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Cisco Clears Up Key TelePresence Weaknesses| Analyst: Brian Riggs | Enterprise Communications | Client Access | Announcement Summary
March 21, 2007 – Cisco upgraded the software of its TelePresence meeting solution to enable virtual meetings in multiple locations, provide improved document sharing capabilities, support third-party video conferencing systems, extend TelePresence-based conferencing to contact centers, and to allow the organization of meetings with customers or partners outside the corporate firewall. Cisco TelePresence 1.1 is expected to ship globally by the end of March. There is no additional charge for customers of the 1.0 software. The TelePresence Contact Center solution lists for approximately $1450 per user. Analytical Summary • Current Perspective: Positive on release 1.0 of Cisco’s TelePresence solution because it addresses all of the main technical issues that made the first iteration of Cisco TelePresence a less than compelling conferencing solution for large enterprises. • Vendor Importance: High to Cisco because multisite networking, support for third-party conferencing equipment, and support for TelePresence systems outside the corporate firewall will help raise the appeal of the solution among enterprises looking to use it for high-level meetings between executives, sales engagements between corporations, and technical support situations that require high-quality images. • Market Impact: Moderate on the enterprise communications market because the updates to the TelePresence solution will help the solution better compete with alternative high-definition telepresence solutions that already support a number of these capabilities. T-Mobile to Bring MyFaves to Europe| Analyst: Emma Mohr-McClune | Wireless Services - Europe | Client Access | Announcement Summary
March 14, 2007 – Mobile International announced plans at CeBIT to bring the high-profile T-Mobile US myFaves service to Europe. The myFaves service will launch in Germany sometime this year, and potentially in other T-Mobile markets, too. The service allows users to see the photo or icon displays of five chosen friends or family numbers on the display of their myFaves handset. Tariff details are not yet available. Analytical Summary • Current Perspective: Positive on T-Mobile’s decision to launch myFaves in Germany, as this service represents an original and attention-grabbing vehicle for family and friends tariff modelling. myFaves has seen success in its incubator T-Mobile US market, and it will be a visually distinctive, differentiated and ‘fun’ offer in Germany. myFaves will also allow T-Mobile to nurture a new, cooler image for itself – in line with the operator’s strategy to create more brand resonance with this sector. • Vendor Importance: High to T-Mobile Germany, as reaching out to youth communities and families is a major element of the operator’s recovery strategy in Germany. Although myFaves is neither a ‘true’ social networking nor Web 2.0 tool, it will encourage users to start creating personalized buddy groups on the mobile phone, and that is a positive first step in the right direction. • Market Impact: High on the German mobile market, because myFaves will challenge all competitors to re-think their propositions for families and friends. myFaves is visually superior to a standard ‘family tariff,’ in that it offers users a highly marketable visual ‘buddy’ display, complete with a photo or icon of each designated number, without the fuss of presence or Push To Talk data connectivity.
