added Jones.

With more than 500,000 installed 3G public and private access femtocells and picocells worldwide, ip.access is an acknowledged leader in the small cell market. The company's end-to-end nano3G solution includes small cell Access Points, gateways and network management systems, and enables 3G and future 4G small cells to be added to existing 2G and 3G small cell networks. Its OysterCatcher service allows both remote diagnostics and fine tuning to improve performance of deployed small cells.

Brocade delivers 100th blade

2012-01-16T11:20:00.000+05:30

DUBAI, UAE: From initial customer shipments of 100 Gigabit Ethernet (GbE) in June 2011, Brocade established itself as a leading provider of carrier-grade 100 GbE routing solutions for service providers and enterprises worldwide. By November 2011, the company delivered its 100th two-port blade to the European particle physics laboratory, CERN, one of the world’s largest centers for scientific studies, as a critical component to accelerate its research.

Exponential bandwidth growth and the need for faster connectivity has forced network operators to carefully plan for future capacity requirement. This growth affects virtually all networks, including the public Internet where bandwidth is doubling every 18 to 24 months. CERN’s demanding environment exceeds 15 petabytes or 15 million gigabytes of data traffic per year.

To put this number in perspective, 15 petabytes is equivalent to approximately 200 years of continuously running HD-quality video. Similar to other organizations with high volumes of variable traffic flows and continued bandwidth growth requirements in the coming years, it was necessary for CERN to select a solution with dense 10 and 100 GbE routing capabilities today as well as the ability to deliver massive scalability for anticipated bandwidth spikes in the future.

Many of the world's top service providers and premier research institutes have surpassed the performance requirements that 10 Gigabit Ethernet (GbE) can deliver via their high throughput networks and applications. This growing demand and requirement for greater bandwidth is clear; according to estimates by Infonetics Research, between 2010 and 2015, 100 Gigabit port sales are expected to have a CAGR of 214 percent compared to 58 percent for 10 Gigabit connectivity.

ChinaCache provides CDN solution for online pre-sales of Xiaomi smartphones

2012-01-13T20:13:00.000+05:30

BEIJING, CHINA: ChinaCache International Holdings Ltd, a leading provider of content delivery network services in China, has successfully provided CDN total solutions for the third round of online pre-sales of Xiaomi smartphones by Xiaomi Technology Co. Ltd, a leading provider of smartphones in China.

During a 24-hour period, Xiaomi successfully pre-sold 500,000 smartphones worldwide through its website. ChinaCache provided the total solutions to ensure that Xiaomi's website was able to offer a smooth user-experience while handling the large spike of online traffic and transactions during the one-day event. ChinaCache's security features also ensured the soundness of online payments. To accomplish this, ChinaCache deployed its advanced global CDN acceleration services, Managed IDC (MIDS) resources, and cloud computing services in the US, Europe, Hong Kong and Southeast Asia.

"ChinaCache played an essential role in this round of pre-sales," commented Xiaomi's representative. "With the content acceleration solutions provided by ChinaCache, we were able to double our capacity for online traffic handling, which guaranteed user-satisfaction. With the help of ChinaCache's advanced network technology and its premium services, we made the event a major success."

"Xiaomi is a leader in the smartphone market in China," said Song Wang, co-founder, chairman and CEO of ChinaCache. "As a leader of the CDN market in China, ChinaCache is committed to supporting our customers in accomplishing their success. We will continue to serve Xiaomi in its future growth. We also look forward to continuing to provide premium total solutions to China's internet industry."

India smartphone market and OS analysis forecast

2012-01-13T18:02:00.000+05:30

DUBLIN, IRELAND: Research and Markets has announced the addition of the "India Smartphone Market & Operating System Analysis Forecast" report to its offering.

India is rapidly emerging as a rewarding market for the smartphone industry. It had a market of more than Rs. 50 billion in 2010. By 2016, smartphone sales is expected to reach approximately 30 million units. Nokia was the leading player in 2010 holding more than twice the market share from its nearest rival Blackberry. But, due to major glitches in Nokia smartphone performances its market share has taken a severe beating in 2011 and its market share has reduced by 12.3 percent from the previous year.

Samsung capitalizing on this opportunity had captured more than 30 percent smartphone market share; thus becoming the second biggest player in 2011. Symbian operating system was the leader in 2010 with highest market share. But in 2011 Android operating system has left Symbian operating system far behind with twice its market share.

After the launch of 3G services smartphone application market has got major boost in India. User using smartphone for accessing social networking expects to be more than 70 million by 2014. Location Based Service (LBS) application market is growing with 86.6 percent for the period of 2007 to 2012.

Acacia subsidiary acquires ADAPTIX

2012-01-13T17:08:00.000+05:30

NEWPORT BEACH, USA: Acacia Research Corp. announced that its subsidiary has acquired ADAPTIX Inc., a pioneer in the development of 4G technologies for wireless systems, for $160 million.

ADAPTIX, which has $10 million in cash, is an award-winning technology company long recognized in the industry as one of the first developers of cutting edge 4G wireless systems. With patents filed as early as 2000, ADAPTIX’s research and development efforts have resulted in one of the world’s most significant intellectual property portfolios focused on 4G technologies. With its rapidly growing portfolio of 230 issued and pending patents in 13 countries, ADAPTIX’s innovations extend across a broad range of 4G technologies including OFDMA and MIMO.

“ADAPTIX has been on the forefront of developing next-generation wireless communications for the past 11 years,” commented Acacia CEO, Paul Ryan, “and Acacia’s acquisition provides our shareholders with a great opportunity to participate in the worldwide growth of 4G wireless technologies as Acacia continues to expand its patent licensing business.”

CommScope offering copper-alternative grounding wire to telecom industry

2012-01-13T15:28:00.000+05:30

BANGALORE, INDIA: The ongoing volatility of copper pricing has created a major concern for the telecom industry, in which telecoms operators traditionally use copper ground wire for network grounding and bonding. Rising copper prices negatively impact operating costs by increasing the price of wire and maintenance costs, as copper wire becomes an attractive target for thieves intent on stealing it for sale to recyclers.

To help the industry battle these issues, CommScope, Inc. has developed a copper-alternative grounding wire designed to deter copper theft and lower maintenance costs for telecoms and data applications.

The GroundSmart Copper Clad Steel solution has been designed for use in subsurface grounding grids, as well as inside and outside plant bonding applications. As a global leader in infrastructure solutions for communication networks, CommScope has been manufacturing copper-alternative solutions for various industries for nearly 30 years. As copper theft continues to grow as a global problem and copper raw material costs increase, the use of Copper Clad Steel alternatives have gained acceptance in more and more applications.

