IRVINE, Calif., June 20, 2000 (PRIMEZONE) -- The University of California, Irvine and two of Orange County's top high-tech companies Monday announced the establishment of a research center dedicated to developing technologies that will dramatically change the way people access and use information. The announcement was made at an inaugural event featuring remarks from senior executives of both companies and California Governor Gray Davis. Broadcom Corp. (Nasdaq:BRCM) and Conexant Systems Inc. (Nasdaq:CNXT) have each committed $3 million to support the formation of the Center for Pervasive Communications in The Henry Samueli School of Engineering at UCI.
VoIP Telecom, Inc. (OTCBB:VOPT) announced that Mr. J.K. "Ken" Berscht (B.A., Hons. Business, University of Western Ontario) of Edmonton, Alberta, has been appointed to the Company Board of Directors. Currently the Vice-President, Marketing of Enerplus International Energy Limited (which has $1.2 Billion under management in oil & gas properties in Canada), Mr. Berscht is a veteran securities dealer and investment banker who has been instrumental in funding many private and public companies in the United States and Canada over the past 20 years. Mr. Berscht is a General Securities Principal qualified by the New York Stock Exchange and the Canadian Securities Institute. Since 1981, he has been a senior broker and investment banker with Yorkton Securities (Calgary), L.O.M. Western Inc. and Canaccord Capital Corp. (Vancouver).
VoIP Telecom, Inc. is a next generation digital telecommunications company focused on the deployment of worldwide digital, voice as well as data communications via fiber optic, Internet circuit (VoIP), satellite and public switched telephone networks. The Company's strategic vision is to become a leader in converging conductivity solutions by building a major consortium of the highest quality VoIP entities in order to obtain a significant market share of international long distance traffic in North America, Europe, Asia, Russia and the Middle East.
VoIP Telecom's entry into the fast-paced, highly profitable global telecommunications marketplace is concentrated on VoIP via an acquisitions program, which includes Access Network Limited (ACCESS - 100%) and NEX Telecom Co. Ltd., of Seoul, South Korea (NEX - 49%), along with the proposed addition of International Telecommunications & Equipment, Inc., of Kirkland, Washington, U.S.A. (ICE - 100%. IBC has an equity position in VoIP Telecom for additional information visit our disclaimer at www.ibchannel.com .
Motorola Semiconductor Products Sector (NYSE:MOT) announced today that Samsung Electronics, a strategic associate in ADSL development, has recently passed qualification process by Korea Telecom (KT) with their fiber-to-the-curb Broadband Access Network System. Samsung was recently awarded a $65 million contract to supply their FTTC system to Korea Telecom for deployment in their Broadband Access Network, enabling mass deployment of 500K ADSL lines in Korea per year through 2002.
The Intel Communications Fund today announced it has made an investment in Braxtel Communications (formerly SalesLan). Braxtel is headquartered in Boxborough, Mass., with product development and European operations based in Dublin, Ireland. Braxtel has developed a software based call center and customer interaction system that enables organizations to build an integrated communications package including, unified messaging, e-Commerce and Web interaction on a single or networked Windows NT platform.
"This additional funding will help allows us to rapidly expand our sales and marketing presence in the North American market, and speed the development of future product functionality, including additional Web integration and VoIP (Voice Over IP) features," added Robert Ardill, CEO/CTO of Braxtel Communications.
The $200 million Intel Communications Fund was created in September 1999 to invest in companies supporting Intel's key programs and initiatives in voice and data communications. The fund, which makes minority equity investments of typically less than $10 million, is initially focused on investments in companies developing solutions based on CT Media, as well as on Intel's Internet Exchange(TM) (IX) architecture. The fund is managed and controlled by Intel.
