ROW Short Takes

Nortel Networks changes management team, againNortel Networks Corp.’s shuffling of its executive ranks, announced on September 30, is aimed at improving its responsiveness to the rapidly evolving telecommunications markets and meeting the needs of its global enterprise and carrier customers. A key change is the decrease from four major divisions to two: enterprise solutions and packet networks, and mobility and converged core networks. "By creating two product groups, Nortel greatly simplifies its business model and creates new cost-efficiencies by leveraging common hardware and software platforms," a news release. On the enterprise side, the company notes that by combining the packet group with enterprise solutions it hopes to "better leverage core technology and hardware platforms for enterprises while fulfilling the requirements of carrier customers." By integrating the mobility and core networks divisions under a single unit, Nortel is "reinforcing the wireless market as a vital element of current and future revenue growth." Says Bill Owen, vice-chair and CEO: "Convergence is here and now, and our enterprise and carrier customers are demanding partners who can deliver enterprise innovation on carrier-grade platforms...Nortel is playing to win, and that means having the determination and flexibility to transform our teams, simplify our portfolio, and focus our resources close to our customers, as well as harness both the power and opportunities of network convergence." To better improve customer responsiveness, Nortel has also created four region-based teams to address this issue and the most promising business opportunities. The geographic teams are: Eurasia, North America, Greater China, and the Caribbean and Latin America. The management shuffle is the second major one in about a year. Owens hired two former Cisco Systems Inc. executives earlier this year, a move that was designed to take Nortel to the next level in the ever-changing telecommunications environment. Gary Daichendt was named president and COO of Nortel in early March, but left the company a mere three months after joining. Gary Kunis, also a former Cisco executive and who joined as CTO, left Nortel the same day as Daichendt. SRN to support new Windows DVB-H handheldsSociété radio numérique (SRN), a Montreal-based developer of a datacasting platform, has announced that its SERVO platform will support new DVB-H handhelds using the Windows Mobile operating system. DVB-H is an emerging standard for mobile broadcasting services.Look Communications Inc. plans to use devices based on this standard for its mobile video services. SRN maintains that its datacasting solution is more cost-effective than existing cellular-based technologies because it can offer high-bandwidth applications such as wireless broadcasting and podcasting. Users can expect to get 1.5 Mbps over multiple broadcast channels allowing for mobile video and multimedia services. The beta release of the company’s SERVO datacasting platform is expected to be released this month. IDC to acquire PROFline, expands products and presenceOttawa-based International Datacasting Corp. has inked a non-binding agreement to acquire PROFline BV, a privately held interest based in the Netherlands which specializes in digital satellite and cable broadcast equipment. IDC wants to acquire 100% of the company.Financial details of the proposed acquisition were not released, but the purchase will be paid for using a combination of cash and IDC common shares. If successful, the acquisition will let IDC expand into new product areas as well as provide increased presence in Europe. IDC president and CEO Ron Clifton said, "PROFline has great products and great people that will help strengthen our presence in Europe, an area that has traditionally been a good one for us. PROFline has complementary broadcast-oriented products that we plan to market in other regions of the world through our own international distribution network." C-COM secures order for mobile satellite unitsC-COM Satellite Systems Inc. has received a $300,000 order for its iNetVu Mobile satellite antenna systems from one of the largest U.S. telecommunications carriers. The identity of the U.S. carrier was not revealed in a news release. The antenna is a self pointing device and will be used to provide connectivity for "transportable/shippable units." Telus Mobility expands Mike handset lineupTelus Mobility is now offering the i850, a Motorola handset, for its Mike network. The device comes with an integrated camera phone and allows for multiple push-to-talk features, including push-to-view picture messaging. Other services available on the handset include push-to-send contacts and push-to-send my info. Contec continues to expand reach in Chinese marketContec Innovations, a mobile Internet infrastructure provider based in Vancouver, continues to grow its presence and reach in the all-important Chinese market with yet another trial of its Hornet product.This is the second agreement in recent weeks in China, but is unrelated to a previously announced $400,000 deal with KCTone. Hornet helps operators benefit from the growing number of third-party application service providers connected to mobile operator networks. "The Hornet acts as a master service provider platform - bringing in new revenues while reducing the overhead in the managing of all the relationships," Contec CEO Don Lay said in a news release. Infosat introduces high-speed service for rural businessesInfosat Communications is making it easier for businesses in rural and remote parts of the country to get high-speed Internet services. The company, a subsidiary of Telesat Canada and BCE Inc., has introduced High Speed Enterprise (HSe), a service using Telesat’s Anik F2 satellite to provide download speeds up to 1 Mbps. "No longer do Internet users in ‘off-net’ communities have to settle for a combination of low-speed dial-up service and expensive wireless options," Infosat president and CEO John Robertson said in a news release. HSe is available for $89.95 per month. Customer terminals vary in price. 724 Solutions brings advanced features to subscribers724 Solutions has unveiled Project Golden Gate, which enables wireless carriers and mobile virtual network operators to offer their subscribers advanced wireless features. Based on 724 Solutions’ X-treme Mobility Suite, it "extends the reach of value-added content services to existing wireless subscribers by enabling legacy subscribers to appear as part of the IMS/SIP network.

ROW Short Takes

News | October 5, 2005

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