Telecom, Telephone, and Communications News

Nortel and LGE have demonstrated high speed downloading of music and streaming video to a wireless hand set.

Using Nortel's UMTS network equipment and a LG handset as a modem to a PC screen Downloads of pop music songs and three-minute streaming movie clips were completed in a moving automobile to demonstrate real-world stability at speeds up to 1.4 megabits per second (mbps).

With broadband services such as this they aim to help wireless operators generate new revenues through high-resolution interactive gaming, multimedia music downloads, DVD-quality film and video, Mobile TV, ‘push-to-watch’ services, and access to large e-mail attachments.

I don't know how big of a market there will be for this in North America, but I bet it will be popular in Europe, and especially in Asia, where people seem to just love the latest in tech inovation.

You can read the full story here: Super fast downloads of video and music to mobiles from Nortel and LG

I have just added a new telecom directory to my website. If you are interested or wish to add your web site url you can visit here: Telecommunications and Phone Service Directory. That blew away a fair amount of my day.

I am also waiting to hear back from a contract agency. They and the customer both want me for some software upgrades on some MSC's in various countries. Supposed to find out this week.

I found this news pretty interesting, Siemens and Nortel getting together on a project.

Siemens Communications and Nortel to support BT’s global client voice infrastructure

BT announced today that it is working with Siemens Communications and Nortel to provide equipment, maintenance and support services for the voice systems and infrastructure used by BT's multi-national customers.

BT is responsible for the management and maintenance of a diverse range of PBX equipment and other customer voice systems in over 120 countries. BT's network of global and regional operation centres already provides multi-national customers with service management on a country-by-country basis. In conjunction with Siemens Communications and Nortel, BT will now offer increased global reach to help customers optimise their expenditure on voice infrastructure, and to prepare them for migration to IP Telephony and voice over IP (VoIP) platforms. Siemens, Nortel and BT, Read the full story

What's next, dogs and cats living together?

Nortel Launches Supply Chain Center in Shanghai to Enhance Customer Value

Enhanced Management of Growing Supply Base in Asia

SHANGHAI, China – As part of an ongoing supply chain evolution intended to reduce cost and maximize quality, Nortel* [NYSE/TSE:NT] has launched a supply chain center in Shanghai. The Shanghai Supply Chain Center is the first in a series Nortel plans to deploy around the world and a major step in Nortel's strategy to create the industry's leading supply chain. Similar launches are being planned in India, North America, Eastern Europe and Mexico throughout 2005.

Nortel's Supply Chain Centers work closely with a wide range of global and regional suppliers by providing the best expertise available to ensure that all materials and processes meet Nortel's stringent quality standards and maximize cost effectiveness for manufacturing, network solutions and services. The Shanghai Supply Chain Center will be focused on managing these objectives with Nortel's fast-growing base of suppliers in Asia.

"This is another important step forward in Nortel's continued focus on optimizing global supply chain resources and investments to strengthen its competitive advantage while enhancing value for customers around the world," said Sue Spradley, president, Global Operations, Nortel. "With establishment of the Shanghai Supply Chain Center, we are applying 'best-in-class' manufacturing capabilities in the region with close supplier collaboration to ignite and power global commerce." http://www.nortel.com/corporate/news/newsreleases/2005a/03_02_05_shang_supply_chain.html

Nortel are still busy, good for me.

GMA Network Deploying Nortel Voice Solution to Enhance Internal Communications

Solution to Provide Platform for Future Migration to IP Telephony

MANILA, Philippines – GMA Network, one of the Philippines' leading broadcast companies, is deploying a voice communications solution from Nortel* [NYSE/TSX: NT] for more efficient internal communications and to provide a platform for future migration to IP (Internet Protocol) telephony. Support and maintenance services will be provided by local Nortel channel partner, Trends & Technologies.

The GMA Network deployment, under an agreement signed in September 2004, includes the IP-enabled Nortel Meridian* PBX as well as a range of Nortel digital telephones and a fully digital attendant console.