3Com Corporation (Nasdaq:COMS), a leading provider of carrier-class systems for delivering Internet Protocol (IP)-based enhanced services, today announced that Arbinet-thexchange, the leading online telecommunications exchange, is now terminating and settling voice traffic carried through the CommWorks(R) IP telephony platform. Service providers using the CommWorks IP telephony platform now can use Arbinet-thexchange to bridge the connectivity gap that exists between the world's IP and circuit switched networks, gaining access to a competitive marketplace for the termination and settlement of voice-over-IP (VoIP) traffic. 3Com and thexchange also will engage in joint development and testing efforts aimed at developing new solutions for enhanced call routing and billing, according to the agreement announced today.
Metromedia International Group, Inc. (AMEX:MMG), which through Metromedia International Telecommunications, Inc. (MITI), is the owner of various interests in communications joint ventures in Eastern Europe, the former Soviet Union and other emerging markets, today announced that it has entered into an agreement with Marconi Communications Limited of the U.K. to acquire Marconi's 50% ownership position in Comstar, the third largest digital overlay operator in Moscow. MITI has agreed to pay $60 million for the 50% interest in Comstar. The parties expect the transaction to close in the fall of 2000.
Comstar is a 50/50 joint venture with the Moscow City Telephone Network (MGTS). It has a 756 mile optical fiber network throughout Moscow City. This network supports local, national and international data and telephony services and is interconnected into MGTS' public network of 4.5 million customers. Comstar has a well-established platform that facilitates all types of IP services through a Central Internet Service Node based on Marconi technology. This platform enables Comstar to develop VoIP services, point-to-point data communications, frame relay, ATM and a total package of ISP services.
Efficient Networks, Inc. (Nasdaq:EFNT), a worldwide developer and supplier of high-speed digital subscriber line (DSL) customer premises equipment (CPE) for the broadband access market, today announced Tokyo Metallic Communications is purchasing SpeedStream(R) 5851 routers. With assistance of Soliton Systems K.K., a large network systems integrator, Tokyo Metallic Communications is launching Japan's first SDSL (symmetrical digital subscriber line) service in Tokyo's central business district service area.
RadiSys Corp. (Nasdaq:RSYS), a leading global designer and manufacturer of building blocks enabling next-generation Internet and communications systems, and Hughes Software Systems Limited, a leading supplier of software technology to communications equipment manufacturers for voice over IP, SS7, mobile data and intelligent networks, is demonstrating voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) calls using the MEGACO Protocol. The demonstration is taking place between RadiSys (Booth 307) and Hughes Software Systems (Booth 127), at Voice on the Net (VON) Europe 2000, June 20 - 22, Stockholm, Sweden.
Cisco Systems, Inc. today announced the availability of Cisco Hoot and Holler over IP using Cisco multiservice platforms. Traditional Hoot and Holler networks are a point-to-multipoint voice application and are commonly used by brokerage firms to advise brokers on market movements. These firms spend millions of dollars in monthly leased line charges to pay for dedicated circuit-switched long-distance connections used to implement traditional Hoot and Holler networks. Cisco Hoot and Holler over IP enables customers to eliminate most of these expensive circuit-switched telephony charges by carrying Hoot and Holler voice traffic over their own IP network. Cisco Hoot and Holler over IP is an example of how enterprises are leveraging their data networks to carry voice traffic, which allows them to implement New World applications never before possible.
MCK Communications (Nasdaq:MCKC), a leading provider of solutions to enable the delivery of business-quality voice over existing and next-generation networks, today announced significant software enhancements to its EXTender suite of products, including IP features, support for new applications, protocols, and remote clients. Continued focus and execution on the delivery of remote voice solutions that bridge users to next-generation networks and applications are a key part of MCK's overall strategy. (See related release, "MCK Communications Unveils Vision to Become Remote Voice Communications Bridge to Next-generation and IP-Enabled Networks and Application," 6/6/00). The new software release, Version 1.3.1, is applicable to the following MCK products: PBXgateway, EXTender 6000 for Branch Offices, EXTender 4000 for IP, and MCK's first softphone, the EXTender 100 for PC clients.