Market for MHealth apps reached $718 million in 2011

2012-01-13T00:08:00.000+05:30

GERMANY: The smartphone application market for mobile healthcare increased by a factor of 7 to reach $718 million in 2011. Nevertheless, the mHealth market is still in an embryonic state. Theoretically the market potential is enormous given the overall worldwide healthcare market size of $6 trillion (WHO estimate) and the potential use cases and benefits for mobile patient healthcare support.

Within the last year, the growth in the mobile healthcare market has greatly accelerated. The main drivers for this growth have been the increase in the smartphone user base on the demand side, and the doubling of the number of mHealth applications on the supply side. These findings are part of research2guidance’s new Mobile Health Market Report 2011-2016.

A majority of the big healthcare companies have discovered mHealth applications as an innovative way to promote and deliver healthcare services and products. A testament to this is that a number of these large players published mHealth apps in 2011 that go far beyond a simple allergy tracker or pill reminder, e.g. Sanofi Aventis’ sensor-based iBGStar Diabetis monitoring app.

NFC Forum members to showcase revolutionary retail solutions

2012-01-12T20:08:00.000+05:30

NRF 101st Annual Convention & Expo, WAKEFIELD, USA: The NFC Forum announced that three of its members – INSIDE Secure, Kovio, and ViVOtech – are demonstrating applications that will change the way consumers with NFC-enabled mobile phones interact with the retail community.

The NFC Forum is a non-profit industry association that advances the use of Near Field Communication (NFC) technology, which gives retailers and manufacturers unique one-to-one marketing and loyalty-building opportunities at the point of sale and throughout the retail environment.

NFC technology is sparking a wide variety of innovations in retail, as well as areas such as access control, gaming, healthcare and wellness, hospitality, loyalty, marketing, mobile payment, mobile social media, and pairing of consumer electronics devices. The demonstrations highlight the broad range of NFC use cases that specifically benefit retailers, and they are being held in Booth #1951 of the ARTS Pavilion at the Annual Convention and Expo of the National Retail Federation (NRF) taking place at the Jacob Javits Center in New York.

INSIDE Secure, a Sponsor Member of the NFC Forum, with a seat on the Board of Directors, will demonstrate a product authentications service for the retail world. Kovio Inc., an Associate Member, will show how its NFC products and services will enable a completely new paradigm in the consumer’s direct interaction with brands and retailers by enabling personalized, instantaneous, and contextual experiences at point of purchase and point of use.

Kovio will also demonstrate the integration of its NFC products in item-level product packaging for shopper marketing, location-based advertising, and brand authentication. ViVOtech, Inc., an Associate member, will show its mobile marketing software platform, ViVOtouch, which allows merchants to deliver personalized offers, content, loyalty and prepaid cards in real time to shoppers' mobile phones.

Offers and loyalty rewards can be redeemed with a single tap along with payment at a contactless point-of-sale terminal, redeemed visually via bar codes and coupon codes, or in the cloud. The personalized content is based on location, time, context, and user profile, helping drive consumers' behavior throughout their paths to purchase.

"NFC technology is an enhancement to the payment experience that finally brings direct benefits to the retailer and the consumer alike," said Debbie Arnold, NFC Forum director. "Our NFC Forum member solutions are at the vanguard of this revolution, and we look forward to sharing them with NRF attendees."

"NFC is a backbone of mobile innovation in retail," said Richard Mader, executive director of the NRF's Association for Retail Technology Standards (ARTS). "We are very pleased that select NFC Forum members will be demonstrating ground-breaking mobile applications in the ARTS Pavilion that have the potential to revolutionize interactions between consumers and retailers."

EXFO redefines WDM testing and network optimization with WDM-aware technology

2012-01-12T19:34:00.000+05:30

QUEBEC CITY, CANADA: EXFO Inc. has announced the addition of WDM-Aware testing capabilities to its FTB-5240S/B-P Optical Spectrum Analyzers, together with additional industry-leading features such as referencing, on-graph peak detection level and SCPI commands.

These newly launched capabilities provide leading network operators with the ability to address some of their biggest challenges, such as reducing OPEX, removing the uncertainty of test results, and testing right the first time.

In today's competitive market, operators face network- and cost-related challenges stemming from a widespread phenomenon: the average revenue per user is decreasing, yet subscribers want more data, increasing bandwidth needs and affecting revenue.

In response to this, the FTB-5240S/B-P OSA's WDM-Aware offers the i-in-band mode—intelligent setups, optimized on a per-channel basis, which delivers accurate test results all automatically, all the time. WDM-Aware removes the uncertainty about test results, removes the guesswork, automates and speeds up tests, and thereby reduces OPEX. WDM-Aware is the most accurate and adaptive in-band method on the market.

Higher network speeds such as 40G also mean longer distances and wider channels, which weakens the channels and increases filtered noise. EXFO's latest FTB-5240S/B-P software addition helps to clearly differentiate noise from signals and analyzes only what deserves to be analyzed: with the on-graph peak detection threshold line, there are no longer any false peak analyses or overlooked low-power peaks, making the FTB-5240S/B-P a powerful analysis tool that delivers extremely reliable results.

Further, a deployed system ages over time and will continue to change during its life span. EXFO's FTB-5240S/B-P OSA brings built-in referencing in WDM mode, which allows operators to see the original trace display—what it is today and what has changed—making it an essential troubleshooting tool.

Finally, the FTB-5240S/B-P Optical Spectrum Analyzer also enables remote access to test tools to meet the demands of network equipment manufacturers who require 24/7 testing, lab simulations and remote control. The latest SCPI command feature allows the stop-and-start of any kind of operation and the ability to fully configure the OSA remotely.

"The addition of these new optical spectrum analyzer test capabilities to our FTB-5240S/B-P demonstrates EXFO's commitment to meeting the test needs of network operators," said Etienne Gagnon, EXFO's VP—Wireline Division and Corporate Marketing. "We are pleased to provide our customers with these industry-leading spectral analysis tools that deliver reliable test results, powerful troubleshooting and analysis, as well as remote operation and control."

100G is unstoppable!

2012-01-12T18:46:00.000+05:30

STONEHAM, USA: A new study from market researcher Infonetics Research details the plans of operators transitioning their optical transmission and switching equipment to higher speed wavelengths -- 40 Gigabits per second (40G) and/or 100 Gigabits per second (100G) -- using WDM to transport SONET/SDH, OTN, and Ethernet network traffic.

The survey asked operators about their reasons for installing 40G and 100G technology, plans for coherent detection technology, strategies for deploying 40G and 100G in existing optical systems and fibers (brownfield applications) and to new equipment installations on unused fiber (greenfield applications), and critical vendor selection criteria.

