• Verizon launches 76 additional channels in Pa., Del.
By Mike Robuck
Verizon said today that it’s launching 76 new channels, including 56 in high-definition (HD), in its southern Pennsylvania and Delaware footprints.
Customers of Verizon’s FiOS fiber-optic service in those states now have more than 580 HD choices, which includes 500 HD VOD titles. As a result of the latest HD offerings, Verizon claims to have more HD choices than Comcast and RCN in the area.
Verizon is also offering customers in Delaware and Pennsylvania free use of either an HD DVR or HD home media DVR if they sign up between now and Oct. 4. Existing or new customers who upgrade to a bundled package will receive one free month of HBO and Cinemax.
• Convergys upgrades customer service manager
By Mike Robuck
Convergys Corp. today announced the immediate availability of a new version of its Customer Service Manager 5.0.
Convergys said that the Customer Service Manager 5.0, which is part of its BSS/OSS portfolio, features more capabilities compared with previous releases for next-generation subscriber, order and customer management, and it is designed specifically for communications service providers.
Customer Service Manager 5.0 delivers a broad customer service footprint, including customer and account management, shopping, end-to-end order orchestration, campaign and trouble management, workforce scheduling, and Web self-service. Built specifically for communications service providers, Convergys said Customer Service Manager 5.0 helps providers improve their customers’ experience and rollout advanced services faster.
• IBC 2008 plays to record crowd
By Brian Santo
IBC reported record numbers for registrations and exhibitors at IBC 2008, which concluded last week.
IBC COO Mike Crimp said, “IBC2008 has been the most successful show ever with a record attendance of 49,250.” The show also attracted more than 1,400 exhibitors.
The IBC 2008 International Honor for Excellence was awarded to Jeffrey Katzenberg, CEO of DreamWorks Animation. DreamWorks conducted the first transatlantic telecast in high-definition 3D, broadcast live from Los Angeles.
• Occam’s BLC 6450, 6312, 6314 receive MEF 9, 14 certification
By Traci Patterson
Occam Networks’ broadband loop carrier (BLC) 6450, BLC 6312 and 6314 products have received Metro Ethernet Forum (MEF) 9 and 14 certification for delivery of Carrier Ethernet services from Iometrix test labs.
The BLC 6450 increases the capacity of Ethernet-protected networks by supporting 10GigE optical rings in interoffice or Metro applications, as well as subtended access rings. The BLC 6314 has similar capabilities but is intended for smaller Layer 2 networks. The BLC 6312 is primarily intended for subscriber access over GigE optical links and also includes GigE backhaul, the company said.
This BLC portfolio delivers business Ethernet services over GigE optical facilities but can also be used to meet residential triple-play needs, according to Occam.
More Broadband Direct:
• Comcast reports congestion management works
• Comcast picks Sandvine’s Congestion Management for FairShare solution
• SeaChange certifies Shenick’s diversifEye technology
• Hotwire picks Motorola for FTTH