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Technology Stocks : Voice-on-the-net (VON), VoIP, Internet (IP) Telephony -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Stephen B. Temple who wrote (2527)	3/4/1999 10:18:00 AM
From: Frank A. Coluccio	Read Replies (3) \| Respond to of 3178

Stephen, it appears that FTEL has picked up a rather respectable customer. From the size of the order, it sounds like a starter [or eval] package to me. Could be a special trading floor niche, possibly something on the order of a long distance private line ring down assembly, or part of the fabric built into a hoot'n holler net. We'll see. I'm just guessing that it is VoIP equipment tho. The PR is not clear on this at all. Maybe it's channel bank or something else? If it is VoIP, I can think of a number of possibilities as to how Reuters might use it. We've talked about this niche rather extensively in the past, upstream here in the thread. One of the potential barriers of entry to smaller securities trading operations when setting up shop (both here and overseas) is the cost of comms. Cheap private line services to the major trading houses could mean all the difference in the world to some of these folks. Regards, Frank Coluccio ------- Courtesy of J. King on the FTEL Board: Franklin Telecom Books Six Figure Sale for Reuters Reuters America to Use Franklin Hardware In Servicing Retail Equity Markets ESTLAKE VILLAGE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 4, 1999-- Franklin Telecom Thursday announced that it has accepted an order for $367,000 for equipment which will be used in Reuters America's (RTRSY) systems servicing retail equity markets.

To: Stephen B. Temple who wrote (2527)	3/5/1999 8:02:00 AM
From: Stephen B. Temple	Respond to of 3178

Cable Broadband Forum Notes More Than 500,000 Subscriber Base as 1999 Kicks Off as the Year of Broadband March 5, 1999 ENGLEWOOD, Colo.--(BUSINESS WIRE) Cable Broadband Industry Consortium Highlights Significant Subscriber Base Increases, Expanded Cable Modem Deployment And Raised Customer Satisfaction The Cable Broadband Forum (CBF) launched the year with a series of successes indicating that 1999 will be a pivotal year for the cable broadband industry. With the backing and membership of dozens of broadband industry leaders from the cable, consumer electronics and high technology arenas, the CBF delivers news and statistics highlighting the remarkable progress and benefits of high-speed information services via the Internet. Highlighting nearly 600,000 subscribers countrywide, the cable broadband industry is enjoying an early lead in high-speed Internet access, while independent research companies predict cable modem technology will lead high-speed Internet services into the next century. At the close of the 1998 fiscal year, several CBF member companies announced significant increases in subscribers and cable modem deployment -- with several tripling respective subscriber based from previous year totals. The continuation of rapid deployment, increased network upgrades, retail sales of cable modems and future bundling of cable modems in next generation PCs is expected to sustain this industry's success. "Cable covers 70 percent of all consumer households and cable operators are deploying high-speed cable modem services much faster than any other high-speed service provider," said Tom Cullen, CBF board member and MediaOne's vice president of Internet Services. "The cable broadband network was designed to become the Internet's 'autobahn' by providing fast, cost-effective, widely available and easy to use access. Supplemented by the efforts of CBF member companies like Cisco, Intel and others, forecasts indicating a mass explosion of demand for cable modem services are rapidly coming true. In addition, AT&T's recent acquisition of TCI has created a heightened level of consumer awareness of the tremendous value of broadband services." The CBF is a non-profit industry consortium which acts as the voice and muscle behind the education, awareness and promotion of cable broadband deployment. Established in early 1998, the CBF was founded to articulate the power of a network capable of delivering information and entertainment to consumers up to 100 times faster than standard phone lines. Using cable lines rather than phone lines and corresponding cable modems, broadband technology blasts information via the Internet to the desktop without the necessity of dial up and the availability of an "always on" connection with no per minute charges. With data transmission rates of up to 10 Mbps (megabits per second), cable broadband is faster than any other competitive technology to the home. Finalized early this year, a recent study commissioned by the CBF through Greenfield Online, proved that cable modem users were very satisfied with time to connect, an "always on" connection with no per-minute charge, cable modem reliability and ease of use. The study was conducted to uncover findings relative to how users felt about cable modem Internet service as compared to previously used dial-up services. Overall, the study found that 35 percent more cable modem users were extremely satisfied with their cable modem-based Internet service than were dial-up customers with dial-up Internet service. In addition, findings in the study show that of the cable modem users surveyed, more than 75 percent perceived benefits in time to connect, reliability of connections and ease of use. Speed is obviously a tremendous advantage to cable modem users, but the study also indicates that other factors are equally as important. Cable modem customers were found to access the Internet more frequently than dial-up customers -- and were also more likely to download multimedia-rich content, do online banking, check the news and stock market and conduct research on the Web. This information supports the fact that cable modem users access the Internet more frequently, but in shorter durations so that the time actually spent online is much less. Both the speed and " always connected" features of cable modem technology prove that the use of cable modems redefines the online experience and changes the way the Internet is used. CABLE MODEM STANDARDS ARE NEARING COMPLETION To further enhance and accelerate the category's development, all major cable operators have agreed to standards for modem manufacturing. The Data Over Cable Service Interface Specification (DOCSIS) certification will ensure interoperability between certified cable modems and the various high-speed, cable-based Internet services. DOCSIS defines interface requirements for cable modems involved in high-speed data distribution over a cable television network certification and will soon be viewed as a "stamp of approval" for the retail purchase of cable modems. This effort, expected to hear completion late in Q1 1999, will assist in the distribution of cable modems to both consumer electronic and computer retail outlets. For cable modem users wishing to no longer lease cable modems through their cable service operator, the choice of ownership will soon be in their hands. ABOUT THE CABLE BROADBAND FORUM (CBF) The Cable Broadband Forum (CBF) is a non-profit industry consortium which acts as the voice of the broadband marketplace. The Consortium was established to articulate the power of a network capable of delivering information and entertainment to consumers up to 100 times faster than standard phone lines. The CBF boasts a membership of dozens of industry leaders from the cable, consumer electronics and high technology arenas. Membership is available to any company with a mission to foster increased adoption of cable-based high-speed broadband information access to the home or office. Learn more about cable broadband technology by visiting the Cable Broadband Forum's Web site at cablebroadbandforum.com.