T-Systems Demos Cisco TelePresence Solution| Analyst: Dustin Kehoe | Business Telecom Services - Europe | Client Access | Announcement Summary
March 22, 2007 – T-Systems has presented the Cisco TelePresence solution at CeBIT 2007, which is a high-resolution video conferencing services that combines rich audio, high definition video and interactive elements to simulate ‘real-life’ face-to-face meetings over the network. T-Systems is one of the few carriers in Europe to offer the solution in Europe and present at CeBIT. Analytical Summary • Current Perspective: Neutral as T-Systems joins BT and a growing list of companies that can offer the new Cisco TelePresence Solution, a high-end videoconferencing solution providing life size high definition images to simulate face-to-face interaction. However, the impact of this event is reduced as BT Germany introduced the product as a standard offer and already has a one major international reference customer. Contrary to marketing claims, BT shared the limelight in demonstrating the solution at CeBIT. • Vendor Importance: Moderate to T-Systems as the company needed to level the playing field with BT Germany which introduced the Cisco TelePresence service (i.e., Unified Communications Video) one month ago. Offering high-end video conferencing solutions will be an important building block for T-Systems MPLS VPN product, especially for customers that are keen to reduce employee time and travel costs. • Market Impact: Moderate. Low on the German telecommunications market as the solution is based on the Cisco TelePresence Meeting solution, which it announced last year (see ‘Cisco Turns High Definition with New Video Definition,’ October 24, 2006). It will however increase competition between T-Systems and BT Germany as the latter company has offered the product longer and has its first reference customer. MediaMarkt and Saturn to Carry Kodak’s AIOs in Germany| Analyst: Matthew Bendert | Printing and Supplies | Client Access | Announcement Summary
March 21, 2007 -- Kodak has been widely quoted in the German press as stating that MediaMarkt and Saturn will soon carry its new EasyShare AIOs in Germany. This announcement, made at the recent CeBit tradeshow, would make Metro Group the first strategic retail Kodak partner for distribution of the EasyShare 5300 and 5500. Both models are slated for availability in Europe in May or June 2007. This is Kodak’s second major retail partnership in Europe for its new inkjet AIOs. The manufacturer announced in February that DSG International, parent company of Dixons, Currys and PC World in the United Kingdom, will have exclusive rights to sell the EasyShare 5300 and 5500 in the UK for an as-yet-unspecified period of time.
Analytical Summary • Current Perspective: Very positive. Since the launch of its EasyShare 5100 and 5300 in the United States earlier this month, Kodak has done a good job of collecting retail partners in Europe. With DSG International in the UK and Metro Group’s MediaMarkt and Saturn in Germany, Kodak is now well entrenched in the largest and most well-known retailers for both countries. Kodak’s strategy of enlisting large, highly visible resellers will likely now expand even further. At the time of this publication, Kodak has yet to name a major retail partner in the French market. Groupe PPR would be an obvious choice, as the French firm owns the media and technology-focused FNAC retail chain and also the larger, consumer electronics superstore Surcouf. • Vendor Importance: High. Kodak has now secured placements with two of the largest retail groups in Europe (DSG and Metro Group) and is doing an excellent job of positioning its EasyShare all-in-ones in each of its major markets. • Market Impact: Moderate. With stronger placement at extremely visible retailers across the European channel, Kodak has a much higher chance of success in breaking into the consumer AIO market. BT to Launch Corporate Fusion in Germany Next Quarter| Analyst: Dustin Kehoe | Business Telecom Services - Europe | Client Access | Announcement Summary
