Nokia and AOL in instant messaging deal 
The e-paper chase 
FCC clears space for Internet TV 
Nextel and AirTouch to carry wireless Microsoft 
Ethernet to get supercharged to 10 gigabits 
New DSLAMs set to rock access world 
Palming off profits on 3Com 
Intel targets Japan cell phone market 
Nokia devises sturdier, faster WAP phones 
Motorola integrates VoIP with 3G 
Lucent introduces high density multi-service switch 
Lucent announces 10 gbps optical platform 
Nuance deploys 'Voice Web Portal Program' 
Envox announces eCS 4.0 
Lycos to launch free ISP 
Auto's big three join for e-commerce 
Look intros wireless high-speed internet 

The two companies said they also planned to work together on supporting the AOL Instant Messenger and future wireless extensions of  many AOL online services and Web properties.

The e-paper chase
Source: Digitalmass

Imagine that the newspaper you are now holding is digital. After reading it, you place it on the breakfast table until tomorrow morning, when it will be automatically, wirelessly updated with a fresh batch of stories.  Except it's not really paper; it's "electronic paper" embedded with "electronic ink."  That scenario is not as futuristic as it may seem. Two companies - eInk Corp. in Cambridge and Xerox Corp. in Palo Alto - are racing to deliver the next-generation publishing medium to consumers. Each has made significant steps toward that goal, although both acknowledge that a marketable product may not be available for years. 

Here's how the basic technology of both companies works: Sandwiched between sheets of clear, flexible plastic are ultra-thin transistors that direct billions of tiny black and white balls to arrange themselves in ways that would display letters or pictures. Think of hundreds of people at a Patriots game holding up black-and-white placards that spell a slogan or form a team logo. The difference between Xerox and eInk lies in the ping pong-like balls. Xerox's "ePaper" project has created balls, each measuring one-tenth of a millimeter, that are exactly half black, half white. The balls rotate, displaying either black or white depending on the electric charge being applied.  eInk's product involves similarly sized, transparent spheres containing black oil and dozens of tiny white beads that, through an electric charge, either float to create a white image, or submerge to appear dark.

Theoretically, an e-paper book can store an entire library on a computer installed in its spine.  The market potential is more than just books, however. It's electronic magazines and newspapers that can be regularly updated, price tags that can be instantly changed by remote control to reflect a sale, and, eventually, displays that will pop up on all sorts of electronic gadgets, even smart "wallpaper" that can change patterns to match a room's decor.

Looked at another way, e-paper is just another mode for displaying text, like a computer screen. But the advantages of digital paper over the liquid crystal displays, or LCDs, used in computer screens are numerous, says Jim Iuliano, chief executive of eInk.  The first is power consumption. LCDs must be fed with a continuous power source; turn off the power and the display disappears. Digital paper requires power only when it is changing its display, consuming 50 to 100 times less power than LCDs, according to Iuliano.

FCC clears space for Internet TV
Source: ZDnet

The FCC is moving TV channels 60-69 to new locations so that it can sell the air space. Don't expect immediate results, though.  Federal regulators will help television stations move out of channels 60 to 69 as soon as possible after an April auction to let wireless telephone carriers and other companies put the airwaves to other uses, Federal Communications Commission Chairman William Kennard said on Monday.  zaThe Federal Communications Commission auction of the valuable spectrum could bring bids totaling billions of dollars from wireless carriers and other companies, perhaps even major high-tech companies that want to offer high-speed Internet service over the airwaves. Microsoft Corp. (Nasdaq: MSFT), Intel Corp. (Nasdaq: INTC) and other big names actively lobbied the FCC last year as the agency determined rules for the auction.

But whichever companies win the licenses won't be able to use the airwaves in most big cities until TV stations operating in the band switch to digital broadcasting technology and move their signals to lower channels.  The transition from analog to digital could take until 2006 or later, although some companies eager to bid for the licenses have discussed paying TV stations to move earlier. The FCC already gave all the stations a second broadcast license at a lower channel to use for digital programming.

Nextel and AirTouch to carry wireless Microsoft
Source: Zdii
 
Wireless telephone customers of carriers AirTouch Cellular and Nextel Communications Inc. will be able to access Internet information from a special version of Microsoft Corp.'s online service starting in April.  Seeking to jump ahead of America Online the No. 1 online service, the Redmond, Wash., software giant said phone users would also be able to check e-mail from its free Hotmail service.  Chairman Bill Gates unveiled the new service, dubbed MSN Mobile 2.0, in a speech at the Cellular Telephone Industry Association show.

