Sprint

Sprint goes FMC with Cisco

Doug Mohney — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 16:56:09 -0500

Sprint has launched a new business FMC offering that taps into Cisco Unified Communications Manager.

Sprint Wireless Integration extends Cisco UC Manager functionality to Sprint mobile phones, so customers now get calls within the enterprise to be "on net." The service is delivered via Sprint's IMS architecture within the company's MPLS network, and it utilizes a customer's Cisco Unified Communications Manager, Cisco's Unified IP phones - Sprint provides a Cisco Unified Border Element. A Sprint MPLS connection provides connectivity into Sprint's IMS core so Sprint CDMA phones can be fully integrated into the Cisco Unified Communications Manager.

Sprint's Wireless Integration service targets business enterprises with a minimum of 100 users and is set up as a "pay-as-you-use" service. Calls from mobile phones get abbreviated dialing functionality, and calls can be transferred seamlessly and transparently between devices, such as a Cisco desktop IP phone and a Sprint mobile phone.

The system's benefits include extension of classes of service restriction to mobile devices, the ability to track mobile calls through Cisco UC manager, single number access for employees, unified voice mail, call transfer between mobile and desk phones, and a reduction of trunks, because calls get moved to an enterprise's IP network and avoid trunk usage .

For more:
- MarketWatch carries Sprint Cisco FMC press release.

Verizon kicks off NFL Network on broadband field

Doug Mohney — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 09:41:24 -0500

Verizon broadband customers will get special bonus features for viewing eight NFL games, including the ability to select from multiple camera angles.

Verizon and the NFL Network have cut an exclusive deal through which Verizon is the only broadband provider that gets to carry NFL Network games both on TV and online. The NFL Network Game Extra package is available to customers who subscribe to Verizon FiOS or high speed internet service with either FiOS TV or DIRECTV through Verizon.

In addition to multiple camera angles, NFL Network Game Extra includes online access to up-to-the-minute game statistics, drive chart simulations, on-demand video highlights, live chats with other NFL Network Game Extra viewers and live audio feeds. If you're curious, a preview of NFL Game extra is available at http://www.nfl.com/videos?videoId=09000d5d80c3ead2.

Featured games include:

Denver Broncos @ Cleveland Browns - Nov. 6
New York Jets @ New England Patriots - Nov. 13
Cincinnati Bengals @ Pittsburgh Steelers - Nov. 20
Arizona Cardinals @ Philadelphia Eagles - Nov. 27
Oakland Raiders @ San Diego Chargers - Dec. 4
New Orleans Saints @ Chicago Bears - Dec. 8
Indianapolis Colts @ Jacksonville Jaguars - Dec. 18
Baltimore Ravens @ Dallas Cowboys - Dec. 20

Earlier this week, the NFL Network announced an exclusive deal to broadcast Thursday night games to Sprint cell phones. The content distribution deals with phone companies are, to an extent, a thumb-in-the-eye to the cable companies who refuse to carry the NFL Network on their basic tier of service offerings.

For more:
- Verizon release on NFL Network broadband deal
- Goodell says cable operators don't like NFL Network. NY Times article.

Cisco plans $1 billion in cost cuts

Dan O'Shea — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 09:11:44 -0500

Cisco Systems reported fiscal first quarter earnings that showed a 5 percent increase in net income to $2.5 billion and an 8.1 percent increase in revenue to about $10.3 billion. While Cisco CEO John Chambers was bullish about the company's chances to keep its long-term growth rate plans in line, he also said the company is cutting $1 billion worth of costs related to marketing, travel, events and other areas. The company also has initiated a hiring freeze.

Those cuts come as Cisco experienced a sharp decline in product orders in the last part of the recent quarter. Chambers also said revenue for the second quarter could decline by between 5 percent and 10 percent.

Ironically, the marketing cuts come as Cisco is in the midst of a big marketing and advertising push for a new product announcement due next Tuesday. That announcement reportedly involves a new service provider edge router, and with Cisco's orders trending downward and widespread industry concern about near-term carrier capex, you have to wonder if the company may have its work cut out for it as it looks for buyers of the new product.

For more:
- Network World has the story

Sprint disconnects, re-connects with Cogent

Dan O'Shea — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 08:49:00 -0500

Sprint and Cogent Communications have been engaged in a network peering dispute in recent weeks that late last week resulted in Sprint disconnecting its network from Cogent's network. That action resulted in service disruptions for some Internet users. By Sunday night, however, Sprint said it had re-established the connection to Cogent's network on a temporary basis while other options are explored.