"Reliable and efficient voice communications is a vital component of our business," said Joselito B. Remulla, vice president, Information and Communication Technology, GMA Network. "This new Nortel PBX is a significant step forward for us as it will resolve our current telephony issues, which include intermittent dropped calls, as well as enable a seamless evolution to voice over IP technology building on prior investment when the need arises."

Full story on the Nortel voice solution

Have you read the news release on a speech given by Verizon Executive Vice President Tom Tauke at a meeting of telecommunications leaders in Florida?

The headlines say it all: "Verizon-MCI Partnership Best for Customers, the Internet and National Security, Tauke Says" and "Believes Qwest-MCI 'Not in the Public Interest,' Could Remove Backbone Competitor". Why bother with logical, financial, and technological reasoning and discussions when the old simple fear factor ploy works so well right? I mean it works so well for the news media, and politicians, why not for industry leaders as well?

He does mix in some good financial arguments in his speech and he is correct in citing that Verizon's balance sheet is in better shape than Qwest's. But he just couldn't leave it with the good arguments, but dropped down so low it made my blood boil when I read it.

Just look at this statement, "MCI operates a data network that is one of the principal such networks serving large customers around the globe, including the U.S. Defense and Homeland Security departments. So Verizon attempts to define itself as the defender of Mom, apple pie, and the American way. I guess that makes Qwest the yellow, low-down, cowardly, lefties who are only going to weaken America right. What a pile of crap. It is statements like these coming out of politicians of all stripes that has made me nearly apolitical, and reportage in the news media, especially television news that has me largely ignore them.

Can't these people stick to the 'facts? I mean it isn't that hard is it? But can he leave it there. No. Let's heap some more B.S. on the heap. "Tauke said, cash-strapped Qwest could decide to channel Internet traffic onto its own network and potentially remove a backbone competitor." So a Qwest/MCI merger would be bad for competition? I guess that means a Verizon/MCI merger would be good for competition. I damn near choked on my coffee when I read that one I was laughing so hard.

I hope Qwest's response to this is balanced, factual, and logical, but my confidence isn't high. We shall see.

Read the full story at Verizon

Do you cruise or use ferries? you might want to check this out.

Ericsson and Norwegian based Maritime Communications Partner (MCP), have signed a contract for the delivery of a GSM network to enable mobile communication at sea. Under the contract, Ericsson will supply a complete network solution, including core and radio equipment.

Using Ericsson's GSM technology, MCP will be able to offer mobile phone connectivity onboard cruise ships and ferries all over the world, providing global coverage through leading suppliers of maritime satellite services. The ships will have radio base stations on board, and communication will be secured through a satellite link to the core network on shore. Fax, internet and data services are also offered, as well as value added services for onboard marketing, promotions and information.

"We are very excited to take this technological step together with Ericsson," said Trygve Sten Gustavsen, CEO at Maritime Communications Partner. "As the first global maritime operator in the telecommunications industry, we are happy to offer our customers high quality services while at sea based upon Ericsson's GSM network solution. This contract will definitely leverage our ambitions on the international scene." More...

Vodafone extends mobile music catalogue to 500,000 music tracks

One million full music tracks downloaded since launch

Vodafone today announces the launch of a catalogue of 500,000 full music tracks on Vodafone live! with 3G. The enhanced service will be rolled out to Vodafone live! with 3G customers in eight countries, beginning in Germany, with Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and the UK following in the next few months.

Vodafone also announces that, since it first launched full track music downloads across an extensive range of new 3G handsets in November 2004, over one million tracks have been downloaded.

With the significant increase in catalogue size, the company is also extending its search engine capabilities on the service to help customers find the tracks they want, in the way they want. Read the full story.

Maybe it's time for me to switch from Telefonica to Vodafone?

STC and SparkLAN are demonstrating wireless 11a+g streaming MPEG-4 / wmv9 set-top box at the Cebit Hannover, 2004. Booth no.: Hall 14, F28

SparkLAN Co. - Sales and provider of wireless modules, announces that STC (SetaBox Technology Co., Ltd) has chosen SparkLAN's 11a+g wireless module in its broadband streaming set top box (STB). This STB enables VOD (Video On Demand) / multicasting content from IP broadband network seamlessly go everywhere at home.