The service is part of Microsoft's effort to extend its Internet reach beyond the personal computer market where its Windows operating system dominates. The new mobile version of MSN will run not just on wireless phones and handheld computers running Microsoft operating systems, but also on the competing and popular Palm platform.

The second-generation wireless service will also include information from Microsoft's Web travel agency, Expedia.com. Starting in April, wireless phone users will be able to check flight status, itineraries and get driving directions.  Microsoft's wireless services allow subscribers to tailor what they see on their phones by visiting the Web site http://mobile.msn.com from their desktop computers to choose among various content options. The page will be co-branded with wireless carriers, Gates said.

Airtouch Cellular is part of the recently merged Vodafone Airtouch Plc (VOD.L).

Ethernet to get supercharged to 10 gigabits
Source: Comsoc

In early February, the IEEE approved the establishment of the 802.3ae 10 gigabit Ethernet task force, which is charged with developing a standard. While the standard may not be complete until 2002, products may be introduced once the technical draft of the standard is finished next year, according to Ed Hopkins, 3Com's technical marketing manager and task force board member. Because IT managers are already knowledgeable about Ethernet, they will not have to spend a great amount of time familiarizing themselves with the new technology. Ten gigabit Ethernet will offer a tenfold increase in performance at roughly four times the cost, said Tony Lee, Extreme Networks' director of product marketing and president of the 10 gigabit Ethernet group. 

The group is charged with pushing 10 gigabit Ethernet for the LAN, MAN, and WAN. The technology seems to be gaining a name for itself too quickly, but the bandwidth it will provide will be needed in the near future, according to Hopkins. Higher-speed Ethernet is gaining favor among end-users, said Bruce Tolley, consortium vice president and product manager of Lucent. Prospective end users of the technology have been present at meetings of the IEEE 802.3 study group. Some believe bandwidth needs for the LAN will grow to 10 Gbps to 160 Gbps as of 2002, Tolley said. 

New DSLAMs set to rock access world
Source: Comsoc
 
Equipment suppliers are introducing new DSL Access Multiplexers (DSLAMs) that will enable competitive carriers to provide economical voice and broadband data services to small businesses. Cisco Systems, Lucent Technologies, Nortel Networks, and PairGain Technologies are among the vendors offering next-generation DSLAMs. The emergence of next-generation DSLAMs will solidify ATM's position at the access end of the public network. Competitive carriers can enhance revenues by merging voice and data onto a copper line via ATM over DSL. While IP-based DSL equipment exists, it is widely believed that ATM will be the preferred technology for converged voice, data, video, and multimedia services in public access networks. New DSLAMs allow an ATM-based service that can run over copper lines and work with VoDSL equipment offered by Jetstream Communications and CopperCom, among others. But DSLAMs need to handle Switched Virtual Circuits (SVCs) if they are to offer dependable voice and data services, including VPNs. SVCs are critical, says Kevin Walsh, marketing vice president for Accelerated Networks. 

Much of the run-up stems from the fact that investors know 3Com, which owns the vast majority of Palm shares, is about to make a ton of money.  Shares of Palm could climb to more than $64 a share, quadruple its original planned offering price, according to financial forecasting site WhisperNumber.com. If that happens, Palm Computing will have a market value of more than $30 billion -- making it bigger than 3Com is now.  Still, despite the mass appeal of Palm devices, the company has less than a tenth the profits of 3Com.  But unlike many technology companies planning IPOs, Palm is profitable. The company earned $23 million between June and late November, the last period for which data is available. It also had revenue of $435 million.

Intel targets Japan cell phone market
Source: Teledotcom 

As it seeks ways to branch out from its core Personal Computer microprocessor business, Intel is gearing up to make a big push into cell phones by upping its stake in Japan's thriving wireless communications market.  The plan includes taking a lead role in the development of key technologies and devices to accelerate the evolution of cell phones in Japan, and making investments in local companies to generate demand for content-rich interactive services.  Next Monday, Intel K.K. (Japan) president Nobuyuki Denda is expected to present a plan on how the company will leverage the wireless communications boom sweeping Japan, where consumers can already take part in a rich entree of multimedia and Internet access capability over a variety of networks.

