TELECOM Digest     Thu, 5 Apr 2007 16:18:00 EDT    Volume 26 : Issue 93

Inside This Issue:                           Editor: Patrick A. Townson

    CommunicationsDirect News Daily Update - April 04 (communications)
    CommunicationsDirect News Daily Update - April 05 (communications)
    Telecom Update #574, April 5, 2007 (Angus TeleManagement Group)
    Level 3 Buys Select AT&T Assets (USTelecom dailyLead)
    Re: Fred Phelps Fax Machine Antics (mc)
    Re: Fred Phelps Fax Machine Antics (Linc Madison)
    Re: More on Internet and Patent History (Scott Dorsey)
    Re: A Stay of Execution Possible for Vonage (Lisa Hancock)

NOTE: For more telecom/internet/networking/computer news from the
daily media, check out our feature 'Telecom Digest Extra' each day at
http://telecom-digest.org/td-extra/more-news.html . Hundreds of new
articles daily. And, discuss this and other topics in our forum at
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http://telecom-digest.org/chat/index.html

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Subject: CommunicationsDirect News Daily Update - April 04, 2007
From: communicationsdirect <communications@communicationsdirectnews.com>
Reply-To: communicationsdirect_daily-owner@communicationsdirectnews.com
Date: Wed,  4 Apr 2007 11:29:24 EDT


********************************
PricewaterhouseCoopers Presents
The CommunicationsDirect Daily Update
For April 04, 2007
********************************

Macedonian Government Invites Bids for Fourth Mobile Licence
http://communicationsdirectnews.com/do.php/130/23619?11228

     The Macedonian government has invited potential bidders to
     participate in the planned tender for the country's fourth
     mobile licence. If at least two companies express interest during
     the notification period, the Agency for Electronic Communications
     (AEC) will call an international tender for the GSM
     frequencies. The deadline for ...

Euroset Moves Towards Launch as MVNO on SMARTS' Network
http://communicationsdirectnews.com/do.php/140/23615?11228

     Russia's leading mobile handset retailer Euroset has launched
     itself as a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO), reports
     Prime-Tass. The operator is to piggyback on the network of regional
     mobile operator SMARTS. Euroset will offer services in the Samara
     region, and plans to expand into a further four regions this month.
     Euroset ...

Nuvoiz for WiFi VoIP
http://communicationsdirectnews.com/do.php/150/23614?11228

     If VoIP over WiFi is ever going to become a mainstream telecom
     technology, users must have a reliable and standards-compliant
     softphone. Nuvoiz, a startup located in Mountain View, Calif.,
     believes it has just such a product in its Nuvoiz SoftPhone.  By
     2011, according to San Diego, Calif.-based technology research
     firm OnWorld, 35 ...

Qualcomm, Nokia Continue Legal Wrangling
http://communicationsdirectnews.com/do.php/130/23611?11228

     Qualcomm has filed a U.S. lawsuit against Nokia, regarding five
     patents. Qualcomm alleges the patents relate to application
     downloading over wireless networks and speech encoders used in
     certain phones. Qualcomm said the suits concern Nokia
     GSM/GPRS/EDGE cellular phones and that it wants an injunction
     against sales of the handsets as ...

Parts Of The FCC's Pretexting Ruling Could Harm Consumers
http://communicationsdirectnews.com/do.php/130/23609?11228

     For those who continue to worry about identity theft and the
     illicit procurement of personal phone records (now known as
     'pretexting'), the Federal Communications Commission
     has decided to beef up its privacy rules by requiring wireline
     and wireless carriers to adopt additional safeguards to protect
     consumers' personal ...

Gateway Key to BT's Fusion Flop
http://communicationsdirectnews.com/do.php/150/23608?11228

     After 18 months of marketing, BT Group plc has just 40,000
     subscribers for its fixed/mobile convergence (FMC) service BT
     Fusion, launched in 2005 as a dualmode GSM/Bluetooth
     service.&nbsp; The disappointing takeup of Fusion, based on
     unlicensed mobile access (UMA) technology, highlights the
     struggle operators can have with ...