For the report, 40G/100G Wavelength Deployment Strategies: Global Service Provider Survey, Infonetics analysts interviewed 21 incumbent service providers, competitive operators, and mobile operators with 40G and/or 100G wavelengths installed in their optical transport networks or plans to install by 2013. The respondents are from North America, EMEA, Asia Pacific, and CALA and together represent a statistically significant 28 percent of worldwide telecom carrier revenue and capex.

“To take measure of the coming optical reboot, we significantly changed the focus of our latest 40G/100G survey from previous years, and aimed to gain insight into the trends and differences in deployment in existing brownfield networks versus new greenfield builds. We discovered that there is a strong carrier preference for 100G transport in both brownfield and greenfield installations. Carriers plan to use both 40G and 100G to the same degree in existing brownfield networks, and clearly favor 100G for new greenfield builds. 100G looks unstoppable,” notes Andrew Schmitt, directing analyst for optical at Infonetics Research and author of the survey.

40G/100G wavelength survey highlights
* The top three reasons operators are deploying higher-speed 40G/100G optical transport equipment are to lower the cost per bit for new wavelengths, the superior dispersion performance of coherent optics, and to lower incremental common equipment costs as a result of increased spectral efficiency.

* Most respondents indicate 40G is only a short-term solution and will move the majority of installations to 100G once those products reach widespread availability
The decline of 10G will begin as greenfield regional and long-haul networks shift to all-coherent architectures that lack dispersion compensation.

* Non-coherent 100G isn’t yet viewed as an important technology.

* Colorless and directionless ROADMs and OTN switching are important components of greenfield builds; gridless and contentionless ROADMs much less so.

China Mobile tests TD-LTE with T&M equipment from Rohde & Schwarz

2012-01-12T08:12:00.000+05:30

MUNICH, GERMANY: China Mobile uses the R&S CMW500 in its Research Institute labs to perform RF tests on user equipment for time division LTE (TD-LTE). China Mobile plays a leading role in TD-LTE. This Chinese 4G mobile radio standard succeeds TD-SCDMA, the Chinese 3G standard.

Christian Leicher, president and COO of Rohde & Schwarz, is glad to be assisting China Mobile with test and measurement equipment: "The Chinese market is very important for Rohde & Schwarz. We are proud to drive TD-LTE together with China Mobile, and expect the cooperation to be highly beneficial for both parties."

The R&S CMW500 from Rohde & Schwarz, a leading manufacturer of LTE test and measurement equipment, is a reliable, extremely fast and highly flexible wideband radio communications tester that supports all common wireless communications standards in a single box. It is the ideal solution for all phases in the development and production of chipsets and mobile wireless devices as well as for lab tests by network operators.

The China Mobile Research Institute performs measurements both in the lab and under real-world conditions. Since the beginning of 2011, it has already implemented TD-LTE test networks in six major cities: Shanghai, Hangzhou, Nanjing, Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Xiamen. Commercial operation is scheduled to start in 2012.

Softbank to launch Asia’s first TD-LTE service

2012-01-12T06:33:00.000+05:30

Nicole McCormick, senior analyst – Telco Strategy

UK: TDD spectrum is now extremely valuable to mobile operators. Chinese vendor Huawei predicts that 70 percent of TDD networks will be deployed as extension networks by FDD operators. The TDD-FDD device ecosystem is quickly maturing, and Huawei is due to deliver FDD-TDD LTE smartphones to Softbank by August 2012.

Softbank unit Wireless City Planning, which already operates a personal handy-phone system (PHS), is aiming to commercially launch its Advanced eXtended Global Platform (AXGP), network in February 2012 using a of 20MHz channel of TDD spectrum.

Mobile operators should try to have TDD spectrum in reserve for future data requirements wherever possible.

China Mobile is expected to launch its TD-LTE network in 1H13, while TD-LTE is also due to become a commercial proposition later this year.

According to the Global mobile Suppliers Association (GSA), four operators have already launched commercial TD-LTE networks globally: Brazilian operator Sky, Poland’s Aero2, and Saudi Arabian operators Etisalat and STC.

TruConnect app puts MiFi users in control of 3G data usage

2012-01-12T00:30:00.000+05:30

2012 International CES, LAS VEGAS, USA: TruConnect Mobile LLC announced its Manage My MiFi app for Android, iOS, Mac and PC that will allow users of any MiFi Intelligent Mobile Hotspot by Novatel Wireless to monitor 3G data usage in real-time.

TruConnect developed the Manage My MiFi app to provide users with greater control over their own data consumption, whether on the company’s pay-as-you-go plan or to avoid overage charges on other carriers’ contract-based plans.

The app is now available for download and is on display at the 2012 International CES tradeshow this week in Las Vegas, Nevada in booth #25718 (South Hall 2).

Manage My MiFi is a small, simple-to-install app that monitors and reports real-time MiFi data usage. It provides a real-time graph of the actual data rate and real-time MiFi status reporting on signal strength, battery strength, roaming indicator and current mobile network. The Manage My MiFI app also provides real-time session status on total session usage, total session cost, session duration and the number of devices connected during the session.

TruConnect Mobile, launched in September 2011, is changing the way users think about mobile data by offering a mobile data service for laptops and tablets that costs only $4.99 per month and 3.9 cents per megabyte.

“The average MiFi user consumes less than 300 MB of data per month, yet many continue to pay for the high-priced carrier data plan out of fear of going over,” said Kevin Hamilton, president and CEO of TruConnect. “We’re changing that market dynamic with the TruConnect service, and this app gives our users the ability to monitor their data usage and the comfort of knowing that usage will not get out of hand, unless they let it. The app also gives non-TruConnect customers the knowledge needed to take control of their data usage and choose a solution that best fits their lifestyle.”

The app is available now as a free download in the iTunes app store, Amazon Appstore and Android Market. The Mac version can be downloaded from www.managemymifi.com. The PC version of the app will be available on the same website later this month.

Samsung GALAXY S II and Galaxy Tab 10.1 receive FIPS security certification

2012-01-12T00:04:00.000+05:30

SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA & LAS VEGAS, USA: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd and Samsung Telecommunications America (Samsung Mobile), the No. 1 mobile phone provider in the United States1, announced that three devices in Samsung’s high-performance GALAXY line of smartphones and tablets have been granted the Federal Information Processing Standard 140-2 (FIPS) certification.

Now, government agencies and regulated industries, such as financial and health-care institutions, can utilize the global version of the GALAXY S II smartphone, Galaxy Tab 10.1 Wi-Fi edition and 4G LTE-enabled Galaxy Tab 10.1 with Verizon Wireless to meet their mobile enterprise needs.

FIPS is a federally issued, US information security standard certified by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to devices which meet strict security and interoperability standards. FIPS helps ensure private and public sector organizations which collect, store, transfer, share and disseminate sensitive but unclassified (SBU) information can make informed purchasing decisions when choosing devices to use in their workplace.

