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To: Darren DeNunzio who wrote (4388)	6/30/1999 7:20:00 AM
From: Darren DeNunzio	Respond to of 12823

Next Generation Switching Platforms MCI WorldCom to Trial Next Generation Switching Platforms From Lucent Technologies MURRAY HILL, N.J., June 30 /PRNewswire/ -- MCI WorldCom will trial systems from Lucent Technologies (NYSE: LU - news) designed to enhance the broadband switching technology throughout MCI WorldCom's global network. The trial, set to begin in the third quarter of 1999, is part of MCI WorldCom's continuing initiative to evolve their existing narrowband network into a next-generation broadband network using a multi-service switching platform. Lucent's broadband solution will enable MCI WorldCom to deliver advanced telephony and data services over local, tandem and long-distance networks. The planned trial will include Lucent's recently announced 7 R/E(TM) portfolio along with core Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) switches from recently acquired Ascend Communications. ''Our vision is to build the most flexible, worldwide network using the most advanced ATM and IP technology available,'' said Fred Briggs, chief technology officer, MCI WorldCom. ''Lucent's solutions will help us quickly bring the best in broadband technology to the marketplace.'' The Lucent broadband solution selected for the initial trial will enable carriers like MCI WorldCom to realize the advantages of putting their traditional local, tandem and toll traffic on a broadband ATM infrastructure. This technology platform can be used to evolve efficiently to a network optimized for IP (Internet Protocol). ''Lucent is pleased to continue our work with MCI WorldCom and to help them expand and evolve next-generation networks around the world,'' said Dan Stanzione, executive vice president of Lucent Technologies and president of Lucent's Broadband Networks Group. ''With the comprehensive broadband solutions offered by Lucent -- including the latest packet-based technology developed at Bell Labs -- MCI WorldCom will be able to offer the services their customers need over the most cost-effective, easy-to-operate networks.'' The third quarter trial includes Lucent's new 7R/E Call Feature Server, 7R/E Multimedia Resource Server and 7R/E Packet Gateway products. The 7R/E Call Feature Server unlocks the more than 3,000 features that are available today over circuit switches, such as three-way calling, call waiting and Caller ID, and delivers them over packet networks. Using the 7 R/E Call Feature Server, calls are processed in packet format with the unmatched reliability and voice quality of Lucent's 5ESS® Switch, the foundation of today's public network. The trial also includes the GX 550(TM) ''Smart'' Core ATM switches, GX 250(TM) Multiservice Extender and CBX 500(TM) Multiservice switches developed by the former Ascend Communications. These carrier-class core switching platforms deliver multiple revenue-generating services from a single network infrastructure.

To: Darren DeNunzio who wrote (4388)	6/30/1999 7:20:00 AM
From: Darren DeNunzio	Respond to of 12823