March 21, 2007 -- BT Germany has demoed its BT Corporate Fusion product, which is a dual-mode mobile phone with both GSM and WiFi connectivity. The product extends common PBX functions (e.g., access to voicemail, corporate directory, conferencing and call forwarding) to mobile devices. The initial service is based on the Cisco Call Manager platform and there are plans to support additional vendors and offer a mobile Centrex service based on the Alcatel-Lucent solution. BT Corporate Fusion will be ready for commercial launch in Germany during Q2 2007. Analytical Summary • Current Perspective: Slightly positive on BT’s plans to offer Corporate Fusion in Germany, because this is a managed enterprise FMC service incorporating WLAN in the customer site as well as dual-mode mobile phones with both GSM and WiFi connectivity. It will also offer PBX extensions and ‘one-number’ calling. This offers strong up-selling opportunities for BT’s existing customers that have also opted for the mobile voice and data services it provides via O2 Germany for national customers. • Vendor Importance: Moderate to BT Germany, as the company needs to offer integrated fixed and mobile services to stay on par with its chief competitor, T-Systems, which is gradually improving upon its Octopus Net Phone and Business Complete packages. The appetite for FMC is increasing in Germany and BT needs to ensure it can offer a compelling package to its existing corporate accounts. It will also needs to counter T-Systems’ ‘Concept One’ strategy for FMC. • Market Impact: Low on the German business telecom services market, because BT has not yet launched the product and it does not have any reference customers either. However, the product will give BT strong talking points over competitors (e.g., Arcor, Verizon Business, AT&T, COLT and QSC) that have yet to offer a competitive enterprise FMC solution. AMD Introduces Live Ready and Active TV Digital Home Solutions| Analyst: Toni Duboise | Computing and Storage | Client Access | Announcement Summary
March 15, 2007 - At CeBIT this week, AMD introduced its Live Ready branding program and demonstrated Active TV solutions aimed at advancing general digital home and TV+Internet solutions. AMD’s Live Ready branding program is based on the same premise as Microsoft’s Plays-for-Sure initiative in that AMD will work with a long list media player, networking, set-top box, digital media adapter (DMA) and TV tuner vendors whose products will be tested for the AMD Live! platform prior to earning the right to wear the Live Ready sticker. In tandem, AMD’s Active TV proposition is essentially a call for partners to develop solutions to facilitate PC and TV convergence using open standards that could be applied to multiple product categories such as set-top boxes, DMAs, media players and even flat-screen televisions, to name a few. Analytical Summary • Current Perspective: Current Analysis takes a positive stance on AMD’s two digital home initiatives. While its true that neither AMD Live! nor its rival Intel Viiv have lived up to the hype with regard to delivering digital home solutions to consumers, AMD appears to be showing progress with regard to delivering a flexible, open standards solution with the ability to accommodate a myriad of ecosystems. • Vendor Importance: Moderate to AMD. It is too early in the game to determine whether AMD’s digital home efforts will be fruitful, but a first-to-market convergent solution would go a long way in healing AMD’s recent missteps in terms of missed earnings and diminished market share. • Market Impact: Low. As the results of this initiative are yet to be determined, the near term market impact will be minimal. However, look for a host of competitors to intensify their efforts on the digital home front. NEC Philips Keeps Pace in Europe with IP Platform and App Upgrades| Analyst: Jerry Caron | Enterprise Communications | Client Access | Announcement Summary
March 14, 2007 – NEC Philips Unified Solutions introduced an array of communications solutions for the European market. These include: Unified Communications and Collaboration applications such as Secure Instant and Unified Messaging and rich presence information; the UNIVERGE SV7000 release 21, with system survivability as a key element with the self-healing architecture providing business continuity; and UNIVERGE Assured Mobility, a new solution that provides wireless controllers, access points, network management software and user devices to provide enterprises with converged wireless communications. The enhancements and new solutions are available now. Analytical Summary • Current Perspective: Neutral on the range of product introductions made by NEC Philips at the CeBIT event in Germany because, taken together, the release of a new version of the UNIVERGE SV7000 IP PBX platform, a new WLAN-based mobility solution, and integration of its unified communications applications with Microsoft LCS/OCS platforms—amongst other announcements—represent important steps for the company as it seeks to grow revenues in Europe, but do not pose a significant new threat to competitors in the region. • Vendor Importance: High to NEC Philips Unified Solutions for enhancements to the company’s IP communications solutions in Europe because the joint venture between NEC and Philips