Device Arena

Motorola introduced the Motorola Digital Addressable Controller 4.0 (DAC 4.0) software upgrade for DAC customers. The new version, unveiled at SCTE Cable-Tec Expo, is tantamount to a product re-design that enhances a DAC operator’s ability to use, configure and manage digital video assets. DAC 4.0 software, with advanced features is now available to existing DAC6000 customers for evaluation and will be included standard in future hardware deployments.

The most immediate visible change of DAC 4.0 is the addition of a newly designed web-based user interface that makes utilizing the functions of the controller easier and more intuitive for a DAC operator. Motorola DAC 4.0 also automates manually intensive processes like channel map changes, freeing operators to perform other crucial functions. These enhancements will greatly reduce the chance of mistakes in configuration of the system.

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Alcatel-Lucent today announced that Isocore Internetworking Lab, the leader in validation and interoperability of emerging and next generation technologies, presented a comprehensive report confirming the scalability and resilience of Alcatel-Lucent’s industry leading IP/MPLS portfolio for mobile backhaul. The independent performance verification by Isocore is an industry first and designed to evaluate the ability of Alcatel-Lucent’s solution to meet the needs of mobile service operators for backhauling disparate cellular networks across common IP/MPLS networks under the most demanding conditions.

“The overall results indicate that the tested solution is one of the most comprehensive mobile backhaul solutions available in the industry,” said Dr. Bijan Jabbari, President of Isocore. “Isocore feels comfortable in stating the scalability and feature richness of the Alcatel-Lucent mobile backhaul solution and believes, based on verifiable results, that the solutions evaluated during this testing series deliver comprehensive industry-leading mobile backhaul services.”

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Alcatel-Lucent today announced that Lincoln County Telephone System (LCTS), an independent carrier in Pioche, Nevada, will deploy Alcatel-Lucent’s Triple Play Service Delivery Architecture (TPSDA), the next- generation blueprint for triple play infrastructure. The solution, which includes Alcatel-Lucent’s industry-leading fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) gigabit passive optical networking (GPON) and service routing technologies, will enable Lincoln County to offer advanced services, including high-speed data, voice, video and security services, to its customers in Lincoln County, Nevada and in the new town of Coyote Springs, Nevada.

“LCTS has been providing the most advanced telecommunications technology for three generations,” said John Christian, President of LCTS. “We chose Alcatel-Lucent to help us continue that legacy because of its technology leadership in GPON, IP-converged triple play services, and commitment to FSAN standards, as well as reputation for performance and reliability.”

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Phone home. For most U.S. troops stationed overseas, it’s at the top of their to-do list. To help keep them connected with loved ones and celebrate Independence Day, AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) is donating 10,000 prepaid phone cards. This is the second installment of more than 30,000 prepaid phone cards that AT&T will give to U.S. service men and women in 2008. With a retail value of more than $200,000, the 2008 donation builds on more than 85 years of AT&T support for U.S. military families and a 20-year partnership with the USO, which will distribute the cards.

The latest donation marks 20,000 phone cards donated thus far this year via direct handouts with the USO. This set of 10,000 phone cards will be distributed on overseas military bases during USO entertainment tours that are slated for the weeks surrounding Independence Day. According to AT&T, this donation is in honor of U.S. military families, whether they are on active duty or have a loved one who is actively serving.

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AT&T today announced a $9 million contract with Accor North America (NA) and its Motel 6 brand, one of North America’s leading hotel companies and a subsidiary of Accor Worldwide. Under the three-year agreement, AT&T will provide Managed Internet Service (MIS) and firewall and router implementation services. The new services enable hotel guests to have Wi-Fi connectivity at a low price.

Through its leading nationwide economy lodging brands, Motel 6 and Studio 6, Accor NA aims to provide a premier customer experience at a low price. In an effort to provide what its guests want, Accor NA explored how to improve its services and respond to the needs of its guests.

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Verizon Wireless, the nation’s leading wireless service provider, and Loopt® announced today that Verizon Wireless customers can now access Loopt’s interoperable location-based service.

Loopt allows friends who opt in to be located by other friends to show where the friends are located and what they are doing via detailed, interactive maps on their mobile phones. Loopt helps friends connect on the go and navigate their social lives by orienting them to people, places and events. Users can also choose to permit sharing of location updates, geo-tagged photos and comments with friends in their mobile address book or on online social networks, communities and blogs.

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Sprint announced today that Business Premier, an exclusive customer loyalty program, will be available to all Sprint Nextel small and medium-sized business customers. Sprint Business Premier offers rewards, added services and benefits to the company’s valued business customers.

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Nokia today announced it has launched a cash offer to acquire all of the shares of Symbian Limited that Nokia does not already own, at a price of EUR 3.647 per share. The net cash outlay from Nokia to purchase the approximately 52% of Symbian Limited shares it does not already own will be approximately EUR 264 million.

Nokia has received irrevocable undertakings from Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications AB, Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson (publ), Panasonic Mobile Communications Co. Ltd. and Siemens International Holding BV to accept the offer, representing approximately 91% of the Symbian shares subject to the offer. Nokia also expects Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. to accept the offer.

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Nokia and Plazes (www.plazes.com) today announced an agreement for Nokia to acquire substantially all assets of Plazes, a privately-owned start-up company of 13 people with its principal operations in Berlin. Plazes provides a context-aware social-activity service that people can use to plan, record, and share their social activities: why they are at a given location at a given time, whether in the past, present or future.

“This acquisition helps Nokia to accelerate its vision of bringing people and places closer together, in line with our broader services strategy,” said Niklas Savander, Head of Nokia Services & Software. “In addition to the key assets, through this acquisition Nokia will bring on a visionary team with an advanced understanding of social-activity services, as well as the technical ability to further develop this area.”

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Motorola, today announces the interim results of its two-year managed services contract with Telef?nica to optimize the operators’ GSM network in Spain.

Through the optimization process, Telef?nica’s customers have benefited from improved network performance which has even resulted in the possibility in making calls from areas where previously it was impossible, thus increasing revenue for the operator. A reduction in dropped calls has also improved the overall experience and service quality for Telef?nica’s customers.

Using market-leading analytical tools and the information compiled from millions of real-life calls made over the network, Motorola continues to support Telef?nica in improving network performance, enabling the operator to maintain and enhance its high quality of service. The optimization service ensures Telef?nica’s network operates at maximum performance. Motorola’s advanced optimization techniques substantially improve network capacity and quality while facilitating reduced CapEX and OpEX, thereby reducing operator investment and business risk.

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