STC is providing its leading MPEG-4 streaming STB - MSD-480 series, to telco and MSO for high quality video entertainment services. MSD-480 is the professional STB that can provide full D1 TV display, near DVD quality, and also friendly playback, including Pause, Slow Motion, Fast Forward, Rewind, and Seek capability. MSD-480 can interoperate with ISMA compliant VOD server and is also offering the WindowsR Media 9 Series (wmv9) streaming supports now. MSD-480 can also act as Media Adapter to display still image and play video, audio contents stored in PC.

"Integrated SparkLAN 11a+g module with MSD-480 STB, home users do not need to employ physical cables for each room and still can enjoy the high quality VOD / multicasting services through MSD-480. It is convenient and more reliable to use 11a+g. Residential Broadband Multimedia is realized by the combination of these two solutions! ", said by Jack Chen, the CEO of STC.

"SparkLAN markets and sells its products through distributors to network of resellers, retail and e-commerce channels around the globe. "We performed quite well in the Europe market last year. SparkLAN is focusing on expanding the range of WLAN application for enterprise and residential wireless networking to deliver more value to our customers in Europe. "said by Mike Chen, CEO of SparkLAN.

About SetaBox Technology Co. Ltd (STC)

STC is specialized in developing and designing advanced media streaming products and providing totally integrated solutions for its customers. STC has put together an experienced R&D team, which includes several PhDs and Masters. Elite staff coming from NTU's Communication & Multimedia Laboratory, (www.cmlab.csie.ntu.edu.tw), reinforces STC's technologies in every aspect, including: Codecs (MPEG-1, MPEG-2, MPEG-4, wmv9, H.264 (AVC), wma, MP3, AAC), streams and protocols (Transport Stream, Program Stream, RTP, RTSP), and hardware design (decoder card, set-top box, residential gateway, media adapter). For more detailed information please visit: http://www.setabox.com

About SparkLAN

Founded in 1999 by a group of experienced IT networks engineers and management professionals, SparkLAN Communications is a member of Taiwan Gemtek Group, the world leader in WLAN OEM/ODM and the main supplier of the other major WLAN vendors. Our company core is based on the developments of Brand Name Sales Channel, Wireless Multimedia Product and Wireless Networking Software. SparkLAN markets and sells its products in North America, Europe, China and the Asia/Pacific region through distributors, including SI, VAR and ISP to a global network of resellers, retail and e-commerce channels.SparkLAN offers a full spectrum of 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g & 802.11a+g, Ethernet, phone line and power line products through a complete line of AP/Routers, Network Adapters, Outdoor AP/ Routers, Modules, gateways, PoE Switch hubs and indoor/outdoor antennas. Our products offer strong security and privacy options to protect home and business customers.SparkLAN is committed to providing devices that solve issues and are expandable for growing networks. SparkLAN broadband solutions are defined as Easy-to-Use, Easy-to-Maintain and Fast-Return-On-Investment from home to corporation LANs. Price wise, SparkLAN devices are at an affordable price which fits all IT demanding budgets.At SparkLAN, connections are made easy.

The fair planner contains the complete CeBIT 2005 index of exhibitors for your PDA or Smartphone. All data about companies and events, hall and site plans as well as general information on CeBIT are available. The search function will help you to find the desired exhibitors.

The Fair Planner can be downloaded on devices with Palm OS 3.0 or Windows CE 3.0./Pocket PC (or higher) as well as on Symbian OS-based Smartphones.

You need to register for the service which can be done here: CeBIT Mobile Planner where you can also read the full story.

The CeBIT fair takes place in Hannover Germany from the 10 to the 16 of March 2005.

Home Page: CeBIT

Tickets: CeBIT Tickets

CeBIT also holds events in; Istanbul, Long Beach, Shanghai, and Sydney. Find out more at: World Wide CeBIT Events.com/