is still working to gain momentum in the market and a steady stream of new capabilities helps to keep customers and partners engaged. The enhancements themselves, such as the new version of the UNIVERGE SV7000, are in line with capabilities offered by NEC in other parts of the world, and indicate that the JV is in step with internal partners operating elsewhere, providing a more uniform approach in the marketplace. • Market Impact: Low on the European enterprise communications market because the enhanced solutions delivered by NEC Philips Unified Solutions provide little in terms of unique capabilities not available from a range of other suppliers in the market. The upgrades are important for the company and its customers and partners, but otherwise do not threaten the status quo. The company’s application integration with Microsoft LCS and OCS platforms is thorough and laudable, for example, but is not likely to create a differentiating advantage in sales situations. telent Highlights Vendor-Neutral Services for Network Migration and Maintenance| Analyst: John Marcus | Telecom Infrastructure Services | Client Access | Announcement Summary
March 15, 2007 – telent is highlighting its range of services for the enterprise and telecom sectors at CeBIT, focusing on system integration and network migration. New solution elements include the MICA (Management Integration and Control of Assets) platform, which optimizes network maintenance and maximizes the life of assets deployed in mission critical networks. Analytical Summary • Current Perspective: Positive on telent’s new portfolio of systems integration, network migration, and network maintenance services, because it provides carrier customers with a vendor-neutral option. While there are benefits involved in using the network equipment supplier for these services, choosing an independent services organization takes the focus off of specific boxes, and instead prioritizes quality service delivery. • Vendor Importance: Moderate to telent, because the company has done little to promote itself at major trade shows since it was spun off from the former Marconi in January 2006. telent needs to bring its message to a broader audience outside of its traditional installed base. With its strong focus on the large German market, CeBIT is a natural place for telent to start. • Market Impact: Low on the telecom infrastructure services market in Europe, because telent has not announced any significant new portfolio differentiators, services resources, or customer wins. While the announcement raises the company’s profile in its key target markets by highlighting new and existing services for carrier customers, its market position is not changed. ECI Keeps the News Coming – Unveils Mini MSPP for Wireless Backhaul| Analyst: Jason Marcheck | Optical Infrastructure | Client Access | Announcement Summary
March 19, 2007 – ECI Telecom announced the BroadGate-30 (BG-30) miniature MSPP platform designed for wireless backhaul and metro access applications. The product features interface support up to 2.5 Gbps wavelengths (STM-16/OC-48), and will be aimed at operators in emerging markets. ECI also pointed out that the product will be interoperable with the vendor’s XDM optical transport product line, and will use the LightSoft network management system. Analytical Summary • Current Perspective: Slightly positive on ECI’s introduction of the BroadGate-30 (BG-30) MSPP platform for wireless backhaul applications. Without question, with the growing importance of robust wireless backhaul platforms, ECI’s introduction of a purpose built solution should help it to better tap that market. At the same time, ECI released the XDM-40 platform last year to address the same market opportunity, suggesting ECI misread the market a bit, and now has to release a lower cost alternative to hit the cost points required by operators. • Vendor Importance: Moderate to high to ECI because the Israeli vendor has made it clear by its actions at CeBIT 2007 that it is fully committed to competing vigorously in the optical access and metro network segments with newly enhanced products. The BG-30 extends the capabilities of ECI’s optical portfolio down to the point where mobile operators now have a cost effective MSPP option that can be deployed at cell site aggregation points – thus making ECI a more attractive option for operators in emerging markets that have lower CapEx budgets. However, the BG-30 essentially replicates claims ECI has already made for other products – meaning that the vendor could be cannibalizing sales for its XDM-40 in some markets. • Market Impact: Moderate on the optical infrastructure market because ECI already