The peering dispute has been going on rather quietly since late this summer. The companies had a settlement-free peering agreement in place, but Sprint said that Cogent didn't meet the minimum traffic requirements to keep it going. Sprint reportedly told Cogent it would gradually cut off about 10 interconnections between the two networks during October. Sprint also filed a lawsuit against Cogent in September alleging a breach of contract.

However, it was Cogent which Friday brought more attention to the spat, issuing a press release saying that Sprint had terminated the peering agreement and broken a contract in advance of letting a court decide the fate of the interconnection agreement. There are a lot of rumors circulating about what actually happened and why.

Peering disagreements and disconnections are not all that uncommon, especially when they prove to be less than worthwhile for at least one of the parties involved. But, letting that dispute get to the point where end users are cut off without warning seems irresponsible on the part of both carriers.

For more:
- PC Magazine has this report

Related articles
Cogent made our list of Top 10 Service Providers on the Cutting Edge
Cogent CEO Dave Schaeffer is not universally liked

IP/MPLS Forum approves mobile backhaul spec

Dan O'Shea — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 20:30:07 -0400

The IP/MPLS Forum announced progress in applying multi-protocol label switching (MPLS) technology to mobile backhaul infrastructures. The group approved its first technical specification as part of its MPLS in Mobile Backhaul Initiative (MMBI). Mobile carriers have been looking to move away from the costs and complexities associated with using traditional TDM-based leased lines for backhaul. The move to new backhaul options has been dragging despite the obvious benefits, so maybe the new spec can help mobile carriers and their backhaul providers make the technology migration.

For more:
- read the IP/MPLS Forum press release

Monday's rising tide lifts telco stocks

Doug Mohney — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 22:25:14 -0400

The record one-day surge Monday in the stock market lifted telecom stocks along for the ride.

As the Dow Jones industrial average recorded a single-day gain of 936 points on news that global political leaders plan to work together to work out the current financial mess, Qwest shares gained 26 percent, moving from $2.18 to $2.74. Qwest's leap is attributed to a combination of signing a deal with the CWA and getting an upgrade from Morgan Stanley.

Sprint picked up 16.4 percent in daily trading, opening at $3.95 and closing at $4.21 for the day. AT&T, part of the Dow Jones basket, rose 16.3 percent and $3.65 per share to close at $26.07. The only relative yawner of the day was Verizon, moving 8.1 percent and $2.16 a share to close at $28.93.

Equipment suppliers also saw gains yesterday, with Alcatel-Lucent going up 48 cents and nearly 21 percent, while Motorola went up 19 percent for the day.

The Dow Jones Wilshire Telecommunications Indexes were also up for the day, with a 12.6 percent gain to 985 points for the Fixed Line Telecommunications Index and a 10.4 percent gain for the Telecommunications Equipment Index.

For more:
- MarketWatch reports on Monday's telecom stock surge.

And what is 4G, anyway?

Doug Mohney — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 16:45:34 -0400

Sprint uses the term "4G" to describe WiMAX technology. This seems to upset people, judging from the public and private comments on last week's editor corner, "Stop Swift-Boating WiMAX".

On the XOHM side of the equation, CEO Barry West - who has to be a fun guy at parties - categorizes 1G as analog mobile, 2G as digital, 3G as CDMA, and 4G as anything using OFDM. It's pretty simple, it is straightforward, there's not a lot of haggling.

Wikipedia says "There is no formal definition for what 4G is; however, there are certain objectives that are projected for 4G. These objectives include: that 4G will be a fully IP-based integrated system. 4G will be capable of providing between 100 Mbit/s and 1 Gbit/s speeds both indoors and outdoors, with premium quality and high security."

By the Wikipedia definition, 3 out of 4 four definitions are met under the existing definitions of WiMAX; nobody thinks that the current definition of WiMAX is going to be able to crank up to 1 Gbit/sec, but life, as they say, ain't so simple.

There's a whole Hatfields and McCoy's feud between the IEEE and the ITU. To oversimplify, IEEE guys are data geeks while the ITU people are, well, Bellheads.

A spokesperson for Nokia has said "There's no official owner of who defines 4G," and you would think if anyone could tell you what 4G was/is/will be, it would be Nokia.