AlcaLu Breaks Down (in) 2006
http://communicationsdirectnews.com/do.php/120/23605?11228

     Alcatel-Lucent gave a more detailed glimpse into its 2006
     performance today and, in doing so, showed just how the fourth
     quarter was dragged down by a slump in sales of wireless
     infrastructure. The overall numbers are nothing new: When the
     company announced preliminary fourth quarter 2006 results in
     January this year, it ...

Intel Sets Its Sights On NAND Flash Memory
http://communicationsdirectnews.com/do.php/150/23603?11228

     SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Intel has been a leader in NOR Flash for
     over a decade and is now moving aggressively in the NAND Flash
     market, reports In-Stat. The company is making significant
     investments in NAND to support its goal of becoming one of the
     top players in this business, the high-tech market research firm
     says.  "With ...

Your feedback on our e-letter is always welcome. Send email to:

CommunicationsDirect Editor <telecom_direct_editor@us.pwc.com>

Copyright (C) 2007 PricewaterhouseCoopers.

------------------------------

Subject: CommunicationsDirect News Daily Update - April 05, 2007
From: communicationsdirect_daily <communications@communications.com>
Reply-To: communicationsdirect_daily-owner@communicationsdirectnews.com
Date: Thu,  5 Apr 2007 11:35:25 EDT


********************************
PricewaterhouseCoopers Presents
The CommunicationsDirect Daily Update
For April 05, 2007
********************************

Canadian Government Acts to Speed Up Deregulation
http://communicationsdirectnews.com/do.php/130/23639?11228

     Following the announcement last December that the Canadian
     government would act to vary the CRTC framework on forbearance,
     decision 2006-15, Forbearance from the regulation of retail
     local exchange services, issued in April 2006, it has
     announced, through Industry Minister Maxime Bernier, that the
     rules will be implemented ...

Swedish Regulator Orders TeliaSonera Price Cuts
http://communicationsdirectnews.com/do.php/120/23635?11228

     Sweden's telecom regulator, the PTS, has ruled that TeliaSonera
     must immediately cut its local loop unbundling (LLU) charges. Dow
     Jones reports that PTS has asked TeliaSonera to slash its price for
     full LLU to 244 Swedish kronor (US$35.1) per quarter from the 315
     kronor it charged previously. PTS wants prices for partial LLU to
     be ...

Getting local ... and personal
http://communicationsdirectnews.com/do.php/140/23633?11228

     The value of our cable networks and services is increasingly
     judged by the degree to which they are localized and
     personalized.  Subsequently, a critical component of any
     full-scale video service is the local channels.  Although cable
     operators have known this for some time, satellite providers have
     only recently realized the importance of ...

Got Games?
http://communicationsdirectnews.com/do.php/120/23631?11228

     Compelling content and graphics, mixed with a sense of community
     that crosses multiple platforms, are key attributes driving the
     mobile gaming industry into the mainstream gaming world. In doing
     so, it is revving up an appealing new revenue stream for wireless
     carriers.  Although mobile gaming over a variety of handheld
     devices lags ...

Pipex Picks Nokia Siemens for WiMax Pilot
http://communicationsdirectnews.com/do.php/140/23629?11228

     Nokia Siemens Networks has announced its first European mobile
     WiMax engagement, a planned broadband wireless pilot with
     alternative U.K.  operator Pipex Communications plc, the
     broadband ISP that is currently up for sale. Nokia has
     already been named as one of three infrastructure suppliers for
     Sprint Nextel Corp.'s WiMax ...

FCC Scolded for Dragging its Feet
http://communicationsdirectnews.com/do.php/130/23626?11228

     The Democratic Congress has recently been credited with holding
     the FCC's feet to the fire on its mishandling of cable TV
     franchising, its backlog of unanswered consumer complaints and
     its stalling on various disputes between industry rivals.  Since
     the slap on the wrist, the FCC has accelerated efforts to
     complete action on ...

