Gilder mentioned a start up called Xros which has "a world beating 1000 port all-optical switch." I don't know if this is competition to be worried about but I've gathered some information about it for anyone who would like to do some reading rather than stare at the ticker all day.
This page has a link to a restricted presentation dated 2/14/00. Someone with the right credentials might be able to get access.
roederj.com
For Immediate Release
OPTICAL NETWORKING START-UP, XROS, RAISES $20 MILLION
Unique Micro-Mirror Technology will change the Architecture of Optical Networks
SUNNYVALE, CA - NOVEMBER 29 , 1999 - Xros (pronounced CAI-ROS) announced today that it has received $20 million in venture capital funding from Menlo Ventures, New Enterprise Associates (NEA), and Greylock. The company is developing optical networking systems using a revolutionary micro-mirror technology. This brings the total 1999 investment in Xros to $25 million.
"The whole architecture of optical networking - which is a key to the future of data and telecommunications networks -- is in the process of changing," said Robert Coneybeer, NEA partner who led the investment round. "Xros' unique technology will offer breakthroughs that no other player has introduced."
Xros was founded in 1996 to commercialize its revolutionary micro-mirror technology. The company expects to disclose details of this technology early next year, with optical network systems product availability later in the year.
In September, Rajiv Ramaswami, one of the leading figures in the optical networking industry, joined Xros as vice president, systems architecture. Ramaswami is the co-author of "Optical Networks" (Morgan Kaufman, 1998). He is also the co-chairman of the Optical Fiber Conference taking place in March 2000. Also this fall, Steve Tabaska, veteran of MCI, WilTel, Digital Link and other network service companies, joined Xros as vice president, engineering.
"Our goal is to use Xros' unique technology foundation in order to build next generation optical systems which meet the rapidly evolving needs of the telecommunications industry," said Greg Reznick, Xros' president and CEO. "We are very pleased with the positive response from the financial community, the community of networking professionals asking to join Xros, and the customers themselves." Further details will be disclosed later.
Xros, located in Sunnyvale, CA is privately held. Its web address is www.Xros.com.
Editors note: The initial character of the name "Xros" (pronounced CAI-ros) is comprised of the Greek letter "X" (often written "chi" and pronounced "cai" as in Cairo.)
Additional background information is available for download from the Roeder-Johnson Web site.
xros.com
XROS' RAMASWAMI CALLS FOR OPEN OPTICAL NETWORKS
Rare Opportunity to "Future Proof" the Optical Network as Carriers and Suppliers Gather to Kick Off a Major New Standards Initiative
CAMBRIDGE, MA - JANUARY 18, 2000 - Speaking today before a large group of key executives from telecommunications carriers and network equipment suppliers, well-known optical networking figure Rajiv Ramaswami called for "open" optical networks - a broad concept which provides for end-to-end control and management of multi-vendor, heterogeneous optical networks. Ramaswami, co-author of the reference work Optical Networks: A Practical Perspective (Morgan Kaufman, 1998) and vice president of systems architecture at Xros, Inc, addressed his remarks to the first meeting of the Optical Domain Service Interconnect (ODSI) technology interest group. The group was convened to develop a suite of standards in order to realize the full benefits of networks with an all-optical core.
"We have a unique opportunity to expand our thinking to include all major network elements, both electrical and all-optical," explained Ramaswami. "Against a backdrop of exploding technology, the widely-differing legacy needs of network providers are virtually guaranteeing that our networks will be heterogeneous - composed of technologies and equipment from many different vendors. It's not capacity that is giving the carriers fits; it is end-to-end control and management. As we begin this important work, it is vital that we create a standard which is future-proof, and encompasses both electrical as well as all-optical network elements."
According to Ramaswami, an open optical network is one in which network operators enjoy a "plug-and-play" ability to provision, manage and control their networks end-to-end - regardless of whose equipment is installed at any particular point or the nature of the data being transmitted. This is a recent requirement for telecommunications providers, especially the classical carriers, whose one-time homogeneous networks were built in an era of regulation and controlled competition. But today - with the Internet-driven telecommunications revolution, the near-overnight transition to a worldwide network with a high-capacity fiber-optic "core", and an explosion of alternative technology solutions for network components - providers desperately need a robust set of interface, management and control standards that will easily accommodate future protocols and future services in an era of stiff competition.
"The time is ripe to develop a suite of standards that encompass network elements of all kinds," said Robert Tkach, Division Manager of AT&T Labs. "Broad-based, open standards like those called for by Rajiv will allow telecommunication carriers and their customers to reap the full benefits of an optical network, such as faster provisioning of services, enhanced flexibility in the network and lower network costs."
The ODSI coalition consists of representatives from over fifty network equipment companies and service providers with the common interest of promoting open interfaces and signaling protocols in a network having an evolving and dynamic optical core. Other industry groups interested in promoting complementary goals include the Optical Internetworking Forum (OIF) and the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF). Ramaswami is expected to issue a similar challenge at a planned OIF meeting later this month.
Optical network startup Xros (pronounced KAI-ros) is developing next-generation optical networking equipment based upon the company's revolutionary micro-mirror technology. Dr. Ramaswami recently joined Xros as vice president of systems architecture. He also is co-chairman of the Optical Fiber Conference taking place in March 2000.
Xros, located in Sunnyvale, CA, has raised $25 million from Menlo Ventures, New Enterprise Associates, and Greylock. Xros expects to introduce its first products this spring. Its web address is www.Xros.com.
xros.com
List of Ramaswami's papers:
informatik.uni-trier.de |
