TeleCommunication Systems gets $10 million Marine Corps order; ADTRAN, New Edge host webinar

> TeleCommunication Systems Inc. (Nasdaq: TSYS) will provide support and maintenance services to the U.S. Marine Corps, the AP reports. The order, initially funded at $1.2 million, could extend up to $10 million. Story.

> Next Tuesday, July 20, New Edge Networks and ADTRAN (Nasdaq: ADTN) will host a webinar that focuses on best practices for managing multi-site MPLS networks. Get the details here.

> Spanish-language content on Verizon (NYSE:VZ) FiOS is expanding this week with the launch of Utilisima U.S., a 100 percent Spanish-language lifestyle network owned by Fox International Channels. News release.

> Unified communications (UC) security policy specialist SecureLogix has been selected by Brevard County, Fla.-based HealthFirst to deploy a voice network border protection solution. No, it's not a big fence: The Enterprise Telephony Management System works across legacy TDM and newer VoIP/SIP protocols to prevent toll fraud, ID or information theft and other security issues on HealthFirst's corporate lines. Release.

> Echelon Corp. (Nasdaq: ELON) and Convergys Corp. (NYSE: CVG) are collaborating on the development of smart grid solutions. Using Convergys' scalable Smart CIS solution and Echelon's Networked Energy Services (NES) metering solution, the software they develop will support next generation utility billing and customer energy management applications. Hopefully, they'll go together like chocolate and peanut butter. News release.

> In M&A news, Qwest (NYSE: Q) has scheduled a special shareholder meeting for Aug. 24 to vote on its proposal to merge with CenturyLink (NYSE: CTL). The multibillion-dollar stock merger has been in the works for several months now, and is expected to be completed in 2011 if the stars line up right. Meeting details here.

> Ciena's (Nasdaq: CIEN) 100G coherent optical transmission solution has been named one of the 100 most technologically significant products introduced to the marketplace in the past year by R&D Magazine. News release.

And finally... Minerva Networks, which develops IPTV middleware, is expanding internationally with sales offices opening in Milan, Italy and Buenos Aires, Argentina. News release.