ITU-R is in the process of defining IMT-Advanced, but, funny enough, the standards boday has backed away from the phrase 4G. IMT-Advanced is a "big tent" term that will/may/should encompass 802.16m and LTE-Advanced which in turn are faster than WiMAX and LTE standards respective. Maybe.

If I understand this descent into acronyms and definitions, even the forthcoming, first generation LTE would not qualify as a 4G technology. That is, if we call IMT-Advanced as the term formerly known as 4G - but not called 4G by ITU-R.

Right now, I'm inclined to live with Barry's definition. It's simple, relatively clear-cut, and doesn't get into haggling over esoteric terminology that has resulted in spewing out derivatives like 2.75G, 3.5G, 3.75G, and pre-4G (please tell me you are screaming pre-802.11n right now).

- Doug

Slideshow - Sprint brings a WiMAX COW to Baltimore for XOHM celebration.

Doug Mohney — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 16:39:31 -0400

Sprint took no chances for its WiMAX XOHM celebration event in Baltimore.

The company deployed a supplemental "cell site on wheels" - or COW - on top of a parking garage next to the event to ensure WiMAX coverage was rock-solid. The COW is a glorified trailer containing equipment racks and an extendable mast to elevate antennas to the proper height.

COWs are used to provide supplemental coverage for larger events -- you see a lot of them in Las Vegas for the Consumer Electronics Show and other large trade shows -- and at disasters and other emergencies when the primary coverage has been clobbered (Think Hurricane and downed cellular tower).

More pictures of the COW and its equipment can be found at the full slideshow here.

Ciena rolls out new Ethernet access gear, capabilities

Dan O'Shea — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 10:22:15 -0400

Optical and converged Ethernet vendor Ciena has announced new products and capabilities related to the company's acquisition of World Wide Packets earlier this year. The CN 3920 Service Delivery Switch, targeted at growing business customers, is a customer premises unit with eight 10/100/1000 Ethernet ports and four gigabit Ethernet pluggables for uplinks. The new CN 3911 Service Delivery Switch is an outdoor version of the platform that also includes two VoIP gateway ports, and also is similar, as Telephony notes, to an optical network terminal that would be used in residential FTTH deployments.

Ciena also talked about integrating the service awareness capabilities that it gained through the WWP acquisition in other gear in its Ethernet product line-up. For instance, a company official told Light Reading that WWP's service awareness capabilities could be extended through Ciena's existing CN 4200 FlexSelect platform so that Ethernet operations, administration and management functions are common across all of the company's Ethernet network platforms.

For more:
- check out this coverage at Telephony
- see this story at Light Reading

Samsung replaces NSN in Xohm Dallas launch

Dan O'Shea — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 22:45:00 -0400

Sprint's Xohm WiMAX network launched this week in Baltimore, but the lesser-known Xohm-related story out of WiMAX World in Chicago is that Samsung has replaced Nokia Siemens Networks as the vendor for the Xohm network in Dallas. Telephony reports that Sprint chose to move forward with Samsung--its vendor for East Coast markets--in Dallas because doing so will allow it to accelerate its market launch.

Sprint and NSN both are saying that NSN is still a key Xohm vendor. NSN's WiMAX gear is still undergoing production. NSN came in as thir surprise third vendor choice for Xohm well after Samsung and Motorola were already part of the team.

For more:
- check out this coverage at Telephony

PBT earns backhaul role for Sprint's Xohm

Dan O'Shea — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 18:34:56 -0400

Provider backbone transport (PBT, also call provider backbone bridging, or PBB) has had a tough year, going from being a much-hyped technology at the beginning of 2008, to being shunned by BT and other carriers and vendors in recent months. But, this week, PBT got a starring role it can be proud of, as the Ethernet technology to be used for backhaul in Sprint's new Xohm WiMAX network. Sprint is using gear from Ciena (and Clearwire is, too, according to Unstrung).

The high-profile deployment gives PBT backers something to cheer about, but also may renew the animosity between the technology's supporters and its critics. Light Reading Europe reports that the Carrier Ethernet World Congress in Berlin this week has played host to much hot debate between PBT and multi-protocol layer switching camps.

For more:
- see this coverage at Unstrung
- check out this report at Light Reading Europe

Jabber punches up Cisco's UC effort

Dan O'Shea — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 10:08:49 -0400

Cisco Systems has agreed to acquire Jabber, a highly-regarded developer of presence technology and messaging applications that had lured previous investments from France Telecom, Intel and others. Aside from the France Telecom link, the deal could have significant implications for service providers and for Cisco's ongoing effort to realize more business from the service provider sector. Jabber actually has worked previouslywith carriers such as BT, former RBOC bellSouth (now AT&T) and Portugal Telecom on corporate enterprise messaging and presence solutions. Its technology may now play a key role in unified communications solutions that Cisco may seek to provide via its carrier partners, or on its own.

For more:
- see more info on the deal at FierceVoIP
- read this post at Light Reading Europe

Hanna, Gustav, now Ike

Doug Mohney — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 10:43:14 -0400

Disaster contingency plans are getting a heavy-duty work out this month, as service providers finish responding to Hurricane Gustav's fury and prepare for the landfall of Hurricane Ike.

Gustav's impact was much milder than Katrina's, though parts of Louisiana experienced cellular and Internet service interruptions due to power outages from the storm.

To prepare for Ike, AT&T, Sprint and Verizon Wireless have deployed mobile cell towers and extra generators to deal with network damage. Key network and emergency response teams are being pre-positioned around the region to assess damage, help first responders and repair damaged cell sites.

Both Verizon Wireless and Sprint have made considerable investments to harden their respective networks in the Gulf Coast region.

For more:
- AP story on Hurricane Gustav and Ike telecommunications contingencies

Hesse talks about why he left Embarq for Sprint

Jim O'Neill — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 14:05:31 -0400

Dan Hesse was CEO of a company he liked -- Embarq -- working with a strong team he enjoyed, and he had the support of his board, not something every CEO can say even in the best of times. His life was, as he says, was "hitting on all cylinders."

But despite the fact that he was even getting more time to be with his kids, he left Embarq for Sprint, an iconic company that was struggling. Why?

"It was that opportunity to make a difference in the lives of a lot of people and I knew a lot of people at Sprint. I knew they were in pain. I knew the customers were in pain and so it was an opportunity to make a difference and that's fundamentally why I took it," says Hesse.

For more:
- See this Q&A at Conde Nast's Portfolio.com

Related articles:
Embarq loses Hesse to Sprint. Embarq report
Hesse tops CEO pay heap. Hesse report

Embarq wants to be your BFF. LOL

Jim O'Neill — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 23:20:07 -0400

Just like mom told you to never go to bed angry at your spouse, Embarq has decided it’s not going to let customers go away unhappy with their service. The Sprint spin off announced Monday it has set up a special customer service line for folks with issues that didn’t get resolved through normal channels.

Embarq says its Consumer Affairs Hotline will be staffed Mon.-Fri. from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET. And, it says that if customers have an issue during non-business hours, it’ll get back to you within 24 hours.

Embarq VP for Network Services Dana Chase says Embarq is “committed to providing the best service possible and exceeding our customers' expectations every single time we have the opportunity to interact with them.

"If you hang up the phone and are upset for any reason, we want another chance to make you happy," said Chase.

For more:
See the release

Related articles:
Emarq was very customer unfriendly with its NebuAd test. Embarq report
Some telcos--like Windstream--are cutting back on call centers. Telco cutbacks report

Qwest Q2 profit heads south, along with outlook

Dan O'Shea — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 10:09:59 -0400

On the heels of having its four-market forbearance petition rejected, Qwest Communications reported a 24 percent decline in profit to $188 million as part of its second quarter earnings summation. Revenue was down about 2 percent overall to $3.38 billion, and because the Federal Communications Commission rejected Qwest's request for forbearance from access charge regulation, the telco will not be able to realize more revenue through higher wholesale pricing.

The telco adjusted its outlook lower for the rest of the year, saying that revenue growth will be only about 2.5 percent. Qwest also reported that access lines declined about 8 percent to 12.2 million. Positive news included an addition of 32,000 satellite TV subscribers via Qwest's partnership with DirecTV, growth of about 9 percent in Internet and video revenue, and a rise of about 14 percent overall in broadband subscribers.

All in all, this particular earnings report could not have been how Qwest CEO Edward Mueller had hoped to celebrate his first anniversary as chief. Looking back at the past year, Mueller has made a few changes here and there, and a couple of major decisions--most notably Qwest's icing of Sprint as its wireless partner (though that wasn't really a hard decision), and the company's $300 million commitment to FTTN, but not for video. Is the company any better off than it was one year ago?