claims experience as an optical platform supplier to a number of high profile wireless operators in Europe. The introduction of the BG-30 platform gives ECI a more cost-effective equipment offering to pair with its experience in building backhaul networks in order to attack similar opportunities in high growth emerging markets such as India. However, with RAN vendors such as Nokia Siemens Networks and Ericsson (not to mention Alcatel-Lucent) also solidly in the optical game now, these vendors have the customer relationships in place with mobile operators in emerging markets to help them push their own backhaul solutions through already established sales channels. T-Mobile Unveils Youth Tariff| Analyst: Emma Mohr-McClune | Wireless Services - Europe | Client Access | Announcement Summary
March 14, 2007 -- T-Mobile unveiled a new tariff for young people, ‘Max Young,’ due to launch on May 2. The new service offers unlimited calls to domestic fixed-line and on-net mobile numbers for EUR 25 per month (SIM-only) or EUR 34 per month, with a handset and a 24-month contract. Max Young also includes unlimited SMS to T-Mobile numbers. Off-network calls cost EUR 0.29 per minute. The operator is planning to bundle this service together with a T-Com fixed-line flat rate, for an additional proposition to be unveiled later this year. Analytical Summary • Current Perspective: Slightly negative on T-Mobile Max Young, as this tariff fails to create either a new price challenge or service differentiation in the price-sensitive German youth market. It is, furthermore, unclear how the operator will discriminate against older customers attempting to purchase Max Young, as a discounted alternative to the near-identical existing T-Mobile Max service, or whether this new tariff line will provide Deutsche Telekom with the distinction required for an effective ‘secondary brand’ offering. • Vendor Importance: Moderate to T-Mobile Germany, as Max Young attempts to match online flat-rate offers (such as BASE’s online BASE2) in terms of pricing, but it does not go further than that. Max Young is heralded as the first in a new line of services targeting the price-sensitive youth segment, in line with Deutsche Telekom’s earlier announcements in the same vein, but giving this new service the existing ‘Max’ service name only serves to create more branding cross-over and confusion. • Market Impact: Low on the German consumer market, because Max Young will only have a minor impact on the tariff landscape. T-Mobile Germany’s plan to launch a new ‘line’ for the youth market is interesting, but this first offer establishes no clear service or pricing differentiation. Fundamentally, Max Young is an unoriginal, discounted duplication of the existing T-Mobile Max service, which will merely allow the operator to ‘keep up’ with current price leaders offering a similar flat-rate offer. KEYMILE Achieves VDSL2 Odyssey with MileGate 2010 Offering| Analyst: Ron Westfall | Broadband Infrastructure | Client Access | Announcement Summary
March 14, 2007 – KEYMILE, a manufacturer and supplier of next-generation access systems with integrated network management, is presenting the latest addition to its MileGate Multi-Service IP DSLAM product family for the first time at CeBIT. MileGate 2010 is a compact IP-DSLAM which permits the optical linking of buildings (FTTB) for the provision of VDSL2 connections at the highest bandwidth option. Analytical Summary • Current Perspective: Positive on KEYMILE debuting the MileGate 2010 micro-DSLAM offering, as the new product is purpose-built to take advantage of technical gains achieved with the new VDSL2 standard and is poised to take advantage of the escalating telco need to deploy compact, easy to manage multi-service access devices that address FTTH/FTTB applications. • Vendor Importance: Moderate to high to KEYMILE as the new MileGate 2010 form factor forms a logical and value-enhancing complement to the existing MileGate offerings, which include the 21-slot MileGate 2500 and the 2-slot MileGate 2110, to address a wider range of multi-play deployment scenarios. The early to market support of the profile 30a element of the VDSL2 standard gives KEYMILE a well-defined product and marketing differentiator against the usual access rivals. • Market Impact: Moderate on the DSLAM/DLC/MSAN and overall broadband infrastructure market, because the new KEYMILE MileGate 2010 product is addressing a niche, VDSL2-based business and consumer applications, that few rivals can address in the same fashion today. Thus, rivals will need to take heed of KEYMILE’s MileGate 2010 product launch, although KEYMILE does not register as a top-tier market share leader in various global DSL access counts. Vodafone Germany Attacks WLAN with WebSessions International| Analyst: Emma Mohr-McClune | Wireless Services - Europe | Client Access | Announcement Summary