MetroPCS Eyes $1B IPO
http://communicationsdirectnews.com/do.php/120/23621?11228

     Local wireless operator MetroPCS Inc. is -- as expected --
     gunning for a $1 billion initial public offering.  The
     Dallas-based operator says that it plans to sell 50 million
     shares at between $19 and $21 per share when it starts trading on
     the NYSE. The service provider's $1 billion float will be the
     largest wireless-related IPO ...

Your feedback on our e-letter is always welcome. Send email to:

CommunicationsDirect Editor <telecom_direct_editor@us.pwc.com>

Copyright (C) 2007 PricewaterhouseCoopers.

------------------------------

From: Angus TeleManagement Group <jriddell@angustel.ca>
Subject: Telecom Update #574, April 5, 2007
Date: Thu, 05 Apr 2007 10:01:34


Because of the Easter holiday, this week's Telecom Update from
Canada is being issued a day early:
http://www.angustel.ca/update/up.html

PAT

------------------------------

Date: Thu, 5 Apr 2007 12:34:57 CDT
From: USTelecom dailyLead <ustelecom@dailylead.com>
Subject: Level 3 Buys Select AT&T Assets


USTelecom dailyLead
April 5, 2007
http://r.smartbrief.com/resp/gBlofDtusXpfjiCibuddbLDo


TODAY'S HEADLINES


NEWS OF THE DAY
* Level 3 buys select AT&T assets
BUSINESS & INDUSTRY WATCH
* Rogers dials in XM Canada content
* Cable takes a back seat to telecoms in J.D. Power survey
* Ericsson expects Brazil to auction 3G, WiMAX in 2007
* XO serves up wireless Internet access to Seattle firms
* Veoh Networks, AMD team up to deliver content to TVs
* Report: Deutsche Telekom unlikely to jump into Olimpia fray
TECHNOLOGY TRENDS
* Motorola corners 33% of U.S. mobile-phone sales
* ThePlatform aims to extend delivery of broadband video
* Cisco discontinues NeoPath products
* Report: More than 1 in 3 viewers watch TV out of home each week
IP DOWNLOAD
* HelloSoft releases HelloDual-Mode VoIP platform
REGULATORY & LEGISLATIVE
* Opinion: Debate over network neutrality hits Europe
* Canada brings market-based competition to telephone market

Follow the link below to read quick summaries of these stories and others.
http://r.smartbrief.com/resp/gBlofDtusXpfjiCibuddbLDo

------------------------------

From: mc <look@www.ai.uga.edu.for.address>
Subject: Re: Fred Phelps Fax Machine Antics
Organization: BellSouth Internet Group
Date: Wed, 4 Apr 2007 18:00:57 -0400


Telephone harassment is illegal in the United States, isn't it?

Incidentally, as a Baptist, I want to assure you that Phelps'
"Westboro Baptist Church" has no support at all from any other
Baptists as far as I can detect.  Because Baptists are not centrally
controlled, there is no hierarchy that can tell them to stop acting
nutty or even make them stop using the name "Baptist."  Their
so-called church is not affiliated with any larger Baptist
organization as far as I can determine.

It's a pity.


[TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: It is a pity. IMO, Reverend Phelps is
an embarassment to everyone who claims to be a Christian. Of course,
that's probably okay with him; he feels his church and himself are the
only 'real Christians' anyway. They took the name 'Westboro Baptist'
in the early 1950's when another Baptist organization in town called
'Eastside Baptist' (where Fred was also affiliated as a member)
decided to 'expand their outreach' in another area of town, so
logic dictated moving to a western area and thus the name "Westboro"
was chosen, and Fred was selected to operate the new branch. I
think Eastside held the mortgage originally on the Westboro property
but that was many, many years ago, and Eastside has long since
disavowed Fred and his bunch. 