“Samsung proactively sought FIPS certification to show our current and potential government and business customers that we take their security and interoperability needs seriously,” said Cho BumCoo, senior VP of Enterprise Solution Team at Samsung Electronics. “This certification is a testament to the high level of enterprise business-readiness of our premium smartphones and tablets.”

The GALAXY S II smartphone and Galaxy Tab 10.1 also integrate a range of enterprise solutions that expand the business capabilities of the devices. Samsung Mobile recently unveiled its own SAFE (Samsung Approved for Enterprise) certification for Samsung devices configured specifically for enterprise use which meet rigorous security criteria. This includes providing support for Microsoft Exchange device management policies, mobile device management, on device encryption and Virtual Private Network (VPN) connectivity. The devices also feature productivity enhancement capabilities such as the ability to create and respond to meeting requests, view, edit, and create Microsoft-compatible documents, spreadsheets, and presentations, global address lookup, and more.

“Earlier this year, Samsung took a huge step forward in setting a high security standard for smartphones and tablets by launching SAFE. The FIPS certification takes Samsung’s B2B-readiness to an even higher level and ensures our devices are now equipped for use in U.S. government agencies and other regulated industries,” said Tim Wagner, VP and GM of B2B Sales for Samsung Mobile. “Devices like the GALAXY S II smartphone and Galaxy Tab 10.1 deliver not only stringent security standards that organizations need, but also provide a premium user experience employees desire.”

The Android 3.2 Honeycomb powered Galaxy Tab 10.1 Tab is one of the thinnest mobile tablets currently available in the world, measuring in at an ultra-slim 8.6 millimeters and featuring a brilliant 10.1-inch touchscreen display. The GALAXY S II features a cutting-edge design, a brilliant Super AMOLED Plus display, and intuitive user experiences that meet both personal and work life needs. To date, the GALAXY S II has sold more than 10 million units globally, and is one of the top-rated smartphones on the market.

Bluetooth SIG advances standardization of active 3D glasses using Bluetooth

2012-01-11T22:03:00.000+05:30

2012 International CES, KIRKLAND, USA: The Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG) has reached the first iteration of its active 3D glasses standard using Bluetooth wireless technology.

Samsung, among other member companies, is actively working within the Bluetooth SIG to finalize the standard that will give 3D glasses users greater freedom of movement, longer battery life, and increased interoperability with an ever-expanding group of television brands. As the 3D glasses specification makes progress, millions of Bluetooth enabled TVs have already shipped, paving the road to mass adoption of Bluetooth technology in the living room.

Announcements from the major consumer electronics and semiconductor manufacturers at this week’s Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2012 are expected to further cement Bluetooth technology’s position in the TV. Soon Bluetooth enabled TVs will serve as the hub of the connected living room, enabling seamless, robust connections with all Bluetooth technology and Bluetooth Smart devices including remote controls, gaming consoles, speaker systems, keyboards, phones, tablets, health and medical devices and more.

In addition, the first wave of the recently announced Bluetooth Smart devices for the connected living room, which take advantage of Bluetooth 4.0’s low energy technology, will be hitting at CES.

In 2011, millions of Bluetooth enabled TVs were shipped to market. The connected living room also includes 71 percent penetration of Bluetooth technology into gaming consoles, with an expected 95.5 percent penetration rate by 2015, according to Peter Cooney, practice director, semiconductors, ABI Research. When coupled with Bluetooth technology’s near 100 percent adoption rate in smartphones, the standard becomes the simple and secure way to wirelessly connect and control devices in the living room and throughout the home.

Bluetooth SIG members currently ship more than 5 million devices per day, with an established installed base of 4 billion devices worldwide. Bluetooth technology is simple, secure and everywhere.

Smartphone adoption forcing expansion of mobility strategies

2012-01-11T21:31:00.000+05:30

2012 International CES, BOSTON, USA: While mobility form factor is getting thinner, as seen at 2012 International CES, worldwide business smartphone shipment statistics continue to grow at impressive rates.

According to, “Global Business Smartphone Sales,” from the Strategy Analytics Wireless Enterprise Strategies (WES) service, the worldwide business smartphone market –of all sizes -- reached a total of 174 million units shipped in 2011, and 216 million units will be sold worldwide in 2012.

Gina Luk, Senior Analyst of Wireless Enterprise Strategies and co-author of the forecast report, says: “The enthusiastic adoption of personal-liable smartphones for work is forcing organizations to develop expanded mobility strategies focused less on providing devices and more on managing the security and access to devices, applications and data. Enterprises have truly embraced the personal-liable user model because of the huge rise in numbers of Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) in use, the need to cut devices costs, and the availability of MDM solutions which help IT managers to manage a heterogeneous device environment in an effective manner.”

This trend has a definitive impact on the corporate-liable versus personal-liable split of business use devices throughout the forecast period (2010-2016). Companies worldwide are allowing employees to leverage the device of their choice for business use.

“Shortly, nearly 55 percent of all business use smartphones worldwide will be personal-liable,” said Andrew Brown, director of Wireless Enterprise Strategies and co-author of the forecast reports.

Dialogue announces two-way SMS SuiteApp for NetSuite’s SuiteCloud computing platform

2012-01-11T21:05:00.001+05:30

UK: Dialogue Communications, a leading specialist in global mobile messaging solutions, announced the availability of its two-way SMS SuiteApp for NetSuite, built on the NetSuite SuiteCloud Computing Platform.

The Dialogue SMS SuiteApp provides NetSuite customers with an additional messaging channel for instant, efficient and effective two-way communication. This capability allows customers to enhance their business and customer interaction while increasing responsiveness.

NetSuite’s SuiteCloud is a comprehensive offering of cloud-based products, development tools, and services designed to help customers and commercial software developers take advantage of the significant economic benefits of cloud computing. The complete SuiteCloud includes NetSuite’s multi-tenant, always-on SaaS infrastructure and the NetSuite business suite of applications which cover accounting, enterprise resource planning (ERP), customer relationship management (CRM) and e-commerce.

“We are delighted to announce the launch of the two-way SMS SuiteApp, delivering rapid, high-quality and reliable SMS,” said Hugh Spear, Dialogue’s CEO. “SMS is an important tool in today’s fast-paced world, where people need and want instant communication. NetSuite customers can now reap the benefits by implementing the SMS SuiteApp, and enhancing users’ communication capabilities through enhanced interaction and increased responsiveness.”

PCCW Global partners with Ciena for submarine cable upgrade

2012-01-11T19:07:00.000+05:30

HONG KONG & LINTHICUM, USA: PCCW Global, an operating division of HKT, Hong Kong’s premier telecom provider, network specialist, Ciena Corp. announced an upgrade to the carrier’s subsea network with Ciena’s industry-leading WaveLogic coherent optical 100G networking solutions.

