IP Capsule – June 08, 2007

Streaming21 launches IP broadcasting solution
Streaming21 has unveiled its IP broadcasting solution, the Media Relay Server 2.0, which enables the broadcasting of live TV channels and events to TV sets via the Internet. The server allows for real-time video delivery to TVs through open networks, it accepts subscribers from any ISP, and it delivers over unmanaged and non-multicast networks.

U-verse debuts in San Diego area
AT&T has launched U-verse in in parts of the San Diego-Carlsbad-San Marcos metropolitan statistical area (MSA), including San Diego, Carlsbad, Encinitas, Chula Vista and San Diego County. AT&T said it will continue to increase availability throughout the area on an ongoing basis. U-verse is also available in spot areas in the San Francisco, San Jose, Los Angeles, Riverside and Ventura County markets.

TI, Network Physics collaborate on VoIP quality solution
Texas Instruments and Network Physics plan to co-develop products for VoIP and IPTV systems based on TI’s Piqua portfolio, which combines TI’s digital signal processing chips and embedded software used to monitor and analyze the performance of the systems in which they are integrated.

Network Physics plans to first integrate Piqua software with its NetSensory Solution Insight for VoIP 2.0. The NetSensory tool combines endpoint information and correlates it with other network data to provide network operators with more than 60 performance and utilization metrics, delivered in real-time, so issues can be addressed immediately.

It has the ability, TI said, to drill down from industry-standard voice quality metrics to the underlying network conditions responsible for call degradation, measure the impact of other enterprise applications on voice traffic, and judge how other applications are affected by the network changes made to support voice.

Hans Christian Andersen

Arris to serve Danish
Arris has attracted a new customer, satellite and cable provider Canal Digital, which will use Arris’ C4 CMTS to deliver broadband Internet and voice over IP service to its customers in Denmark. The first deployment will take place in Odense, Denmark, which the company pointed out is the birthplace of Hans Christian Andersen. Vector, a systems integrator based in Europe, will provide integration and maintenance service

Avaya enters $8.2B merger agreement
Investment firms Silver Lake and TPG Capital will together spend about $8.2 billion for the outstanding shares of VoIP specialist Avaya, in a deal formally considered a merger. The transaction is expected to close this fall.

ZCorum offers wholesale VoIP service
ZCorum, a wholesaler of broadband and communication solutions, is launching its VoiSelect Digital Voice service, for broadband operators looking to enter the VoIP market. VoiSelect Digital Voice is a SIP-based service that includes many common features of traditional voice service, including unlimited local and long distance calling in the U.S. and Canada, voicemail, caller ID, three-way calling, call waiting, call forwarding, and call return.

Qwest enhances broadband experience
Qwest has expanded its relationship with Microsoft to offer Windows Live, as mentioned above has renamed its DSL service, and has introduced a new domain name for its e-mail customers.

Windows Live is a set of communications services fronted by Microsoft’s search engine. Combining some features that used to be associated with its MSN service, Windows Live is designed to be similar to, and be competitive with, search services from AOL, Google, and Yahoo!

Windows Live Services by Qwest will offer Web search that includes maps, directions, images and video, all built into the browser. Windows Live will include OneCare, which will provide users a unified suite of services, including anti-virus and anti-spyware utilities, to protect and maintain their PCs.

Qwest Broadband customers who are also signed up with MSN Premium will also have the option to use a new domain name: q.com. Qwest expects customers will appreciate the new opportunity to choose e-mail addresses that don’t include (or aren’t based entirely) on random combinations of characters.

XO launches wireless in Las Vegas
XO Communications and sister company Nextlink Wireless have introduced wireless broadband service in Las Vegas, XO Communications’ 12th U.S. market. The pair have licenses for spectrum covering the entire Las Vegas metropolitan area.

XO Communications has begun providing broadband wireless in Las Vegas

Through broadband wireless point-to-point connections, XO Communications said it can deliver high-speed network services directly to businesses at speeds ranging from 45 Mbps to 155 Mbps (OC-3) to support a range of communications services, including dedicated Internet access, metro Ethernet, voice over IP (VoIP), wide area networks in campus or business park settings and network redundancy.

Clearwire wireless hits Richmond
Clearwire Corp. has launched its wireless high-speed Internet service in Richmond, Va. The coverage area includes Chesterfield, Henrico, Glen Allen, Mechanicsville and Midlothian.

CableLabs publishes RFI for PacketCable 2.0 products
CableLabs issued a request for information (RFI), soliciting information from equipment vendors about their PacketCable 2.0 product roadmaps. The RFI also seeks information regarding any IMS-based applications suppliers are developing for the cable industry.

PacketCable 2.0 is designed to be application agnostic.

Applications described in the RFI responses will be considered by CableLabs for inclusion in an upcoming interoperability testing and demonstration event being planned for the PacketCable Applications Lab. The lab, which was launched in April 2007 at CableLabs, will promote multi-vendor interoperability and will showcase new applications being developed for the industry.

The PacketCable 2.0 RFI is available on the CableLabs web site, here and the Product Information Tables matrix referenced in the RFI is located here. The deadline for responses to be delivered to CableLabs is July 13, 2007.