March 14, 2007 -- Vodafone Germany reduced the rates of its national and international WebSessions packages, enabling laptop users to access the Vodafone UMTS or GPRS network at home or abroad for EUR 14.95 for a 24-hour session. The maximum transmission volume per WebSession is restricted to 50 MB. The new pricing comes into effect on March 15. Vodafone Germany will also expand the number of international roaming markets for WebSession users from the current 14 to 32 in April. Analytical Summary • Current Perspective: Positive on the new 24-hour WebSessions pricing, as this effectively cancels the existing premium for data roaming, thus encouraging more users to activate WebSessions abroad. The WebSessions service was one of the most important mobile data innovations within Vodafone Germany’s portfolio last year, and this new, geographically-agnostic, 24-hour offer will help reiterate its commitment-free benefits. • Vendor Importance: Moderate to Vodafone Germany, as this new WebSession offer should help calm European Commission nerves, at a critical juncture of regulatory discussion. This event also sees Vodafone Germany actively marketing UMTS roaming as ‘cheaper than WLAN’ for the first time. • Market Impact: Moderate on the German mobile data market, because this offer throws down the gauntlet for competitors to start ‘cancelling’ their own data roaming premiums. Furthermore, Vodafone Germany Mobile Data Connect data card owners will be able to utilize WebSessions in 32 markets abroad – an unparalleled footprint for low-cost data roaming. Sycamore Goes to Asia to Generate Momentum for Eastern Research Products| Analyst: Jason Marcheck | Optical Infrastructure | Client Access | Announcement Summary
March 14, 2007 -- Sycamore Networks announced that Shanghai Unicom has selected the DNX-88 multiservice cross-connect and the Envision NMS to help optimize and scale the wireless operator’s radio access network (RAN) in response to a growing demand for wireless data services. The equipment will be sold through Sycamore’s local distribution partner in China: Shanghai Potevio Co., Ltd. Analytical Summary • Current Perspective: Positive on Sycamore Networks’ contract announcement with Shanghai Unicom for deployment of the DNX-88 multiservice cross-connect platform. When Sycamore bought Eastern Research, it was to help the optical switch vendor broaden its portfolio to capture new areas of opportunity beyond optical core networks. A contract win with a major mobile wireless operator in China demonstrates that Sycamore is finally starting to see dividends from the Eastern Research purchase – in the form of new customer accounts. • Vendor Importance: Very high to Sycamore, because while it bought Eastern Research to help bolster revenues in the face of dipping optical switch sales, to date, the company has largely failed to show public momentum supporting its purchase of Eastern Research. To be sure, the company has continued to mine incremental sales from Eastern’s existing customer base. However, a major new customer win – in the hot area of RAN backhaul optimization – shows that Sycamore might be starting to realize the goal of diversifying its market presence beyond core optical switching. • Market Impact: Low on the optical infrastructure market, because technically speaking, this win has little to do with optical infrastructure, meaning Sycamore’s optical switching competitors should feel no impact. At the same time, its no secret that increased mobile data traffic is expected to spur an increased need for optical transport solutions. A win with Shanghai Unicom gets Sycamore’s foot in the door with mobile operators in one of the world’s highest growth markets, and it could set the stage for future optical wins as wireless operators look to bolster their transport facilities beyond RAN backhaul into backbone networks. SkyPilot Goes Big With Hardware, Software and Milestones| Analyst: Peter Jarich | Wireless Infrastructure | Client Access | Announcement Summary
March 12, 2007 – SkyPilot announced the SkyAccess DualBand mesh node integrating an 802.11b/g access point with mesh backhaul in the 4.9 – 5.8 GHz spectrum. Available through distributors, all configurations are available for $1,799. Separately, the vendor announced that it had sold a total of 25,000 units into 300 customers and 50 countries as well as version 1.5 of its SkyControl mesh management system which leverages Google Earth to provide mesh mapping, design, and deployment assistance.
