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AT&T, Cisco back Akimbo with $15.5M investmentAkimbo Systems has received $15.5 million in a round of funding led by AT&T Inc. and Cisco Systems. Akimbo owns the broadband rights to about 11,000 TV shows, movies and other content from the likes of Major League Baseball and the History Channel. AT&T is expected to add Akimbo content to its Homezone service later this year. San Jose Mercury News (Calif.) (6/25), The Wall Street Journal (6/26)
Microsoft plans major push into business phone marketMicrosoft today is scheduled to outline a broad plan to enter the business communications market with new products such as desktop phones and videoconferencing devices. The company could begin selling some products by June 2007 through different partners. The New York Times (6/26), The Wall Street Journal (6/26), Computer Business Review (U.K.) (6/2006) BT, KDDI team up to offer network management servicesBT Group and KDDI Corp. have formed a joint venture to offer global network management services to Japanese companies. The companies have set a target of $1 billion in revenue within three to five years. Reuters (6/26), Financial Times (free content) (6/25) Company aims to shake up Wi-Fi business with $5 router giveawaySpanish startup FON today is expected to announce a plan to sell Wi-Fi routers for $5 in the U.S. and 5 euros in Europe. The company's goal is to build a giant, shared wireless network by making it easy to buy and set up routers. Customers must agree to become what the company calls "foneros" for 12 months, meaning they are required to share their connections with other FON users. CNET/Reuters (6/25) Other News
Mergers among equipment makers pose enormous integration challenges
Verizon Airfone announces plans to end service
Verizon wins FiOS franchises in Virginia, Florida
Everything You Need to Know About TelecomPhone Facts Plus Telecom Trends 2006 contains more information than ever before. With 60 pages and 63 figures of data compiled from the FCC and leading industry analysts it is no wonder Phone Facts Plus 2006 is considered a MUST HAVE publication for all telecom professionals. Phone Facts also includes a list of the top 100 Local Exchange Carriers ranked by access lines. Buy it today!
FCC votes to impose USF fee on most VoIP providers(The New York Times) Siemens in talks to sell Enterprise Networks division(The Philadelphia Inquirer) Who's the next target in telecom gear consolidation?(The New York Times) Cities want free, ad-supported Wi-Fi systems(The Wall Street Journal (free content)) Nokia, Siemens to merge telecom gear operations(The New York Times)
Taiwanese Wi-Fi network struggles to attract usersTaipei has blanketed 90% of the city with a Wi-Fi network, but few users so far have been willing to pony up the $12.50 per month fee that ISP Q-Ware charges to use it. The experience in Taipei could mean a difficult road ahead for U.S. municipal Wi-Fi networks based on a similar business model. The New York Times (6/26) DSL use continues to rise worldwideDSL growth is surging globally, and 11.5 million new customers signed up for DSL service in the first quarter, according to research firm Point Topic. Telephony Online (6/23) Content, not speed, may determine broadband winnersWhen all is said and done, telecoms and cable operators may wind up tied in the battle over broadband delivery speed. The next fight, which could prove far more decisive, will likely revolve around exclusive content. CableWorld (6/23)
Analysis: EU's anti-terrorism directive to be costly for telecomsA new EU rule requiring telecoms to retain data from phone and electronic communications could be prohibitively expensive for telecoms and a huge boon for data storage companies, according to this analysis. The directive is meant to help law enforcement agencies fight terrorism. Byte and Switch (6/23)
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Contributing Editor: