The Copper Wire

APA Cables and Networks, a company that creates fiber management equipment for over 1100 local independent telephone companies, just announced a new fiber management upgrade kit that will allow local fiber distribution networks to meet higher bandwidth demands. Local phone companies can now carry voice, video, and data across fiber lines.

This is a clear indication that we are moving towards a more converged world, as local companies are provided with the technology to meet increased bandwidth needs. Much of the success and failure of the Internet’s capabilities will be based on the ability to boost bandwidth to support interactive media.

Posted by andrew at 11:07 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Centralization has been an underlying theme with how we manage communications. With all the different types of devices and communication technologies, getting a handle starts with having a central place to view all this information for an enterprise. But at the individual level, what about actually operating and keeping all these different devices running?

You have two outlets available in your wall socket; however, you have to charge your cell phone, your PDA, your MP3 player, and your digital camera.

What to do?

The smart people over at Malleable Devices Inc. have solved the common socket-crisis with creating the SynCh Universal Sync Charger. The ability to manage the many facets of our communication devices is consolidated into a single, comprehensive tool.

What makes the SynCh a cinch is that you can purchase their MDI mTip, an adapter that makes it possible to charge an extensive variety of brands and devices.

Malleable Devices Inc. has added a mini SynCh which charges through a laptop making it ideal for charging on-the-go.

Posted by Nina at 03:39 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

With the prevalence of VoIP and more bandwidth intense applications being used, throwing more bandwidth at the office WAN is one way to increase performance. However, simply adding bandwidth can be uneconomical for companies, especially if a company is using a telecom expense management solution that enables them to weigh the costs of adding additional bandwidth. Additionally, a company might only need slightly more capacity and not need to purchase an additional circuit to handle the capacity.

This has led to an emerging market in WAN optimization technologies that help to alleviate latency issues that exist. In fact, in a recent article in Information Week, analyst groups like Gartner predict that the WAN optimization market will take-off in the coming years, to a $1.5 billion market. Citing the increased demand in these WAN technologies are data and server consolidation, rising remote backup demands, the use of hosted (on-demand) applications, VoIP, and videoconferencing, along with more employees working on the road and from home offices.

Posted by andrew at 10:26 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

For anyone that has seen the stunning clarity and detail that high definition TV delivers, one company is now looking to bring that same amazing picture to your computer. In article in MIT's Technology Review, Matrixstream has introduced technology for streaming real-time, interactive HDTV signals to computers over the Internet. With HD signals being transmitted across the Internet, it is only another sign in how the Internet is evolving and changing the way we communicate.

Making HD possible across the Internet are new technologies in compression. However the proliferation of bandwidth also plays a critical role in making this a reality. As mentioned on The Copper Wire before, increased bandwidth will be a key factor in increased usage of the Internet as a platform to deliver content. More bandwidth enables us to utilize more interactive applications and view streaming video like an HD picture. And with the ability to stream an HD picture to a computer, media outlets have a whole new channel for delivering content. The ramifications for this are far reaching. For starters advertises will be able to target even closer to their target group.

Just to provide one example of the impact HDTV can have, Major League Baseball already provides a service that allows fans to watch every baseball game online. Now if fans can get those games in HD on their computer, will it increase viewership on the Internet, now that it can send a bigger, more pristine picture across the Internet? Which leads to the next question, will there be a day when more people watch events like the Super Bowl, World Cup, or World Series over the Internet than across traditional TV airwaves?

Posted by andrew at 10:25 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

A recent article in Network World on the advancements in Ethernet technologies is a refreshing sign and reinforces the fact that the way we connect and communicate is changing. A new 10Gbps Ethernet is now possible over a twisted-pair copper wire based on advancements in cancellation, analog-to-digital conversion, cabling enhancements, and coding improvements. The increased bandwidth should be a welcome sign as we continue to download more video, use Web based applications, and split the line for voice and data services.

Posted by andrew at 12:28 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Communications have come a long way from the days of the telegraph. An article posted on space.com today “Wireless Network Helps Unlock Secrets of the Universe” help to bring home that point each day. Scientists are now using a new high speed wireless microwave network to beam down digitally captured images from mountain observatories. This enables astronomers living thousands of miles away to see images immediately. The network operates at 45 megabits-per-second per second (about 30 times faster than DSL). This communications system helped astronomers discover a rocky planet (10 planet?) beyond Pluto. Clearly, as communications continue to evolve at a rapid rate the flow of information will be distributed at an even faster clip.

Posted by andrew at 10:09 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

It was not so long ago when long distance rates were costing companies millions. As a way to monitor these costs, companies installed call accounting solutions that enabled them to track phone calls, see which employees were making the most long distance calls, to get a handle on what these calls were costing.

Today with long distance rates down to mere pennies, overall cost and the distance of the call is not so much an issue. Even the federal government conceded that fact by repealing the Federal Excise Tax on long distance. So you would think call accounting might go by way of the dinosaur?

To the contrary, companies can use call accounting to determine when it makes sense to install VoIP lines or increase the bandwidth on a circuit based on call volumes. In addition call accounting solutions are effective in providing a record of when phone calls took place. So while the technologies may evolve and costs many change, some things will still remain the same.

Posted by andrew at 10:53 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)