InnoMediaLogic (IML), a provider of world-class technology used in high growth voice-over-packet gateways and related New Network products, today announced that voice-over-broadband supplier Jetstream Communications is deploying IML technology in Jetstream's high-density Voice over Digital Subscriber Line (VoDSL) gateways. Natural MicroSystems, (Nasdaq:NMSS), the technology leader enabling the world's top networking and communication equipment suppliers to build New Network infrastructure and solutions, announced May 19, 2000 that it intends to acquire IML by the end of June 2000. IML will become NMS' Network Access Business Unit, headed by IML Founder, President and CTO Michel Laurence, who will report directly to NMS Chairman and CEO Bob Schechter.
Jetstream Communications, recently named one of Upside's Hot 100 Private Companies of the Year, is a pioneer of Voice over Broadband and a recognized leader in providing service providers with technology for delivering integrated voice and data services over DSL connections. As part of its ongoing technology partnership with Jetstream, IML will provide high-density, highly reliable CompactPCI hardware and software for use in Jetstream's JetPowered (TM) VoDSL service platform - the CPX-1000.
RADVision (Nasdaq:RVSN), a leading provider of award-winning, industry-standard products and technology for real- time voice and video communication over IP, today announced that it will be demonstrating MGCP (Media Gateway Control Protocol) interoperability with AudioCodes (Nasdaq:AUDC), a leading provider of enabling technologies and communication system components for voice over packet networks, at RADVision's booth, VON Europe 2000 in Stockholm, Sweden.
Inter-Tel, Incorporated (Nasdaq:INTL) announces the production release of ClearConnect Lite version 1.0, telephony for e-commerce Web sites. ClearConnect Lite enables Web site visitors to use their live Internet connection to conduct voice conversations, while still connected to the Web site, with a company's customer service agents. If customers have questions, they click on a "Talk to agent" button, on the company's Web site and within seconds, they're speaking to a customer service agent. The agent can then direct customers to specific pages and suggest additional items the customer might be interested in purchasing. ClearConnect Lite allows companies to market directly to customers, person-to-person. With live conversations over the Web, customers get their questions answered immediately.
GRIC Communications, Inc. (Nasdaq:GRIC), the leading provider of multiple value-added Internet services for service providers, including Voice over IP (VoIP) and Internet roaming, and NetSpeak(R) Corporation (Nasdaq:NSPK), a leading provider of advanced telephony solutions for Internet Protocol (IP) networks, today announced that NetSpeak's PC-to-Phone product will be the first solution in the GRICtalk(TM) portfolio of PC-to-phone solutions. The service is currently being showcased at Voice on the Net (VON) Europe 2000, June 19-22 in Stockholm, Sweden.
Cirilium Corp. is supplying Telia, the leading telecommunications company in Sweden, with their Power-Suite Voice over IP (VoIP) technology. This venture will enable the launch of Telia's VoIP calls for residential use. Together with Komodo Technology Inc., leading supplier of highly integrated VoIP phone adaptors, the three companies will unveil a carrier-class IP telephony solution at the Voice on the Net (VON) Conference in Stockholm this week. Cirilium Corp. provides turnkey service creation solutions to service providers offering Internet Protocol-based telephony. Based in Phoenix, Cirilium is a privately held company founded and owned by Hypercom Corp. (NYSE:HYC) and Inter-Tel Inc. (Nasdaq:INTL). Combining the resources of its parents, Cirilium represents one of the largest focused IP Telephony infrastructure providers worldwide with presence in more than 80 countries.
Mentor Graphics Corporation (Nasdaq:MENT) today announced that it is the leading Intellectual Property (IP) services provider and commodity IP vendor according to a recent study by Gartner Group/Dataquest. "Worldwide Semiconductor Intellectual Property Market Share Rankings, 1999," is the first study by Dataquest of the emerging semiconductor IP market. Mentor Graphics(R) captured number one rankings in IP services (32.9-percent market share) and several commodity IP categories, including ethernet (29.1-percent), communications (9.0-percent), Universal Serial Bus (12-percent) and automotive (18.2-percent).