Syntonics LLC announced debut of MXO3000 space oscillator products. MXO3000 includes single, double and triple-redundant Master Oscillator units optimized to be master frequency reference in spacecraft communications payloads.
Equant will provide service level agreements (SLAs) to assure toll quality for Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) calls that customers place on Equant’s virtual private network (VPN) service. Equant’s SLA for VoIP quality includes 4 metrics: (1) Call completion rate -- percentage of calls completed by network. (2) Post-dial delay -- time from when last digit is dialed until user hears progress tone. (3 Fax performance -- speed at which faxes are carried. (4) Voice mean opinion score -- rating scale to measure voice quality. Equant developed Telephone Quality Analyzer (TQA) system to evaluate quality of voice call by measuring packet loss, latency, noise level. Metrics are translated into mean opinion score and reported to customer on per-call basis. Access to SLA reports will be through Equant’s online reporting services.
EnReach Technology unveiled agreement with Broadcom Corp. to integrate former’s digital TV software for interactive services with Broadcom’s digital cable set-top box reference platform. EnReach said deal would enable Broadcom’s platform to support such services as Web browsing, e-mail, personal video recording, enhanced TV. Companies planned to demonstrate their integrated system at China Cable Bcstg. Network show in Beijing, that starts today (Thurs.).
Boeing and Sea Launch signed mutual launch backup contract to provide customers of both services additional launch protection.
Citing need for growth and “to seize opportunities,” Boeing Chmn.-CEO Phil Condit announced Wed. that company would move hq from Seattle to one of 3 cities -- Chicago, Dallas/Ft. Worth or Denver. In news conference in Washington, he said move wasn’t related to energy crisis that forced new round of rolling blackouts in Cal. or to earthquake in Seattle. Company made decision “before the earthquake hit,” Condit said. Boeing also promoted leaders of 3 operating units to pres.-CEOs, all but making each unit independent of company with its own hq separate from company. “As we've grown, we have determined that our headquarters needs to be in a location central to all our operating units, customers and the financial community, but separate from our existing operations,” Condit said. “Our newly promoted business unit leaders will have greater freedom to serve their customers,” he said, but “I still expect a lot of synergy between the business units.”
Betsy Bernard, ex-Qwest Communications International, becomes pres.-CEO, AT&T Consumer… Peter Ashkin, ex-Gateway, appointed pres.-product strategy, AOL… John Stratton advanced to vp-chief mktg. officer, Verizon Wireless… Andrew Payne, Revenio, elected to board, Mass. Software & Internet Council… Richard Roth, ex- Level 3 Communications, appointed vp-mktg. and corporate communications, 360networks… Hugo Goldman, ex-Algorithmic Research, named CFO, VocalTec Communications… Jo Robinson promoted to interactive mgr.-Indianapolis FM stations WENS, WNOU and WYXB, Emmis Communications… Promotions at Nassau Bcstg.: Joan Gerberding to pres., Nassau Media Partners; Gregg Stiansen to senior vp, Nassau Radio Network Direct; Glen Jones to senior vp, NRN Katz… Douglas DePriest advanced to vp-production and development, Travel Channel… John Beyler, ex-HBO, joins Starz Encore as vp-technology.
Bell company structural separation may come to head in Pa. today (March 22) even as it emerges as issue in Fla. Pa. PUC is scheduled to decide on plan to implement structural separation of Verizon wholesale and retail operations that it ordered in Sept. 1999. Meanwhile, AT&T formally asked Fla. PSC Wed. to require full structural separation of BellSouth. In Pa., today’s order will open latest round of fight between PUC and Verizon. In attempt to promote development of effective local competition, PUC is expected to issue plan for complete wholesale-retail split, and not just for data business as Verizon had proposed. Verizon has asked Pa. Supreme Court for expedited hearing of its appeal of PUC separation order that contends agency’s action is unnecessary regulatory step because local competition already is thriving and is illegal overreaching of PUC’s authority under both state law and federal Telecom Act. On eve of PUC decision, ALTS urged PUC to “do the right thing for competition” and split Verizon apart, producing wholesale unit with incentives to treat all retail telecom providers equally. In Fla., AT&T told PSC separation was essential to fulfill Telecom Act’s promise of local competition. AT&T said BellSouth still controlled 93% of access lines in its territory and had kept up barriers to local entry that had helped force many of its rivals to brink of collapse. Besides setting up separate retail and wholesale business units, AT&T asked PSC to impose strict code of conduct to govern relations between BellSouth’s retail and wholesale arms. AT&T called structural separation “the only route to bringing about robust local competition and true choice” for Fla. consumers. BellSouth said separation was “unnecessary and wasteful.” It said competition is thriving, with 160 CLECs in state that collectively have taken 20% of BellSouth’s business customers. Telco said AT&T was abusing regulatory process to delay BellSouth’s long distance entry and hobble telco once it received long distance authority.
LAS VEGAS - Govt. should consider rebates or other restructuring of spectrum auction fees in order to create available capital to continue buildout of wireless networks, Motorola CEO Chris Galvin said in keynote session at CTIA convention here Wed. Galvin said rebates could be as large as 50% of auction fees paid by wireless carriers, and govt. also should restructure way future spectrum was allocated: “As any new technology is created, the rules and regulations need to be modified.”
DirecTV, Hughes Network Systems, Pegasus Communications and Thomson Consumer Electronics will demonstrate satellite technology and services at SkyForum symposium April 5, organizers announced Wed. Event will be at Marriott Marquis in N.Y., Satellite Bcstg. & Communications Assn. and SkyTrends said.
Mich. PSC may decide by end of April on relief for depleted Grand Rapids 616 area code. PSC at code-relief hearing Mon. heard representatives of Ameritech and other telecom providers support use of all-service overlay and 10-digit local dialing as longest lasting solution for relieving code, projected to run out of numbers in spring 2002. But state lawmakers and business interests told PSC that while overlay might be easiest on industry, it would be hard on consumers who would suffer long-term inconvenience and confusion that could be avoided if PSC opted for geographic split. PSC said its last hearing before decision would be April 24 in Kalamazoo.