* Sonus taps CTO, founder retires
Dr. Vikram Saksena has been appointed CTO of Sonus Networks Inc., a maker of VoIP infrastructure gear.
Saksena, previously the company’s chief scientist, will head up Sonus’ overall technology direction. Prior to Sonus, Saksena spent 16 years at AT&T.
In other company news, Sonus founder Mike Hluchyi has retired.
* WICT Rocky Mountain sets awards nomination deadline
The WICT Rocky Mountain chapter has set Feb. 13, 2007 as the deadline for nominations for its eighth-annual Walk of Fame Gala, set for May 2 at the Denver Tech Center Hyatt Regency.
In addition to the organization’s highest honor, Woman of the Year, WICT Rocky Mountain is seeking nominations in these four categories:
– Woman to Watch
– Partner of the Industry
– Woman in Technology
– Mentor of the Year.
Nominations may be submitted via e-mail (admin@wictrm.org), fax (303-451-7567), or postal mail (WICT Rocky Mountain, P.O. Box 21261, Denver, CO 80221).
Honorees will be notified by a personal phone call by mid-March.
* Cable apprentices unite
The Comcast Media Center will host the first-ever Cable Apprentice Competition on Thursday, Jan. 25 from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. Mountain Time.
The event, put on by CTAM of the Rocky Mountains, will pit teams of business school students from the University of Denver against each other as they go after $1,500 and paid internships within the cable industry.
The event costs $35 for CTAM members, or $50 for non-members, but includes a one-year CTAM RM membership fee.
* Comcast picks up Kabillion pieces
Comcast is offering new children’s programming from Taffy Entertainment on a free video-on-demand basis. Kabillion also has a Web site where the same video is also available, supplemented by games, chat boards, contests and other content specifically for kids. Taffy Entertainment said additional cable systems will also begin offering Kabillion content in the near future.
Future plans also call for offering mobile, gaming and wireless platforms.
* Sprint Nextel names VP of strategy
Sprint Nextel announced Jack Dziak will join the company as senior vice president, strategy, effective February 5. Dziak joins Sprint Nextel after serving as senior vice president, services and distribution for Mobile Satellite Ventures LP where he was responsible for building MSV’s next-generation mobile broadband services portfolio. Prior to MSV, he served as SVP of corporate strategy for MCI Communications. Dziak succeeds Atish Gude, who is now SVP of mobile broadband operations in Sprint Nextel’s new 4G Mobile Broadband business unit.