This upgrade will significantly increase the capacity beyond the original design of PCCW Global’s North Asia subsea routes, which span approximately 9,800 kilometers to connect Hong Kong, South Korea, Japan and Taiwan. This will help PCCW Global meet growing demand from its wholesale and retail customers for high-bandwidth services and applications such as Internet, video and cloud computing, and better serve the many countries that it interconnects globally.

Following a rigorous selection procedure, PCCW Global will deploy Ciena platforms equipped with 100G submarine-cable-grade coherent line interfaces, which are designed to significantly and cost-effectively increase submarine cable network capacity without disrupting existing customer traffic or adding cost or complexity to the network.

Using Ciena’s WaveLogic coherent optical 100G networking processors, PCCW Global will light a ring of dark fibers on the RNAL Cable System so that it can support significantly more than its original design capacity. The network will deliver path-resilient cable capacity and interconnectivity with other regional and transpacific submarine cable systems terminating in or transiting through the most popular Asian traffic hubs in Hong Kong, South Korea, Japan and Taiwan.

In addition to the existing network monitoring system, Ciena’s intelligent submarine network solution will allow PCCW Global to actively monitor the health and performance of its existing wet plant, including optical repeaters from third-party vendors, while continuously optimizing traffic-carrying signals in real time to ensure optimal transmission performance is achieved. The Ciena Specialist Services team will work closely with PCCW Global for accurate and timely completion of the design and implementation of the cable capacity upgrade.

Marc Halbfinger, CEO, PCCW Global, said: “With this deployment, we are pleased to be the Asia-based early adopter in deploying coherent 100G technology on a submarine cable system. The network expansion will significantly enhance the capacity of our network, allowing us to better serve our customers and support the delivery of high-performance data networking services and traffic growth driven by smartphones, high definition video, and sophisticated enterprise connectivity applications such as cloud computing.”

Philippe Morin, senior VP, Global Field Organization, Ciena, added: “Ciena’s technology provides resilience in the world’s most demanding networks and enables the most cost-effective undersea capacity upgrades without having to install new undersea cables. Bringing this technology innovation in coherent optical processing to PCCW Global’s network will boost capacity and improve performance to maintain competitive advantage in the marketplace.”

WISeKey and INSIDE Secure to target counterfeit luxury goods

2012-01-11T18:33:00.000+05:30

GENEVA, SWITZERLAND & AIX-EN-PROVENCE, FRANCE: WISeKey and INSIDE Secure announced a partnership to create a new breakthrough evolution of the WISeAuthentic solution suite which provides protection against counterfeiting, offers powerful sales monitoring and direct marketing capabilities.

WISeAuthentic employs time-tested security technologies to help luxury brands ensure the authenticity of their goods from the supply chain to the end customer and beyond. The new generation of the authentication solution, which will be developed and marketed jointly by the two companies, will provide a convenient way for retailers and consumers to verify the authenticity of luxury goods at the point of sale, using smartphones enabled with Near Field Communication technology (NFC).

WISeKey will employ INSIDE Secure's new VaultIC(tm) 150 security module, which combines tamper-proof security with a wireless interface that communicates with a smartphone or other NFC reader to determine the product's authenticity.

"Our WISeAuthentic service is already at work defending luxury brands in their fight against counterfeiters, to monitor their sellout operations, and establish a lifelong bond with customers. Our partnership with INSIDE Secure will be a major step towards the future, scaling our solution to store an unforgeable digital certificate of authenticity in formats other than just smartcards by taking advantage of the power of NFC technology. Today's smartphones allow us to offer new value added services that luxury brands can offer their clientele, making it easier than ever before to prove a product's authenticity," said Carlos Moreno, vice president Digital Brand Management at WISeKey.

"This kind of solution could be applied to many industries in addition to luxury goods, including gemstones, fine wines, pharmaceutical and medical products, and aeronautical and automotive parts."

WISeKey's digital brand protection solutions are based on proven public key infrastructure (PKI) technology that creates a cryptographically secured digital certificate of authenticity containing the product's identity code. The NFC tag ID will be impossible to replicate, and the solution will be available at a small fraction of the cost of sales lost from counterfeits. The IACC (International Anti-Counterfeiting Coalition) estimates that brand holders lose approximately $600 billion of revenue annually due to counterfeiting.

"The NFC interface is key in this application because it enables the strong cryptographic capabilities of the VaultIC to operate on induced power, allowing it to be employed in products like handbags or wine bottles that do not have their own built-in power source," said David Richetto, marketing manager for Embedded Security Products and applications manager for Secure ICs at INSIDE Secure.

"The elliptic curve asymmetric cryptography this system uses offers the strongest protection available to combat counterfeiters, yet allows a compact, cost-effective design, and we can use it to create NFC tags small enough to be available in a variety of form factors to accommodate the shape of various products."

"NFC is now rapidly being adopted by all the major smartphone makers, providing an ideal platform consumers can use for a broad range of NFC applications, including the ability to verify that the goods they purchase are genuine," said Christian Fleutelot, general manager of the VaultIC Secure Microcontroller Solutions business unit at INSIDE Secure.

"Our single-chip NFC security module can embed banking-level security directly within products cost effectively to protect brands, and by partnering with WISeKey, we can deliver a complete authentication solution that's easy for retailers and consumers to use."

Sify establishes undersea cable landing station in Mumbai

2012-01-11T16:15:00.000+05:30

BANGALORE, INDIA: Sify Technologies Ltd announced the operational readiness of their Undersea Cable Landing Station in Mumbai.

Raju Vegesna, CEO and MD, Sify, said: “Sify is being increasingly recognised as a leading integrated ICT company and this cable landing station is an important milestone in our journey. We now look forward to partnering telecom service providers and playing a larger active role in the communication revolution that is unfolding in the Asia Pacific region, Middle East and Africa. With capacity to land additional submarine cable systems, this connectivity will open a larger market for our industry-leading Managed Enterprise and Data Centre Services in the Middle Eastern market.

With the opening of this landing station, Gulf Bridge International (GBI) becomes the first to land their sub-sea cable system in India. This cable system will provide telecom operators and communications companies, both in India and across the globe greater choice and resilience. With a capacity of up to 10 terabits per second on certain cable sections, this system is designed to accommodate the rapid growth in voice and rich media traffic (internet, telephony and video) originating from and terminating in the Middle East as well as the African and European markets.

Sify also signed a Landing Party Agreement (LPA) with MENA Submarine Cable System S.A.E, a licensed telecommunications operator in the Egypt. MENA cable spans over three continents (Europe, Africa and Asia). Initially it lands in Italy, Egypt, KSA, Oman, and India with expansion plans to service more African and European countries.

