Upcoming Meeting Notice


SAVE THE DATE:

MIDWEST REGIONAL RECEPTION
OCTOBER 14, 2009
Hotel Lumiere - St. Louis, MO


2010 WINTER CONFERENCE AND EXHIBIT SHOW
JANUARY 20 - 22, 2010
Royal Sonesta Hotel - New Orleans, LA

(Click here for more information.)

Avaya
Cabling
Conferences
Mitel
Mobile
Nortel
SIP
Storage

Avaya

Avaya provides unified communications architecture to leading financial institution
Avaya announced that it will provide its Avaya Aura unified communications architecture for Deutsche Bank. This includes IP telephony (IPT) and associated applications that provide such capabilities as click-to-dial from computer screens, extend office calls, and directory access to cellular or smart phones. Furthermore, employees working from remote offices are enabled to have easy, consistent access to all their communications tools. Avaya will facilitate a consolidation of Deutsche Bank's telecommunications operations. The project, which is expected to be completed over the next three to five years, will enable the bank to provide telecommunications for 3,100 buildings in 72 countries. The core Avaya IPT infrastructure will be located in the company's data centers, thus minimizing the amount of equipment required in the branch sites. This will afford cost-effective voice installations and increased service levels, including reduced time to market to deploy new voice features and applications. The project will also allow a technology migration to a company-wide, Session Initiation Protocol (SIP)-based communications architecture which is expected to foster greater operational simplicity in the bank's telecommunications infrastructure.
Visit www.avaya.com.




emFAST Inc. selected for membership in Avaya DevConnect
emFAST Inc., developer of the FACSys fax messaging suite of products, has been selected by Avaya Inc. for Gold-level membership in the Avaya DevConnect program. Currently, the FACSys fax messaging suite is in the process of Avaya's Interoperability / Compliance testing for compatibility with the Avaya IP Office 500 communication solution and is scheduled to be rated "Avaya Compliant" in time for the Avaya Global Sales and Americas Partner Conference 2010 in Nashville, Tennessee. The Avaya DevConnect program promotes the development, compliance-testing and co-marketing of innovative third-party products that are compatible with standards-based Avaya solutions. Member organizations have expertise in a broad range of technologies – including IP telephony, contact centers and mobility applications – helping companies extend the value of multivendor networks and transform voice into an intelligent business application that delivers true value to the bottom line. Gold-level and Platinum members must meet rigorous Avaya criteria for customer satisfaction, product support, business operations, marketing and sales.
Visit www.emfast.com or www.avaya.com/devconnect.
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Cabling

Belden extends industrial product offering
Belden extends its industrial product offering with the addition of a rugged new line of Hirschmann Industrial Ethernet Cordsets and Patch Cords. When this new connectivity is used in conjunction with Belden’s diverse line of Hirschmann Industrial Ethernet Switches and Belden’s Industrial Ethernet Cable, a complete (end-to-end) industrial solution is realized. To ensure reliable performance in extreme or mission-critical environments, Hirschmann Industrial Ethernet Cordsets and Patch Cords are manufactured using Belden’s patented Bonded-Pair technology. Bonded-Pair cables have the individual insulated conductors bonded together along their longitudinal axis to assure uniform conductor-to-conductor spacing for maximum electrical integrity. These cables are also chemical- and temperature-resistant and incorporate rugged RJ45 or over molded M12 (IP67 rated) industrial connectors to ensure reliable performance in extreme or mission-critical environments.   
Visit www.belden.com. ^Back To Top

Conferences

BICSI Fall Conference and Exhibition serves 3,500 professionals
BICSI’s 2009 Fall Conference and Exhibition marked the release of the Telecommunications Distribution Methods Manual (TDMM), 12th edition, the Electronic Safety and Security Specialist Program. A total of 34 individuals passed the design exams—including the Electronic Safety and Security (ESS) credential by BICSI President, Edward J. Donelan, RCDD, ESS, NTS, TLT.  More than 30 educational and motivational sessions took place throughout the conference, with pre-conference seminars sold out and rooms “standing room only” in concurrent breakout sessions.  The closing keynote speaker was Rick Searfoss, one of less than 100 people who have ever commanded a human space mission. In his presentation, Searfoss shared fundamental ideas for teamwork and success in business that translated well from space to the work of information transport systems professionals responsible for laying out the infrastructure for the future. BICSI serves more than 23,000 ITS professionals, including designers, installers and technicians. Headquartered in Tampa, Florida, BICSI membership spans nearly 90 countries.
Visit www.bicsi.org.
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Mitel

Mitel reports year-end financial results for fiscal year 2009
Mitel announced year-end financial results for the fiscal year ended April 30, 2009 (all figures in U.S. dollars). Mitel reported revenue in fiscal year 2009 of $735.1 million, an increase of 6.2 percent over the previous fiscal year. This was primarily due to growth in the U.S. market. Operating spending as a percentage of revenue declined by 3.4 percent, driven by cost reduction measures taken midway through fiscal year 2009. Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) was $85.3 million which represented an increase of $21 million or 33 percent over the previous fiscal year. In fiscal 2009, Mitel incurred a net loss of $193.7 million. This net loss included a non-cash goodwill write-down of $284.9 million. In accordance with GAAP, goodwill is tested for impairment annually. This non-cash goodwill impairment charge does not affect the company's liquidity, cash flows or future operations. A $23 million charge for integration and restructuring activities also contributed to the net loss.
Visit www.mitel.com. ^Back To Top