Intel is already a major supplier of flash memory chips for cell phones sold worldwide, and has stated its intention to extend its reach into the digital baseband. Just as it has with the PC, Intel's plans to attack the market at different angles by presenting a coherent hardware strategy while working on new technologies and helping create more demand for services accessed through handsets.

Nokia devises sturdier, faster WAP phones
Source: Newsbytes

A few days before the start of CeBIT 2000 set for Feb. 24 to March 1 in Hanover, Germany, Nokia literally tossed around one of its recent mobile phone just to show the Asian press that it can withstand impact of a 50 feet free fall, and a "short" dip in a portable pool.  The company also showed how its latest business phone can support high speed, wireless access, and connectivity of up to 43.2 kilobits per second or three 14.4 Kbps connectivity combined.  First, Nokia's latest rugged-design phone, the 6250, has been shown to withstand shocks, shakes, and even falls since it has been built with internal cushions that protect the phone's internal components."  The 6250 is dustproof and comes with a water resistant membrane over its microphone, speaker, and buzzer. The display window and "keymat" are "welded" to prevent water from seeping in. Like Nokia 3210, the 6250 also sports an internal antenna.  It can withstand a substantial drop test," claimed Kimmo Virtanen of Nokia, who demonstrated that the phones can, indeed, withstand such harsh treatment during its launching in Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Center on Feb. 24, 2000.

Interestingly, this phone is ready for Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) services.  It supports WAP version 1.1, according to John Ogier, country manager of Nokia Mobile Phones Philippines.  Meanwhile, the phone designed for on-the-move executives, the 6210, supports what Nokia calls "high speed circuit switched data" (HSCSD) technology.  HSCSD is different from packet switching technology now used by the Internet, according to Mike Smith of Nokia Mobile Phones Philippines.

Motorola reports that it demonstrated last week VoIP calls on top of a third generation (3G) high-speed packet data call at 384Kbps.  The 3G system based on Aspira architecture demonstrates 3G cellular services using the cdma2000 radio transmission technology. It is focused on high speed data and simultaneous voice and data applications.

Motorola also announced that along with Portal Software it is demonstrating a real-time IP-based billing solution which represents an extention of the present agreement between Motorola and Portal.  Portal's customer management and billing solution, Infranet, is being integrated with Motorola's Aspira architecture, an IP-based communications solution for convergent communications.  The agreement will also cover integration with Motorola's CDMA products.  The Aspira architecture is a convergent network communications solution that merges Internet, voice, data and multimedia wirelessly for local, regional and global telecom operators and service providers. It offers end-to-end integrated solutions, including a portfolio of  IP-based applications.  By leveraging the wireless Internet with Aspira network architecture, telecom operators will be able to create significant new markets with value-added services, transaction processing, mobile applications software and new content.

Lucent today announced a new multiservice access switch with a high port density accommodating a maximum of 2,688 ports per shelf. The system (APX 800) is designed to support a future three-fold increase in capacity to 8,000 ports per shelf.  The new APX 8000 Multiservice Access Switch is targeted at ISPs, ITSPs, and carriers alike. The product makes it easy for service providers to resell or lease ports to other providers - a practice known as port wholesaling.  APX 8000 can handle over 2,400 simultaneous calls. It runs the same code as the earlier MAX TNTs (Ascend product).

Features include support for redundancy and hot-swappable cards; support for any combination of access services (voice or data) for residential or business subscribers; support for applications such as unified messaging; VPN tunnel aggregation; Internet Call Diversion etc. APX 8000 pricing ranges from $200 to $400 per port depending on configuration.

Lucent announces 10 gbps optical platform
Source: Convergedigest

Lucent Technologies has begun shipping its new WaveStar DataExpress 10G optical networking portfolio to its first customers.  The OC-192/STM-64 optical platform is optimized for IP traffic and for interworking with Lucent’s 80-channel capable WaveStar OLS 400G DWDM system, its WaveStar BandWidth Manager, NX 64000 Terabit Router and GX-550 ATM switch.  

Lucent will offer a metropolitan area version (the WaveStar DataExpress 10G) of the OC-192 system, as well as a two-fiber SONET configuration, a four-fiber SONET version, and a two-fiber SDH version.  The company claims a 40% reduction in both space requirements and power consumption for its 10 Gbps platform.  Metromedia Fiber Network will be the first to test the WaveStar DataExpress 10G.  Carrier customers committed to deploying the WaveStar 10G system include BT’s Global Transport Network (GTN), Beijing Telecommunications Administration (BTA), Tele1 (Scandinavia) and UPC. 