MENA-SCS is a six pairs fibre cable, where each pair is designed for expansion up to 96 wavelengths multiplied by 10Gb/s for each which means an ultimate capacity of 5.76Tb/s and further scope to upgrade to 100G/S technology to have capacity more than five times current capacities.

LTE subscriptions reach 6.4 million in Q4'2011

2012-01-11T12:18:00.000+05:30

DUBLIN, IRELAND: Research and Markets has announced the addition of the "2G/3G/4G Subscriptions, Deployments, Spectrum Holdings and Infrastructure Contracts Database Q1'2012" directory to its offering.

With over 49 fully commercial network launches and 200 LTE-enabled devices available in the market as of January 2012, LTE adoption has considerably gained momentum throughout the globe. Unique market and operator requirements have driven several early LTE launches. Driven by these early launches global LTE subscriptions reached 6.4 million at the end of Q4'2011.

From an operator viewpoint Verizon Wireless (US) is leading the market with a 64 percent market share, thanks to its tremendous coverage footprint that currently spans across 178 regional markets in the United States. Verizon's market share is followed by NTT DoCoMo, which represents 23 percent of all LTE subscriptions.

Going forward, the LTE market is set to grow with a CAGR of 150 percent over the next five years and will eventually represent more than 8 percent of all mobile connections by 2016. From an infrastructure manufacturer perspective, Ericsson, Nokia Siemens Networks and Alcatel-Lucent are leading the market and account for a combined market share of 65 percent of all LTE contracts. Ericsson is also leading the market from a technology neutral perspective with a 25 percent stake in all global 2G/3G/4G contracts.

Intel and Motorola Mobility strike multi-year strategic mobile partnership

2012-01-11T07:00:00.000+05:30

CES 2012, LAS VEGAS, USA: Intel Corp. and Motorola Mobility, Inc. announced that the two companies were entering into a multi-year, multi-device strategic relationship that includes smartphones which Motorola will begin shipping later this year using Intel Atom processors and the Android platform.

The collaboration, which also covers tablets, will combine Intel's leadership in silicon processor technology and computing innovation with Motorola's mobile device design expertise to deliver products that have the high performance, long battery life and convenience necessary for increasingly mobile lifestyles.

"When great silicon and software technology meets great mobile and design innovation, amazing things can happen," said Intel president and CEO, Paul Otellini. "Our long-term relationship with Motorola Mobility will help accelerate Intel architecture into new mobile market segments. We expect the combination of our companies to break new ground and bring the very best of computing capabilities to smartphones and tablets, which in turn will help to create powerful new experiences that connect and enrich people's lives wherever they may be."

"We are delighted to be partnering with Intel to deliver smartphones and tablets based on Intel's Atom processor to consumers and businesses," said Sanjay Jha, chairman and CEO, Motorola Mobility. "Though there are 5 billion mobile subscribers in the world, less than 800 million are using a smartphone today. With Android as the leading smartphone OS globally and advancements in computing technology we see tremendous opportunity for the converged devices market."

Smartphones and tablets are quickly becoming an indispensible part of people's daily lives -- making them constant companions. The strategic relationship between Intel and Motorola Mobility will expand opportunity for continued innovation in these areas as they work closely to leverage Intel's low power system-on-chip (SoC) roadmap for Motorola Mobility's converged mobile device portfolio.

The companies will collaborate across hardware, software and services to deliver complete solutions and disruptive new user experiences that offer long battery life, increased computing performance, advanced imaging and video capabilities, and seamless wireless connections.

T-Mobile expands America’s largest 4G network

2012-01-11T05:05:00.000+05:30

2012 International CES, LAS VEGAS, USA: T-Mobile USA executives, including CEO and president Philipp Humm, outlined the company’s ongoing efforts to drive consumer adoption of mobile data through the continued expansion of America’s Largest 4G Network, rate plans that make mobile data more affordable, and new devices and services that take advantage of the company’s faster 4G network.

“Last year, T-Mobile made solid progress during uncertain times, doubling our 4G network speeds and launching 25 new 4G devices,” said Humm. “We are here, in fighting shape, and we will compete aggressively to win and retain customers by delivering compelling 4G services — all at a great value.”

The company also announced the expansion of its 4G network; unveiled its next 4G smartphone, the Samsung Galaxy S Blaze 4G; and demonstrated free, premium services built into smartphones and tablets that bring amazing 4G experiences to life for customers.

T-Mobile also announced an extension of its Bobsled by T-Mobile platform. The new IP-based group messaging application, Bobsled Messaging, is another example of T-Mobile bringing simple, affordable branded communication solutions to other platforms, beyond traditional wireless services, and to consumers who aren’t currently T-Mobile subscribers.

SkyCross teams with Verizon and leading OEMs to enable 4G LTE devices

2012-01-10T22:10:00.000+05:30

CES 2012, LAS VEGAS, BASKING RIDGE & VIERA, USA: Verizon Wireless and SkyCross, a global RF solutions and antenna technology company have worked together to incorporate SkyCross 4G LTE antenna modules using SkyCross’s patented iMAT antenna technology into products from Seagate Technologies, Ambient Corp. and Consert. All of these products will be demonstrated live on the Verizon 4G LTE network in the network operator’s booth (Las Vegas Convention Center, South Hall, Booth #30259).

“For the second consecutive year, we are pleased to collaborate with Verizon Wireless and leading equipment suppliers to demonstrate new wireless products at CES using SkyCross advanced antenna technology,” said Charles Riggle, SkyCross vice president of marketing and business development. “SkyCross antenna modules incorporating iMAT and State-Tuned iMAT antenna technology are the standard for high performance and small size in advanced, multiband, 4G LTE devices.”

SkyCross antenna modules incorporating iMAT technology enable a single, small, embedded antenna to behave like multiple antennas and deliver up to 2.5 times increased throughput in 4G LTE wireless devices versus similar devices using conventional antennas. SkyCross tunable antenna modules leverage the company’s patented State-Tuned iMAT technology and support up to 12 frequency bands critical to 4G LTE band aggregation and global roaming while simultaneously reducing antenna size and increasing device throughput.

SkyCross antenna modules are crucial for 4G LTE connectivity in the following devices demonstrated in the Verizon booth at CES: the Seagate 4G LTE mobile wireless storage device; the award-winning Ambient smart grid communications node; and the Consert Virtual Peak Plant Solution (VPP), providing smart meter infrastructure for measurable and verifiable load resource management in real time.

Qualcomm Atheros Hy-Fi technology supports IEEE 1905.1 draft standard

2012-01-10T18:30:00.000+05:30

LAS VEGAS, USA: Qualcomm Atheros Inc. announced a software package that enables solutions in its Hy-Fi portfolio to comply with the recently approved IEEE 1905.1 draft standard for hybrid home networking. The 1905.1 standard will drive industry interoperability of products that leverage combinations of wireless and wireline technologies—Wi-Fi, HomePlug powerline, Ethernet or Multimedia over Coax (MoCA)—to improve setup, capacity, coverage and reliability in home networks.