For more:
- see this report at The Wall Street Journal

Related articles:
Qwest was hurt by landline losses in the first quarter. Qwest report
Qwest named Mueller CEO about one year ago. Qwest report

AT&T eyes WiMAX for rural broadband expansion

Dan O'Shea — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 10:29:01 -0400

AT&T CTO John Donovan said last week in an interview with USA Today that the telco is interested in using WiMAX to extend broadband coverage in rural markets where it would be more expensive to deploy wireline broadband. It may not seem like huge news, given that AT&T has run WiMAX pilots in the past, and always has maintained an interest in the technology.

Also, AT&T gained several 2.3 Ghz licenses in Southern U.S. markets through its acquisition of BellSouth. BellSouth had aggressively commercialized on broadband wireless in those markets and had been an active supporter of WiMAX Forum certification for the 2.3 Ghz frequency. AT&T also would have 700 Mhz spectrum at its disposal for a broader WiMAX rollout.

AT&T's interest means there is another major U.S. carrier besides the new Sprint-led Clearwire joint venture that could be ready to exploit the technology. AT&T actually has been looking to block that venture, urging the Federal Communications Commission to closely scrutinize the spectrum assets involved in the deal.

For more:
- check out this interview at USA Today
- see this story at Light Reading's Unstrung

Related articles:
AT&T last month asked the FCC to deny the Sprint-Clearwire plan. AT&T report
Comcast lats month showed interest in WiMAX. Comcast report

Embarq brings in higher profit, lower revenue

Dan O'Shea — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 18:20:16 -0400

Independent telco Embarq reported second quarter earnings Tuesday after market close, posting a net income of $206 million, or $1.38 per share, up 17 percent from the $176 million it earned for the same quarter last year. Revenue actually was down 3.5 percent to about $1.55 billion, but declining costs helped the company toward the improved profit mark. Some of the cost decline came from Embarq ending its sales effort for wireless services within the last few months. A 7.8 percent loss in access lines--about 170,000 lines--also had an impact on revenue.

It is still unclear what Embarq plans to do with its existing wireless customer base. The company has been observed as a candidate for consolidation in recent months.

For more:
- see this Associated Press report at Forbes

Related articles:
Embarq has been seen as ready to make some M&A moves. Embarq report
Embarq ended its wireless partnership with Sprint in May. Embarq report

AT&T to FCC: Deny Sprint-Clearwire plan

Dan O'Shea — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 14:50:48 -0400

AT&T filed a petition with the Federal Communications Commission late last week asking the agency not to approve the Sprint-Clearwire joint venture involving a merger of the companies' spectrum assets. AT&T said that spectrum owned but both companies but not currently in operation is being kept from regulatory consideration of the deal, even though AT&T's inoperational spectrum assets were scrutinized during evaluation of AT&T's acquisition of Dobson Communications.

With its 4G ambitions, the WiMAX-centric deal between Sprint, Clearwire and several other firms could increase the competitive threat against AT&T in the wireless market, though it is still fair to say the eventual success of WiMAX certainly is not guaranteed. It is not surprising that AT&T is looking for any possible regulatory hurdle to prop up that might slow down the progress of this deal, but the irony of Ma Consolidator herself crying foul against such a merger is hard to miss here.

For more:
- see this story at Light Reading

Related articles:
Sprint and Clearwire canceled a partnership last fall. Sprint-Clearwire report
Sprint and Cleawire and some friends revived the partnership this spring. Sprint-Clearwire report

Comcast spreading its WiMAX wings

Dan O'Shea — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 09:20:06 -0400

It was reported last week that the venture capital unit of cable TV provider Comcast, along with other firms, had been part of a $12.6 million seed investment in WiMAX-related start-up Cartiza Networks last year. It is not apparent how much of the round came from Comcast Interactive Capital; and, while the investment seems like old news, Cartiza has not said much more about its plans since then. The Littleton, Mass., company is believed to be developing content delivery and management technology for use over WiMAX networks.

A Comcast official also recently said the company is planning to use femtocells in conjunction with its WiMAX offering via the Clearwire venture. The femtocell plan and news of the Cartiza investment came to light not long after Comcast and other cable TV providers committed to invest in the new Clearwire WiMAX venture with Sprint. While Comcast's original residential wireless play with Sprint fizzled, it seems the cable giant now feels WiMAX is the right wireless path to take into customer homes.

For more:
- see this story about the Cartiza investment at Multichannel News
- read this Editor's Corner at FierceBroadbandWireless

Related articles:
The new Clearwire venture was announced in May Clearwire report
Comcast added 639,000 voice customers in Q1 Comcast report