Analytical Summary • Current Perspective: Very positive on SkyPilot’s new SkyAccess DualBand node, new SkyControl software, and a 25,000 unit shipment milestone. The SkyAccess DualBand gives the vendor a two-radio node with aggressive price point, effectively rounding out its product portfolio. Likewise, a new version of SkyPilot’s SkyControl software supports mesh deployments (thanks to an integration with Google Earth) while shipping 25,000 units to 300 customers helps to position the vendor as a credible market leader. Yet, in a crowded mesh WiFi market where dual-radio and planning solutions are commonplace, the moves are little more than “table stakes.” • Vendor Importance: High to SkyPilot since the vendor does not maintain the mindshare or capabilities of key competitors. Tropos and BelAir, for example, entered the market earlier, giving them time to build an image of leadership. Likewise, Cisco and Motorola can promise network support capabilities and the stability that comes from being established wireless players. To compete in this market, smaller vendors like SkyPilot must be sure to offer a compelling solution (filling portfolio gaps) while highlighting an ability to meet market demands. • Market Impact: Moderate on the metro-scale WiFi market. Mapping tools and dual-radio solutions do little to actually set SkyPilot apart from the competition. That said, in a crowded market where vendor consolidation is inevitable, market momentum is an important contributor to the appearance of credibility. Combined with a more complete WiFi portfolio, SkyPilot becomes a stronger mesh player and competitors may be forced to highlight their own momentum and proof points. ECI Telecom Incorporates Virtual Routing into Hi-FOCuS MSAN| Analyst: Erik Keith | Broadband Infrastructure | Client Access | Announcement Summary
March 14, 2007 -- ECI Telecom has incorporated virtual routing capabilities into its Hi-FOCuS 5 Multi-Service Access Node (MSAN), enabling Layer 3 virtual private network (VPN) applications that allow service providers to offer per-service granularity to their business, residential, and wholesale customers. Per-service segmentation enables operators to provide flexible business models and service level agreements (SLAs) for voice, data, and video applications. Analytical Summary • Current Perspective: Positive on ECI incorporating virtual routing into its flagship MSAN platform, the Hi-FOCuS 5 series, because as operators look for new avenues to generate CapEx and OpEx savings, not to mention improved operational efficiencies in the network, the ability to perform virtual routing from an access node facilitates these gains. For example, by enabling Layer 3 service segmentation, L3 VPNs and SLA enforcement can be supported from the access node, in turn enabling operators to free up ports on the more expensive service provider edge platforms. • Vendor Importance: Moderate to high to ECI Telecom, which needed to separate itself from the array of broadband access rivals with a technological differentiator, but without a considerable R&D investment to do so. By incorporating virtual routing into the Hi-FOCuS 5 series, ECI has accomplished this task, leveraging the virtual routing technology developed by its former data networking division (i.e., via the acquisition of Laurel Networks in May 2005). • Market Impact: Moderate on the DSLAM/DLC/MSAN and overall broadband infrastructure markets, because although ECI now possesses an additional degree of differentiation in the access market vis-à-vis rival platforms (and virtual routing from the access node is certain to catch the attention of operators looking for solutions that enable new operational efficiencies), it remains to be seen how many operators will gravitate towards the enhanced Hi-FOCuS 5 series (most notably, ECI’s established customers, none of which endorsed the virtual routing functionality out of the gate). O2 Germany Unveils Integrated Portal Roadmap| Analyst: Emma Mohr-McClune | Wireless Services - Europe | Client Access | Announcement Summary
March 14, 2007 -- O2 Germany made several value-added service announcements at CeBIT 2007 to further its proposition as an integrated operator. Specifically, O2 Germany spoke of its roadmap for an integrated portal of services, spanning DSL, fixed and mobile, but also including a range of new value-added services, namely enhancements to its O2 Communication Center, a new music offer in conjunction with MTV, a mobile search offer together with Google and a home entertainment service together with in2movies. Analytical Summary • Current Perspective: Positive on O2 Germany’s integrated portal roadmap, as this will allow the operator to cross-market and promote multiple product lines, as well as new value-added services, more effectively to its mixed base of DSL and mobile customers. This will help flag up O2 Germany’s competitive advantage as an integrated provider of value-added services (O2 Communication Center, film and music downloads), besides vanilla access DSL, mobile and fixed telephony services. • Vendor Importance: High to O2 Germany, as the integrated portal will allow the operator to manage the customer satisfaction of its existing customer base behind the privacy of a password-controlled portal. The portal will allow the operator to channel customer retention schemes, promotions and loyalty benefits in a more targeted, relevant way, for multi-service selling and enhanced customer stickiness. • Market Impact: High on the German consumer market, as this initiative puts the threat of the O2 Communication Center on a whole new level. The leading data management service from a German mobile operator (with 250,000 customers to date) is now about to become just one element of a far wider, more comprehensive communications portal. DragonWave Adds Horizon to Support Wireless Gigabit Ethernet Backhaul| Analyst: Glen Hunt | Carrier Infrastructure | Client Access | Announcement Summary