When upgraded with Qualcomm Atheros' latest Hy-Fi software, hybrid networking devices will feature easy (one-button) auto-configuration and authentication of all 1905.1 compliant devices on the network. The upgrade will also enable intelligent path selection and fail-over, resulting in a reliable whole-home network for the delivery of high-value carrier grade and consumer services.

The IEEE 1905.1 working group unanimously approved a draft version of the P1905.1 Standard for a Convergent Digital Home Network for Heterogeneous Technologies in December 2011. IEEE 1905.1 defines a software abstraction layer that provides a common data and control service access point for IEEE P1901 (HomePlug), IEEE 802.11 (Wi-Fi), IEEE 802.3 (Ethernet) and MoCA 1.1 compliant devices.

"At last year's CES, Qualcomm Atheros launched its Hy-Fi family of hybrid networking solutions, and today these solutions have been introduced and deployed by leading networking customers," said Dan Rabinovitsj, senior vice president and general manager, networking business unit, Qualcomm Atheros.

"With the IEEE standardization of 1905.1, the industry has confirmed the value of hybrid networking solutions to the consumer in the home. Qualcomm Atheros' customers will benefit from this recent software development which can make their products immediately comply with the draft standard."

By enabling the draft 1905.1 standard on Hy-Fi platforms, customers can ensure product interoperability across brands and product types and thus help fuel the adoption of hybrid approaches into mainstream networking. Today, Qualcomm Atheros' Hy-Fi networks are able to reach virtually any room in the home by combining Wi-Fi, HomePlug and Ethernet.

Qualcomm Atheros is also collaborating with MoCA technology suppliers to enable solutions to those wishing to extend the MoCA infrastructure with Wi-Fi and HomePlug powerline solutions. The technology offers great flexibility as it enables wired connectivity to those devices in the home which are naturally tethered to the power/AC or coaxial cable, such as the TV or desktop computer, while maintaining wireless freedom for mobile devices operating in the home, such as notebook computers, tablets and smartphones.

Additionally, Hy-Fi based networks ensure whole-home coverage with ease through the use of hybrid wired and wireless range extenders that can be placed wherever a "dead spot" exists.

"We are very pleased to be among the first to offer the draft 1905.1 compliance software upgrade in our products," said A.J. Wang, chairman and CTO, D-Link. "In addition to the improvements in home network usability and robustness, our customers will have the assurance of future interoperability with a growing range of products that also comply with this specification."

Qualcomm Atheros will provide Hy-Fi software updates in the first quarter of 2012 to enable customers with new and existing end products based on Qualcomm Atheros' Hy-Fi solutions to comply with the IEEE 1905.1 draft standard.

Qualcomm Atheros intros first generation of Wi-Fi display-enabled connectivity solutions

2012-01-10T18:17:00.000+05:30

LAS VEGAS, USA: Qualcomm Atheros Inc., the networking and connectivity subsidiary of Qualcomm Inc., announced the availability of its first generation of Wi-Fi Display-enabled peer-to-peer connectivity solutions. This first set of Qualcomm Atheros' solutions will serve as the foundation for a new generation of interoperable consumer electronics that allow users to easily share content from device to device without the need for an Internet connection, network or access point.

Wi-Fi Display is an industry standard devised by members of the Wi-Fi Alliance that enables sharing of the screen image or audio content of one device simultaneously on another nearby device, including simple and secure device discovery and pairing. For example, the Web page appearing on a computer screen can be shared on the screen of a nearby enabled TV. A typical use case could enable content on one smartphone screen to be shared with a nearby media tablet. The technology underlying Wi-Fi Display allows a direct, peer-to-peer wireless connection known in the industry as Wi-Fi Direct.

The implementation of Wi-Fi Display will be particularly useful for devices like smartphones and tablets, allowing users to consume content on nearby consumer electronics with larger screens. Wi-Fi Display technology leverages the 5 GHz wireless band, which offers up to 24 non-overlapping channels (or the 2.4 GHz band, which offers three non-overlapping channels) for relatively interference-free transmission of latency-sensitive media content.

Wi-Fi Direct technology is the foundation for the Qualcomm Atheros Wi-Fi Display implementation, making Wi-Fi Display easy to enable and use. The specification keeps data safe and secure by using the latest Wi-Fi Protected Access II (WPA2) security mechanisms and provides effective, industry-supported content protection mechanisms that free consumers to share content securely between devices. Wi-Fi Display certified devices also eliminate the need for consumers to use cumbersome cables.

"Wi-Fi Display-enabled devices will make sharing video and audio content from device-to-device easier than ever," said Gary Szilagyi, VP and GM, consumer electronics group, Qualcomm Atheros. "Allowing devices to connect and share video and audio content wirelessly eliminates the need for messy cables and allows for viewing from the comfort of your sofa. These new Wi-Fi Display-enabled solutions will encourage manufacturers to create a new generation of interoperable and compatible devices that make for friendlier device connectivity and easy content sharing."

Szilagyi continued: "This is not a point solution. By implementing this emerging industry standard in products across its portfolio, Qualcomm Atheros will continue to foster a complete connectivity ecosystem for mobile smartphones, tablets, computers and consumer electronics."

Initial solutions will support Android Ice Cream Sandwich, as well as Windows 7 and 8 operating systems, and will sample in the first half of 2012 to support end products that can be certified for Wi-Fi Display when the industry certification program commences in the second quarter of 2012.

Qualcomm Atheros launches Skifta media shifting platform for connected home

2012-01-10T18:05:00.000+05:30

LAS VEGAS, USA: Qualcomm Atheros Inc., the networking and connectivity subsidiary of Qualcomm Inc., announced the introduction of the Skifta Media Shifting Platform for entertainment-driven consumer electronics.

Skifta powered devices will create the framework for an interoperable wireless platform, ideal for accessing and streaming digital music, photos and videos around the home. The first component to be unveiled is the Skifta Wireless Audio Adapter, which is designed for manufacturers seeking to offer consumers a way to retrofit their legacy audio devices with both connectivity and support for Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA) and Universal Plug and Play (UPnP). Regardless of the connection, consumers can use the Skifta Wireless Audio Adapter to stream music and audio effortlessly throughout the home.

The Skifta Platform will provide device manufacturers and their customers with a new hardware ecosystem that builds on the strength of the Skifta Android application and promotes the wireless connected home to a broader audience of media consumers. Skifta transforms any Android device into a global media remote control, helping consumers access and enjoy their music, videos and photos at home over Wi-Fi and while on the move with 3G.