And yes, telephone harassment is against the law.  PAT]

------------------------------

Subject: Re: Fred Phelps Fax Machine Antics
Date: Wed, 04 Apr 2007 21:18:42 -0700
From: Linc Madison <lincmad@suespammers.org>
Organization: Linc Mad dot com


> [TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: I am afraid, William, this has gone
> far beyond the point of no-return. You see, the United States has a
> big problem with the First Amendment getting in the way.

There is no First Amendment issue. None at all. The content of the
faxes is immaterial; the simple fact is that the so-called "Reverend"
Phelps is committing harassment, and that is illegal.

Linc Madison * San Francisco, California * Telecom at Linc Mad d0t c0m
URL: < http://www.lincmad.com >  *  North American Area Codes & Splits
Read my political blog, "The Third Path" http://LincMad.blogspot.com
US, California, and Washington State laws apply to LINCMAD.COM e-mail.


[TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: Apparently the church's legal
department (Phelps Chartered) has covered that angle pretty well.
They wait until YOU fax THEM or establish some sort of 'prior
relationship', in the same way that phone sales droids work. That's
why I suggest caution be taken by any Digest readers who feel a
need to Witness to these confused Christians.   PAT]

------------------------------

From: kludge@panix.com (Scott Dorsey)
Subject: Re: More on Internet and Patent History
Date: 5 Apr 2007 10:37:11 -0400
Organization: Former users of Netcom shell (1989-2000)


In article <telecom26.92.4@telecom-digest.org>,
<hancock4@bbs.cpcn.com> wrote:

> Time sharing required a facility known as "Dynamic Address
> Translation".  I wonder if this was patented.  IBM chose not to
> include it in its original System/360 line in 1964 and not support
> timesharing, but General Electric did and their machines were used
> for early timeshared computers.  IBM later added this to its
> System/360 model 67 and its System/370 line.  Time sharing proved to
> be a lot harder to implemented than first predicted; it was a heavy
> CPU and memory drain which was a problem on the technology of the
> 1960s.

You don't really _need_ memory management to do timesharing, but it
sure helps a whole lot and keeps users from killing one another.  IBM
made an aftermarket DAT box that could be attached to the 360/50 and
some other models in order to run TSO, when it became clear that this
was a big deal for computer buyers.

> Some in the early 1960s predicted time sharing would allow
> "democratization" of computer services, by allowing acess by anyone
> through a terminal to an expensive computer.  Some of these published
> predictions described the Internet as we have it today [in 2007] as
> being available in 1990, it took another full decade for that to come
> to fruition.

Most of those predictions actually described the internet of 1990,
really, which was greatly superior in some ways to the internet of
today.  

--scott

Telecom content?  Not much.
-- 
"C'est un Nagra.  C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."

------------------------------

From: hancock4@bbs.cpcn.com
Subject: Re: A Stay of Execution Possible for Vonage
Date: 4 Apr 2007 19:58:40 -0700
Organization: http://groups.google.com


Marguerite Reardon wrote:

Thanks for your post.

> Vonage. The company, which has yet to turn a profit ...

That's very interesting.  Let's be clear that this state of affairs --
no profit -- has nothing to do with the current patent litigation; it
was the situation all along.

I can't help but suspect that some here believe it's all big bad
Verizon's fault.  But it's not.

> Meanwhile, Vonage is facing stiff competition from cable operators
> that are bundling voice services similar in price and functions to
> its own service. Competition is also increasing from Internet
> companies like Skype, Google and Yahoo that are offering IP
> telephony services.

Again, very interesting.  I got the impression that some posters here
think "competition" doesn't really exist in telecommunications, that
the old Bell companies just run everything the way they used to, and
newcomers don't have a chance.  But we see that the marketplace is
full of players.  Let me point out that one cable player, Comcast, is
one heck of a big company with lots of resources, and upgrading its
network and marketing like crazy.  Lots of people have dropped Verizon
altogether (not even a plain land line phone) and switched to Comcast
for all needs.  (I personally feel Comcast is overpriced, but the
marketplace disagrees.)

------------------------------


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End of TELECOM Digest V26 #93
*****************************