• Clearfield enhances FDP wall mount panels
By Traci Patterson
Clearfield is expanding its FieldSmart Fiber Delivery Point (FDP) wall mount panel product line. The “PON in a BOX” series now includes 36- and 96-port options, all with support for PON-based applications.
The series of wall mount panels is suited for the deployment of PON-based fiber-to-the-home networks in multiple-dwelling units (MDUs), allowing for up to 144 ports from one single deployment point.
According to Ben Calvert, lead engineer of Triangle Communications: “The versatility that the wall mount panel provides allows us to use one product to fit a variety of customer needs. In many of our FTTx applications, space is limited, so having the ability to grow without having to replace the wall mount panel is a big plus.”
• Report: Set-top boxes to top 200M by 2013
By Mike Robuck
The increasing demand for interactive and personalized services by customers is driving service providers to deploy more next-generation set-top boxes, which will push set-top box deployments worldwide to more than 200 million by 2013. According to a new report by Parks Associates, the global digital transition and new distribution channels for video – including DTT, IPTV and over-the-top providers – are increasing competition in the TV service space. The report said that carriers and manufacturers looking for a competitive advantage will replace their current installed base of set-tops with advanced models capable of supporting applications such as time- and place-shifting and Internet-based offerings.
“Consumers are attracted to the concept of connected CE, with one-third of U.S. broadband households very interested in a set-top box that connects to their PC and Internet service, as well as their TV,” said Jayant Dasari, a research analyst with Parks Associates. “While less than 10 percent are willing to pay a monthly fee, demand is still on an upward trend, especially as the set-top connects to more and more services.”
According to Parks, the growing demand is good news for service providers, especially cable and telco/IPTV operators, who are leveraging the set-top box platform to support their multi-play strategies. With the box connected to a variety of sources, it will expand the battle in the television services market to the entire digital home, affecting every service sector from energy management and security to voice and video.
Cable operators have been swapping out their older, legacy boxes as part of their natural refresh cycles, even though they may not have any immediate plans to deploy new services such as tru2way. Cable is also working on implementing EBIF applications on legacy boxes in the field in order to deploy interactive services to customers.
• Windstream offers business customers Dish Network
By Mike Robuck
Windstream is serving up Dish Network’s commercial TV service to its small and medium business customers. The packages from Dish feature 50 to 150 digital channels, which Windstream said could be used by businesses to attract more customers.
“We are pleased to now be able to offer a video product to our business customers,” said Don Perkins, Windstream’s vice president of product marketing. “Through the commercial Dish Network offering, Windstream business customers now have a variety of programming packages available to meet their needs.”
Windstream is a triple play provider that offers its services to businesses and homes in 16 states.
• AT&T sets availability for Samsung Solstice
By Andrew Berg, Wireless Week
AT&T and Samsung today announced the Aug. 2 availability of the Samsung Solstice, a compact touchscreen phone that provides users with an instant connection to social networking, messaging and multimedia features.
The Solstice has a full 3-inch touchscreen, with a virtual, landscape qwerty keyboard, and features Samsung’s TouchWiz UI, which includes one-touch access to social networks through new widgets for Facebook, MySpace and Yahoo oneSearch.
Additional key specifications of the Solstice include an MP3 player, video and audio streaming, Bluetooth technology and a microSD memory card slot supporting up to 16GB. The Solstice also includes dual-band 3G connectivity and quad-band GSM technology. The Samsung Solstice will be available through AT&T retail locations or online for $99.99 with a two-year service agreement.