"The Skifta Platform is at the heart of a new connected home strategy from Qualcomm Atheros designed to push the boundaries of smart devices and provide endless entertainment opportunities for users," said Dan Rabinovitsj, senior VP and GM, networking business unit, Qualcomm Atheros. "We want to introduce more consumers to the experience of unfettered wireless access and control of the content and electronic devices they use in their everyday lives. The Skifta product line is a unique bundling of compatible hardware and software with benefits that will appeal to manufacturers and consumers alike."

Skifta hardware development kits and embedded software for manufacturers will be available in the coming months for products in the Skifta product line, including modules for stereos, wireless speakers, TVs, set-top boxes, wireless routers, network attached storage (NAS) drives and other digital A/V adapters.

The Skifta Android application will help consumers stream and enjoy content on the Skifta-ready products, as well as on standard DLNA Certified or UPnP devices. The Skifta platform additionally incorporates a channel library, which provides manufacturers with a selection of cloud-based content they can offer their customers. Skifta channels give immediate access to Facebook Photos, Picasa, Flickr, Photobucket, Soma.fm, ShoutCast, Revision 3, TED Talks and more. The development kit will have Wi-Fi, powerline communications and Ethernet networking support for distribution of content within the home.

IEEE P1901.2 standard for low-frequency, narrowband power line communications enters letter balloting

2012-01-10T17:21:00.000+05:30

2012 International CES, LAS VEGAS, USA: IEEE, the world's largest professional association advancing technology for humanity, announced that IEEE P1901.2 – Standard for Low Frequency (Less Than 500 kHz) Narrow Band Power Line Communications (PLC) for Smart Grid Applications – has entered its final approval process in the Working Group. Letter ballot on the draft standard supporting indoor and outdoor communications over low-voltage power lines opened 20 December 2011 and will continue through 25 January 2012.

“Smart Grid projects worldwide are moving ahead, and broad adoption of flexible, globally applicable standards such as IEEE P1901.2 for low-frequency, narrowband PLC (power-line communications) are needed now to accelerate wider-scale rollout,” said Jim LeClare, chair of the IEEE P1901.2 Working Group.

“More than 30 semiconductor manufacturers, meter and systems manufacturers, software developers, service providers and utilities have contributed to the work of the IEEE P1901.2 Working Group since its inception in fall 2009, and this broad base of participation has been crucial in helping us grow industry consensus and develop a globally meaningful and useful standard.”

AT&T announces new programs to promote its innovation program (AT&T Foundry)

2012-01-10T07:45:00.001+05:30

Mike Sapien, Ovum analyst

LAS VEGAS, USA: At AT&T's Developers’ Summit at CES, AT&T announced new programs that promoted its innovation program (AT&T Foundry) and continuing support for opening up its network.

The API platform (powered by Apigee) has been infused with some additional detail and six disparate areas that are: Payment, Uverse with Wireless, MMS/SMS, Location based services, device capabilities and mHealth Alpha. This has put more structure and support to AT&T’s open network initiatives that were mentioned at last year’s summit. Now there is more substance and application details to this program and platform.

In addition, there was also an announcement of AT&T joining the OpenStack initiative which is significant as AT&T is the first US carrier to join. It is further evidence of the strong support for open mobile application development and service enablement that AT&T has been promoting in enabling more cloud based services and innovation from external parties including its developers.

With the sponsorship of Microsoft’s Windows phone platform, we expect to see more enterprise applications as by-products of the combined developers and AT&T internal product development.

The network is the oxygen’ was one of the key mantras shared by John Donovan in his presentation. Although it is an interesting analogy for an application centric audience, one has to wonder how AT&T will monetize this ‘oxygen’ for many of the data hungry applications, devices and end users. And there was a mention of global capabilities but there wasn’t any detail on services that were going to be available outside the US.

Nokia launches Lumia 900

2012-01-10T06:38:00.000+05:30

Jan Dawson Ovum’s chief telecom’s analyst

UK: The Lumia 900 represents Nokia's first serious step into the US with its Windows Phone line. While the Lumia 710 was announced earlier and launches this week, it represents a low-end offering and isn't the best advertisement for Windows Phone on Nokia.

While a capable device, it lacks some of the features that will set Nokia apart in the Windows Phone space, but the Lumia 900 rectifies that. It offers a large and high quality screen, LTE connectivity, a front-facing camera and a number of other features not seen either on T-Mobile's 710 or on the Lumia 800, which has already launched in Europe.

This device signals several things: firstly, that Nokia is serious about the US, launching arguably the flagship Lumia device in the US before the rest of the world; secondly, that Nokia has the clout with Windows Phone to allow it to be first to market with an LTE device; and thirdly, that AT&T is now seriously into the business of offering LTE phones.

The device will get significant marketing support from Nokia and AT&T, and therefore, has the best opportunity of any Windows Phone launched to date to do well in the market. However, that's not to say it will be a blockbuster: the exact timing and pricing will be major factors too, and those have not been announced yet.

Nokia and AT&T intro Nokia Lumia 900 on AT&T's 4G LTE network

2012-01-10T03:41:00.001+05:30

LAS VEGAS, USA: At the 2012 International Consumer Electronics Show (CES), Nokia and AT&T announced the Nokia Lumia 900, the first of Nokia's Windows Phone-based range to feature high-speed LTE connectivity. With Nokia's largest display, the Nokia Lumia 900 delivers a rich content experience from a phone that still fits easily in your hand.

Coming exclusively to AT&T in the coming months in cyan and matte black, the Nokia Lumia 900 has a 4.3-inch AMOLED ClearBlack Display for rich, bright images both indoors and out, faster connection speeds based on cutting-edge 4G LTE technology, and a long-lasting 1830 mAH battery for enjoying content all day.

The primary camera includes Nokia's exclusive Carl Zeiss optics, with large aperture (F2.2) and wide angle focal length (28mm) for high-quality, uncropped images even in low-light conditions. In addition, the Nokia Lumia 900 includes a front-facing camera boasting a large aperture and a wide angle lens that ensures sharp, bright images for high-quality video calling, right out of the box.

Nokia's third Lumia smartphone, the Nokia Lumia 900 builds on Lumia's head-turning design on the outside and a rich social and Internet experience on the inside. People Hub is the quickest way to connect with friends with Live Tiles for real-time updates and a fast Web browsing experience with Internet Explorer Mobile.

"The introduction of the Nokia Lumia 900 with AT&T is another significant milestone in the ongoing rollout of Nokia's global smartphone strategy," said Chris Weber, president of Nokia Americas. "The Nokia Lumia 900 is designed specifically with the US in mind and the announcement of this collaboration with AT&T, in addition to other recent announcements, signifies a new dawn for Nokia in the US."