Nuance deploys 'Voice Web Portal Program'
Source: Commweb

Nuance announced its Voice Web Portal Program for the development of the voice and mobile portal marketplace and the emergence of the Voice Web. The program addresses voice-driven Internet content, commerce, and services for delivery over the telephone. Charter program members include BeVocal, Curious Networks, General Magic, GoSolo, NetByTel, Parigon (formerly Authentix), Star*Free, U-Access, Ucallnet, VocalPoint, Webley and Xtime.

The convergence of the Internet and the telephone is forming a network -- a Voice Web -- where Internet content and commerce can be accessed from any phone, anywhere, using spoken commands. Similar to Web portals like Excite and others, voice portals aggregate and offer a variety of content via the telephone. A number of voice portals, content providers, network carriers and e-businesses are forming the foundation for the Voice Web.

The Voice Web Portal Program will assist voice and mobile portal companies in building and deploying voice portal applications, and to establish the standards upon which it hopes the Voice Web will be built. Members of the program will be able to designate their applications and services as "Voice Web Ready," indicating compatibility with emerging Voice Web standards such as VoiceXML and SpeechObjects.

Envox announces eCS 4.0
Source: Commweb

Envox announced that eCS 4.0 will start shipping Q3 2000. eCS is communications server software that builds a range of communications applications on one Windows NT or Win2000 platform and integrates voice, web, messaging and database technologies.  Developers can build a customer contact centre featuring web automation and PC-based telephony switching and call routing and control these functions through an administration interface. They can also take information residing on a Web server and make it available to cellular, fax and phone users without modifying the application. eCS 4.0 builds communications solutions within an off-the-shelf product without having to carry out custom system integration work.

Envox’s eCS Studio integrates Windows NT communications resources and ‘New Media’ technologies such as Web, email, speech recognition and text-to-speech into a single solution.  eCS server communicates with external devices or information sources through multiple media: internally via an Intranet, externally across the Internet, or through the telephone network via digital or analog connections or via ATM.  The Virtual Machine function can administer and configure eCS nodes across a LAN or WAN using the TCP/IP API or by using SNMP.  Envox’s standard administration interface, the eCS Administrator can be viewed through the Microsoft MMC.  In Windows 2000, the MMC is the standard console for configuring the SQL Server as well as the Microsoft Web server.

eCS Studio is free. The eCS runtime environment is charged per process used. The runtime software runs in evaluation mode during development and testing requiring no upfront investment before time of deployment. eCS 4.0 will start shipping Q3 2000.

Lycos to launch free ISP
Source: Cnet

Lycos is expected to launch a free Internet access service on Feb. 29th, joining a market already populated by several of its main Web portal rivals.  The Waltham, Mass., company is tapping CMGI-owned 1stUp.com to run the service, alongside AltaVista and Excite@Home on the upstart's client list, according to people familiar with the company's plans.  Lycos' move is in part a simple means of keeping up with the Yahoos, as several of its closest competitors have already attracted hundreds of thousands of users to their free Net access services. But the deal also underlines these services' new role as a critical piece of portals' business models, much as free email has now become commonplace on virtually every Web site with mass-market ambitions.

Of the major Web-only portals, only Disney's Go Network is now left without some kind of access component. Yahoo joined with K-mart to create the Bluelight free ISP service last year.  The Web sites are hoping they can forge the kind of tight relationship between ISPs and their customers that has led America Online to considerable success. AOL has consistently declined to offer its own free service in face of this new competition, however, or even drop its $21.95 a month service costs.

Auto's big three join for e-commerce
Source: Angustel 

General Motors, Ford, and DaimlerChrysler are creating a joint e-commerce exchange for transactions with their suppliers. The automakers aim to finalize the agreement for their new joint venture in March.

Look intros wireless high-speed internet
Source: Angustel 

Look Communications has begun offering 100 hours of wireless 1.54 Mbps Internet access for $34.95 per month, or $29.95 per month for Look's TV subscribers. Ultrafast Internet Service is now available across Look's coverage area in southern Ontario. It will be introduced in Montreal in the spring.