To: Stephen B. Temple who wrote (2527)	3/5/1999 8:05:00 AM
From: Stephen B. Temple	Respond to of 3178

Nortel Networks To Provide Integrated Voice/Data Communication To Telecommuters Via Internet Protocol March 5, 1999 DALLAS, March 4 /PRNewswire/Nortel Networks (NYSE: NT/TSE: NTL) today announced a cost-effective way of bringing the full range of data and real-time voice services to remote users that allows a multimedia PC to provide a complete remote-office solution using a single analog line. Meridian IP Telecommuter will deliver integrated voice and data communication via Internet Protocol (IP) - another step toward Nortel Networks' vision of Unified Networks. Meridian IP Telecommuter is a Windows 95/98-based software package loaded onto a multimedia PC or laptop. Users can call using Nortel Networks' Meridian 9617 Universal Serial Bus (USB) phone. The USB phone connects directly to the USB port on the PC and gives users a more familiar device for making calls while providing the efficiency of the IP Telecommuter package. Optionally, users can make calls with IP Telecommuter's softphone, which emulates common features of Meridian digital telephones. The computer is used for data service and as the real-time voice communication terminal. Traffic flows to and from users from an IP Line Card residing inside the Nortel Networks' Meridian 1 communication system at the company's main facility. ''Meridian IP Telecommuter takes the concept of the mobile office to the next step,'' said Jason Conyard, director of worldwide communications for Symantec, the world leader in utility software for business and personal computing. ''We envision Meridian IP Telecommuter as a significant productivity enhancer. Two big bonuses are that it is easy to set up and provides this extra capability without extra hardware. It will help reduce the cost of ownership, make network management simpler and increase integration of various capabilities at the desktop.'' Meridian IP Telecommuter is ideal for people who maintain traditional offices but need complete remote access to office computing and voice facilities. It increases productivity by enabling employees to access all of a company's communication services from home, a hotel room, an airport or other remote spot. Leveraging existing technology and a single phone line, IP Telecommuter helps companies enhance staffing flexibility, more easily deploy remote workers and hold down the cost and complexity of support. The wide range of Meridian 1 system features, including Calling Line ID and Meridian Mail or CallPilot messaging, is available as if employees were at their desks. Meridian IP Telecommuter is a great example of an application that leverages IP-based data networks to combine voice and data communication. The Meridian IP Telecommuter softphone can be used anywhere there is analog phone service and enables users to offer the appearance of being in the office. Remote users get a broad set of voice features, including conference, transfer, hold, message waiting, voicemail access, and class of service. Calls to a user's office number will automatically transfer to the remote location. Meridian IP Telecommuter is scheduled for general availability in the second quarter of 1999 through Meridian distribution channels. It will first be available in North America. Information about Nortel Networks and its products is available by calling 1-800-4NORTEL or visit the Nortel Networks' web site at nortelnetworks.com. To use IP Telecommuter, one must have the client software; a CTI headset or a USB phone and a customer-provided multimedia computer running the Windows 95, Windows 98 or Windows NT operating systems. The computer must also have a Pentium processor, sound card and modem with a speed of at least 28.8 kbps. To support the necessary IP Line Card, the Meridian 1 system at the main office must have software Release 22 or higher and Nortel Networks' Meridian Administration Tool (MAT). SOURCE Northern Telecom Limited