AOL Fills A Gap With Hughes Satellite Deal By Nicole Volpe NEW YORK (Reuters) - America Online Inc. (NYSE:AOL - news) Monday said it would make a $1.5 billion investment in DirecTV owner Hughes Electronics Corp., , giving AOL a means to offer high-speed Internet services via satellite as it battles for access to high-speed cable lines. As a result, Hughes, the publicly traded satellite communications unit of General Motors Corp. (NYSE:GM - news), said it would not proceed with a previously planned secondary offering of $500 million of its stock and canceled a further $500 million equity investment in Hughes by the automaker. The deal with Hughes, which offers digital TV and Internet access, represents the largest cash investment ever made by AOL, the leading provider of online services, officials said. Separately, Hughes warned it would report a wider-than-expected loss in the current second quarter because of satellite manufacturing problems. Despite the warning, Hughes gained $3.19 at $56.63, while GM added 88 cents to trade at $63.75. AOL's stock, the New York Stock Exchange's most active issue, closed up $1.94 at $115.38. AOL Chief Executive Steve Case said the new partnership would allow the company to offer high-speed Internet access to the one-third of U.S. households, mostly in rural areas, that will not be wired for high-speed cable or phone lines by the year 2003. ''What this alliance does is give us a national footprint for high-speed Internet access,'' Case said in a telephone interview. ''Even if we had deals with all of the cable providers and telephone companies -- and we don't -- we would not have this national reach,'' he said. AOL and other Internet service providers have complained to regulators that cable companies are locking them out of the market for high-speed Internet access to cable TV customers by bundling online access and other services into a single price. Many analysts forecast that most U.S. consumers will use cable television links to receive fast Internet connections, versus high-speed phone lines and to a lesser degree, satellites. AT&T Corp. (NYSE:T - news), the emerging powerhouse of the U.S. cable industry, requires customers who want high-speed Internet access to purchase the services of AtHome Corp., a cable-owned provider controlled by AT&T, for a single price. ''It is clear that by going to satellites, AOL is trying to cover its distribution bases,'' said Gary Arlen, president of Arlen Communications. ''It certainly makes it a race between satellites, phone wire and cable access.'' Arlen estimated that some 2 million to 5 million AOL subscribers could be satellite customers by 2003. AOL counts 17 million subscribers to its flagship AOL service and another 2 million to CompuServe, and millions more to Web-based services. Hughes Electronics Chief Executive Mike Smith said in a conference call with reporters that the so-called ''AOL-Plus'' high-speed service would be offered as part of Hughes' DirecPC service, which currently counts 100,000 customers. ''We have not promoted DirecPC due to financial constraints,'' said Smith, adding that the AOL brand name and investment will help immensely. ''This is a way for DirecTV to catch up with cable,'' said Armand Musey, a satellite communications analyst at Banc of America Securities in New York. ''It's a race for the middle ground, as satellite TV is trying to upgrade and cable trying to roll out as fast as possible,'' he said. The AOL-Hughes alliance builds on an earlier deal, announced in May, under which the companies will develop a ''combination'' set-top receiver to make DirecTV/AOL TV available to consumers next year. El Segundo, Calif.-based Hughes also warned that it expected to post a loss of between 20 cents and 25 cents for the current second quarter, compared with a loss of 4 cents Wall Street had previously estimated. Hughes' second-quarter results will include an after-tax charge of $65-$85 million to cover increased development costs and schedule delays related to several new product lines. Hughes also struck a deal with Intel Corp. (Nasdaq:INTC - news) to supply computer chips for set-top boxes that convert Hughes satellite signals, continuing a push by Intel, the world's top computer chip maker, into new areas beyond the personal computer market. Terms were not disclosed.

To: Darren DeNunzio who wrote (4388)	6/30/1999 7:24:00 AM
From: Darren DeNunzio	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 12823