Mobile

Mobile VoIP could transform mobile landscape
Mobile VoIP is moving beyond its initial function as a new mechanism to get inexpensive international calls, reports In-Stat. While Mobile VoIP still poses a direct threat to operator voice revenue, it also represents a dynamic new capability that promises numerous applications. In-Stat projects that by 2013 Mobile VoIP applications will generate annual revenues of $32.2 billion, driven by over 278 million registered users worldwide. One new application integrates Mobile VoIP into a unified mobile interface to social networking sites. In another new development, MVNOs and 3G operators without legacy networks are using Mobile VoIP to more cost effectively add voice to data offerings. In yet another scenario, a few carriers are using a form of Mobile VoIP, UMA, to support better indoor coverage and off-load macro networks. “Applications such as Skype and Vonage have influenced users to think of voice as a data application,” says Frank Dickson, In-Stat analyst. “The increasing penetration of Wi-Fi in mobile devices was the beach head that Mobile VoIP applications needed. As user habits are being shaped by rich on-line communication experiences, mobile carriers control over devices and data applications is waning. Mobile carrier attempts to slow the spread of on-line Mobile VoIP are proving challenging as well.”
Visit www.in-stat.com. ^Back To Top

Nortel

Clement to see if Nortel-Avaya deal is of net benefit to Canada
Speaking to a group of investors, Industry Minister Tony Clement said Avaya's proposed deal will be subjected to the "net-benefit-to-Canada" test under the Industry Canada Act to ensure the transaction is in the country's best interests. Previously Nortel announced it would sell the enterprise division to New Jersey-based Avaya for US$900 million and other benefits. The sale is part of a plan by bankrupt Nortel to sell itself piece by piece to repay creditors. Despite calling Nortel a "thorny issue," Clement said the review will be fair and follow standard procedures for all reviews carried out when a proposed foreign investment exceeds the book value threshold of $312 million, as is the case with Avaya. In such Investment Canada reviews, Ottawa often requires would-be foreign buyers to make commitments on investment, production and jobs in return for approval of the transaction.

Clement blasted critics who accuse the Conservative government of allowing the country's high-tech sector to rot. "I get my dander up a little bit when some people proclaim that the demise of Nortel means the demise of the IT sector in Canada," Mr. Clement told reporters. "Nothing can be further form the truth. You know the demise of Nortel is unfortunate -- but it's part of the past." But Mr. Clement and his Conservative government have come under attack -- by opposition politicians, business leaders and media commentators -- for allowing the assets to be acquired by foreigners.

Previously, Mr. Clement rejected calls that Ottawa intervene and block the sale of Nortel's wireless division to Swedish telecom maker Ericsson. He said the $1.1-billion acquisition would be "very beneficial" to Canada while dismissing claims from opposition politicians and BlackBerry maker Research In Motion Ltd. that the deal presented national security concerns for Canada. Further, book value -- the value of an asset according to its balance sheet -- of the Ericsson deal was below the legislated threshold that triggers government reviews.
Visit www.nortel.com.
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SIP

Toshiba and Xchange Telecom certify interoperability
Toshiba America Information Systems Inc., Telecommunication Systems Division (Toshiba) and Xchange Telecom announced the certification of interoperability of MetroFlexIP SIP Trunking from Xchange Telecom with Toshiba’s family of Strata CIX IP business communication systems.  MetroFlexIP is now available from Authorized Toshiba Dealers nationwide. “This certification confirms that Toshiba’s Strata CIX VoIP systems and Xchange Telecom’s MetroFlexIP work seamlessly together, providing enterprises with the confidence of reliable telephone service and equipment,” added Eric Abing, product manager, Toshiba.
Visit www.telecom.toshiba.com.




Zultys announces media gateway portfolio
Zultys Inc. announces a Media Gateway family of products. These gateways continue Zultys' commitment to removing barriers to UC deployment and enhancing its product line. "Zultys has been committed to SIP as the voice communication standard since the conception of the company. Our Media Gateway portfolio is being added at the request of many customers and resellers and offers the flexibility to meet the needs of the SMB marketplace," said Steve Rothenberg, Zultys CEO. From a 4 port FX/S or FX/O offer to a 48 port FXS, these gateways can be deployed in small or medium size local or remote locations with SIP connections back to the larger home office. The MG VoIP gateways support outgoing and incoming calls to PSTN, local extension to extension dialing as well as transfer and hold capability. They are now also able to add and enable inexpensive standard analog phones to the MX Line. This enables the inexpensive deployments of devices in places like healthcare, education, hospitality and anywhere where a standard phone is needed as an extension of the PBX.
Visit www.zultys.com.
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Storage

External storage devices will be among leading peripherals for SuperSpeed USB adoption
“SuperSpeed” USB technology, also known as USB 3.0, will see broad adoption across a range of PC and PC peripherals over the next several years, according to In-Stat. Among peripherals, SuperSpeed USB will be targeted initially at devices requiring high data transfer rates and large data stores, such as external hard-disk drives and Flash Drives. Other likely target devices include Portable Media Players (PMPs), LCD PC monitors and digital still cameras.  In-Stat projects that attach rates for SuperSpeed USB will soar to over 70% in external hard-drives by 2012, with similar attach rates in notebook and desktop PCs. Initial adoption will emerge in 2010. By 2013, shipments of USB 3.0 flash drives will approach 200 million units worldwide. Eventually, mobile phones will be the highest volume segment, simply due to the overwhelming volume phones shipped. Overall, SuperSpeed USB will represent over 25% of the USB market by 2013.
Visit www.in-stat.com.
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