To: Stephen B. Temple who wrote (2527)	3/5/1999 8:12:00 AM
From: Stephen B. Temple	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 3178

Guideless-Lines? New Application Interoperability Guidelines and Certification Process To Enable Multi-Vendor Computer Telephony -Value Network- For Communications Solutions March 5, 1999 Dialogic Corporation, the global leader in open computer telephony, today announced guidelines for a new program for testing applications to receive CT Media(tm) interoperability certification. The program will be a key component enabling a value network of products and services for computer telephony (CT) servers. Assured of Interoperability With the new guidelines in place, CT server system integrators and system owners will have the assurance that their CT server application has passed a certification test suite designed to support multiple-vendor, multiple applications environments for mission-critical solutions. Dialogic is publishing the new guidelines in conjunction with input from several companies currently developing to CT Media telephony server software, including Apex Voice Communications, ATIO Corporation, Mediasoft Telecom, PRIMA, and Rockwell Electronic Commerce. The guidelines will be submitted to the Enterprise Computer Telephony Forum for consideration as a standard for application interoperability. Objective third party interoperability certification, a key element for a healthy CT server value network, will be provided by Genoa Technology, a firm specializing in independent testing services. Genoa will provide a service to make sure that applications comply with the requirements. Certified applications will be permitted to feature a "CT Media-certified" logo on their product advertising to alert customers that they have been verified to interoperate. Value Network "Install and run" interoperability will allow unimpeded growth of a value network of servers, applications, supporting hardware, technology, and services that serve the CT system owner. This value network of CT products and services will provide CT Server owners the resources they demand for obtaining, maintaining, and extending the communications-driven applications that make their business more competitive. The interoperability-driven model enabling the new CT value network is analogous to the open standards-based model that has served database system owners so successfully for years. "The application interoperability guidelines are an important step in the ongoing drive toward open-system CT servers and the value network that serves them," states Dean Trumbull, vice president, CT Switch Products, Dialogic Corporation. " While ECTF S.100-based applications running on CT Media are currently capable of inter-operating with each other without these guidelines, the certification process insures that applications won't step on each other, and gives systems owners and system integrators the assurance they need to build multiple vendor multiple-application systems." CT Server - Leveraging Data Network/Phone Network Convergence The cooperation of multiple CT vendors on the interoperability guidelines reflects the growing momentum for an open computer telephony system solution in the form of a CT server acting as a peer to other back office resource and access servers such as database, messaging, Web, file and print, etc. These CT Server application guidelines will continue to evolve to validate increasingly rich levels of interoperability between independent applications. CT Servers are based on an open systems model that provides connectivity and media processing services for multiple vendors' telecommunications, media processing, and other communications applications. The CT server can support all telecom services from the traditional PBX/KSU, router, remote access services (RAS), voice mail, and IVR to sophisticated call center solutions. CT servers also enable independent software vendors to develop innovative applications such as intelligent agent, self-service transactions, customer management, sales force automation, messaging, help desk, tech support, collections, and other "front office" applications that drive business competitiveness. Just like other back office servers, a CT server provides a single point of administration to manage pools of mission-critical resources that are shared by any number of applications, dramatically lowering total cost of ownership. The key differentiator of a CT server over existing telecom systems is that it enables choice of different vendors' software and hardware through its support for multiple standard, open interfaces. A CT server can supplement or replace the generations of proprietary communications equipment deployed today, including those systems executed with off the shelf operating systems. For the first time it is possible for business process automation to integrate communications services as seamlessly as database services. CT Media - Enabling Application Convergence Dialogic's CT server software, CT Media for Windows NT, is unique in its ability to allow applications to be written once and deployed -- without modification -- on systems of different sizes, using different network protocols, and even different network fabrics. CT Media is switch fabric "neutral," and will enable applications like KSU/PBX, ACD, or intelligent agent to operate transparently on a packet (Internet Protocol), circuit (Public Switch Telecommunications Network), cell (ATM or Frame Relay), or hybrid (combined via transparent gateways) infrastructure. Therefore, a CT server based on CT Media with a PBX application driving it will be an IP PBX, ATM PBX, Circuit PBX, or a hybrid--defined only by the resources that are installed under the control of the server. For more information on CT servers, visit Dialogic's dedicated server World Wide Web site at www.ctserver.com.