Caron Carlson

Optical switches for connecting storage networks over long distances are coming to mainstream enterprises this spring, from stalwarts Cisco Systems Inc., Lucent Technologies Inc. and Nortel Networks Ltd. The switches are useful for backing up data to remote locations and for disaster recovery, with a future use being the design of distributed SANs, experts say. […]

HANNOVER, Germany—Intel Corp. Wednesday launched its long-awaited mobile technology, Centrino. The technology, which includes a new mobile processor and related chip set, initially supports 802.11b network functions, and versions slated for launch later this year will support 802.11a and 802.11g. Calling the new product “the most exciting invention and development in mobile computing since the […]

The Federal Communications Commission last month handed Regional Bell Operating Companies a regulatory windfall that Congress refused to confer, despite three years of aggressive and expensive RBOC lobbying. Having secured from appointed bureaucrats greater changes than the nations elected representatives were willing to consider, logically the RBOCs should be pleased with their win. But theyre […]

The maturation of smart phones is in evidence, with major vendors earlier this month announcing cooperative efforts to improve multimedia messaging and business-focused applications. Microsoft Corp., of Redmond, Wash., and T-Mobile International AG, in Bonn, Germany, will launch the Pocket MSN service over Pocket PCs throughout Europe this year, and later this summer, T-Mobile will […]

In an effort to make videoconferencing as convenient as audio conferencing, Polycom Inc. last week launched a series of products that integrate video and audio technologies to create a unified conferencing system. Traditionally, video calls require that all participants use video technology, but Polycom is expanding its product line to permit a variety of communication […]

Sockeye Networks Inc. last week upgraded its GlobalRoute bandwidth optimization service to give enterprises using multiple ISPs a more granular view of their traffic patterns. GlobalRoute 3.0 lets multihoming enterprises—those that route traffic over more than one ISP to achieve the most cost-effective and performance-efficient paths—map their ISPs contract terms into load balancing decisions. ISP […]

More utility plants and factories are turning from proprietary networks to Fast Ethernet connectivity for process control systems, now that the technology provides high performance at off-the-shelf prices. Cisco Systems Inc., joining a handful of niche vendors that harden switches for harsh environments, this week is unveiling a hardened Fast Ethernet switch, the Catalyst 2955. […]

Sockeye Networks Inc. Wednesday upgraded its GlobalRoute bandwidth optimization service to give enterprises using multiple Internet service providers a more granular view of their traffic patterns. The new GlobalRoute 3.0 lets multi-homing enterprises—those that route traffic over more than one ISP to achieve the most cost-effective and performance-efficient paths—map their ISPs contract terms into load […]

To give network administrators a way to manage and control voice and data applications at branch offices simultaneously from a central location, Vertical Networks Inc. this week is unveiling a centralized communications management tool, called MultiSite Manager. The product, which is aimed primarily at enterprises with a high volume of incoming calls, such as stores […]

Bolstered by the promise of increased carrier support, third-party developers are creating applications for corporate customers that take advantage of high-speed wireless networks. The closing gap between service providers and software vendors was in evidence here at the 3GSM World Congress last week as dozens of developers unveiled business applications for wireless carriers to deploy. […]