Paul Allen Into Wireless Stocks IBC Follows Microsoft Co-Founder Paul Allen Into Wireless Stocks IRVINE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 28, 1999--IBC is now focusing on undiscovered wireless/convergence stocks and will soon be featuring Internet Media (OTC BB:USRF - news) and Telecom Wireless (OTC BB: NOYR - news) at its Web site, ibchannel.com. Why wireless/convergence? With the media convergence and communications revolution well underway, traditional market leaders are looking to broaden their service base by acquiring or investing in smaller, more agile companies. usrf.com -- According to an article by Tyya Turner at CMP Media (http://www.teledotcom.com/directlink.cgi?TLC19990607S0029): ''IMC recently announced the launch of its Quick-Cell Wireless Internet System, which the company says can be deployed in a week or less. IMC manages the equipment, which uses the 900- or 2,400-MHz bands, and charges the ISP a monthly licensing fee. ISPs can offer Quick-Cell wireless access for 40 to 50 percent less than the typical cost of a T1, says James Kaufman, IMC's vice president of corporate development.'' With the acquisition of CyberHighway, not only did Internet Media acquire approximately 27,000 dial-up Internet access subscribers and a state-of-the-art Network Operations Center, the company also gained immediate access to customers in more than 230 markets in which a CyberHighway-owned or affiliate-ISP provides Internet services. The company intends to establish a Wireless Internet access system in nearly 50 of these CyberHighway markets by the end of the third quarter of 1999. The company continues to pursue aggressively the acquisition of independent ISPs and licensing of independent ISPs who would exploit the company's US.RF Wireless Internet access products. IMC recently announced the launch of its Quick-Cell Wireless Internet System, which the company says can be deployed in a week or less. noyr.com -- Telecom Wireless is a Next Generation Communication company led by Dr. Jim Roberts that capitalizes on convergence of video, voice and data in order to bring broadband connectivity, content and e-commerce over a wireless platform through the Internet. Roberts has more than 25 years experience in the industry, having served in senior management positions at MCI (Nasdaq:WCOM - news) and McCaw Communications, now AT&T (NYSE:T - news) and Motorola (NYSE:MOT - news), which owns an 18% stake in Iridium (Nasdaq:IRID - news), which runs the first global mobile wireless communications system satellite-telephone network. Iridium's low earth orbit satellite constellation system enables its customers to send and receive telephone calls virtually anywhere in the world. Through strategic acquisitions and technology enhancements Roberts is positioning Telecom Wireless to convert its network into a digital platform and challenge ISPs and carriers such as MindSpring (Nasdaq:MSPG - news), Onemain (Nasdaq:ONEM - news), Concentric (Nasdaq:CNCX - news), AOL (NYSE:AOL - news), @Home (Nasdaq:ATHM - news), Qwest (Nasdaq:QWST - news), US West (NYSE:USW - news), Global Crossings (GLBX) and Frontier (NYSE:FRO - news), who are also racing to deliver the next generation in data delivery. metricom.com -- Metricom (Nasdaq:MCOM - news) announced on Monday that MCI WorldCom (Nasdaq:WCOM - news) and Vulcan Ventures, have together invested $600 million in the company through the purchase of 60 million new convertible preferred shares of Metricom stock at $10 per share. MCOM designs, develops and markets wireless network products & services that provide low-cost, easy-to-use data communications that can be used in personal computer and industrial applications. Who is behind Vulcan Ventures? Paul Allen, now worth more than $30 billion, the third wealthiest man in the world behind Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates and Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE:BRK.A - news) Chairman Warren Buffett. Most of that comes from his still hefty $22 billion stake in Microsoft, which Allen co-founded and where he now serves as a board member. What makes Allen particularly interesting, though, is what he's done and continues to do with the rest of his resources by way of his Vulcan Ventures investment vehicle.

To: Darren DeNunzio who wrote (4388)	6/30/1999 7:31:00 AM
From: Darren DeNunzio	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 12823

L-Band Distribution New Fiber for Satellite Transmission This is a portion of company press release. The full article can be found at blondertongue.com This year the association has set up a special Multiple Dwelling Unit (MDU) pavilion where Blonder Tongue will introduce TWIN STAR. This high performance L-band fiber distribution product group includes both Fiber Optic Transmitters and Receivers that are specifically designed for distribution of satellite signals via fiber optic cable. The FILR Series are L-band Fiber Optic Receivers and the FILT Series are L-band Fiber Optic Transmitters. These products are designed for use in the 950 to 2050 MHz frequency range with single, eight, and sixteen link optical outputs available. The FOMC Series of Fiber Optic Management Chassis hardware includes two different product solutions to meet operator requirements. The two products are configured to support 36 and 72 optical ports respectively. This support includes optical coupling, bulkhead connectors/terminators, as well as transmitter and receiver interfaces. The products are housed in a rugged steel chassis that fits into a standard 19'' rack mount unit. FOMC chassis are designed to accept all LGX style coupler modules, bulkhead connector panels and termination panels. Common four and six connector panels are available in FC, SC and ST connector types with other combinations available by special order. The QQQT, a Commercial Quad QPSK/QAM Transcoder, mechanical sample will be on display at the SBCA convention. The QQQT is designed to transcode the 30 MHz wide QPSK modulated satellite signals to a six MHz wide QAM modulated IF signal. This saves precious bandwidth and with QAM, an entire 32 transponder satellite service can be delivered in just 192 MHz of system bandwidth, as opposed to the 1000 MHz required for QPSK. The QQQT, when used with set-top decoders, is both a bandwidth efficient and cost-effective way to distribute superior quality digital programming to multiple subscribers. It is an ideal application in satellite-based MDU systems where existing system passives and cabling will not permit the carriage of two GHz satellite signals without a rebuild.