March 12, 2007 - DragonWave introduced the Horizon Compact, which integrates and enhances the functionality of wireless indoor and outdoor units in a single “zero footprint” Gigabit Ethernet microwave transmission system. The system provides WiMAX and carrier Ethernet backhaul services, claiming to provide up to 800 Mbps of full duplex throughout, lower CapEx, and simplified operations. DragonWave noted that the new product will be generally available in April 2007. Analytical Summary • Current Perspective: Positive on the launch of DragonWave’s Horizon wireless mobile backhaul solution since it brings many benefits over previous solutions such as: minimized space requirements within the cell tower (zero footprint) via its single unit compact design, the use of standard CAT5E cabling to IP base stations, and increases throughout for Ethernet-centric mobile traffic. The system provides a low power low latency solution that is well suited to backhaul emerging 4G WiMAX traffic, or to extend carrier Ethernet services over a radio link. • Vendor Importance: High to DragonWave since the Horizon platform marks a significant step in the company’s efforts to penetrate the WiMAX backhaul market. Horizon’s launch follows the successful AirPair (2 unit) solution that has been deployed in multiple mobile markets worldwide. DragonWave has provided improved performance metrics in many key areas such as: Adaptive Modulation (up to 256QAM) to adjust for environmental conditions such as “rain fade,” the ability to daisy chain units to increase capacity or provide 1:1 redundancy, and the ability to deliver less than .1 ms of latency. • Market Impact: Moderate on the overall wireless mobile backhaul market, the Horizon Compact solution provides one of the highest capacity licensed zero-footprint solutions available for emerging 4G backhaul. With the emergence of WiMAX and other data-centric mobile traffic, operators can leverage the Horizon’s space savings design, standard-CAT5E cabling, and increased date capacity to provide solutions where alternative methods are not readily available or cost effective. The new product has also received an endorsement from NextWave Broadband Inc. which gives the product launch a level of customer credibility. Since WiMAX is in its early stages, DragonWave is positioning to become a significant player as that market emerges. ECI Introduces Small Form Factor, High Capacity Metro Edge MSPP| Analyst: Jason Marcheck | Optical Infrastructure | Client Access | Announcement Summary
March 13, 2007 -- ECI Telecom introduced the XDM-300 MSPP in advance of CeBIT, which begins March 15. The XDM-300 is designed to be a highly dense offering, matching a small footprint with the ability to support up to 18 I/O cards in a single chassis. The product will support a range of transport protocols designed to enable a variety of both TDM and Ethernet-based transport services. General availability for the initial version of the XDM-300 is slated for August 2007. Analytical Summary • Current Perspective: Positive on ECI’s introduction of the XDM-300 MSPP, because the platform, which features a very small footprint, a dense I/O card layout, and a broad range of transport protocol support, represents a meaningful improvement over the aging XDM-500. However, relatively light GbE (and no 10GbE) support could negatively impact the platform’s ability to scale in support of next-generation Ethernet services. • Vendor Importance: Very high to ECI, because the vendor needed to upgrade its existing metro edge product offering in order to stay competitive with the likes of Alcatel-Lucent, Ericsson, Huawei, and even ADVA Optical Networking. The compact, modular XDM-300 looks, on paper at least, to deliver the combination of feature support and physical design flexibility to put ECI back on solid ground as a metro edge competitor in SDH markets. • Market Impact: Moderate on the optical infrastructure market, because ECI is a formidable competitor with established name recognition in SDH markets. As such, the Israeli vendor should be able to match the attractive features of the XDM-300 with its existing channels to drive sales for its new platform. At the same time, the metro edge – SDH market is already full of competitive offerings, meaning that most competitors can make similar claims in response to ECI’s latest challenge.
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