Trolltech Launches First Linux-based VoIP Framework for Handheld Devices

Trolltech, provider of leading technologies that make advanced software faster to build and easier to use, today released Qtopia Phone Edition 2.2, the first Linux-based Voice over IP (VoIP) software solution for mobile and wireless phones and converged media devices. Qtopia Phone 2.2, the latest version of Trolltech's application platform for Linux devices, also features performance improvements and enhanced user interface, multimedia and internationalization functionality.

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Apple releases Broadband Tuner 1.0

By Peter Cohen pcohen@maccentral.com

Apple has released Broadband Tuner v1.0, a utility that tweaks the system parameters of Macs with very high speed Internet connections — 5 Mbps or faster.

Broadband Tuner changes the default values for the size of the TCP send and receive buffers used by Mac OS X, according to Apple. “With larger buffers more data can be in transit at once,” said Apple. “A startup configuration file is also updated so that these changes will persist across restarts.”

An optional uninstaller can be used to restore the system settings that were in effect before the parameters were changed. System requirements call for Mac OS X v10.4 or later.

Case study: Broadband — a therapy for retail

There are some businesspeople who question what broadband can possibly do for them, but Mark Gould is not one of them. The managing director of Hughes & Hughes has witnessed the dramatic impact it has had on his retail operation in the past two years.

The bookseller — which has 180 employees and 15 branches across the country — has always prided itself on its customer service. In the past, if a customer couldn’t find the book they wanted, staff would search a CD-Rom-based book database, a fresh version of which was supplied by Hughes & Hughes’ book distributor on a monthly basis. When the internet came along, staff were able to dial up and connect over the web direct to the distributor’s online catalogue. The change was very welcome from a customer service viewpoint, but it had its drawbacks.

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America Online, IAC, Hearst Corp., and Allen & Company Lead $16 Million Investment in Brightcove

CAMBRIDGE, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)---- AOL and Brightcove Sign Video Content Distribution Agreement; Barry Diller Joins Brightcove Board of Directors

Brightcove, an Internet TV pioneer, today announced the completion of a major strategic financing round, a groundbreaking video content distribution partnership with AOL, and the appointment of Barry Diller, Chairman and CEO of IAC/InterActiveCorp and Chairman of Expedia, Inc., to the Brightcove Board of Directors.

AOL (NYSE:TWX), IAC/InterActiveCorp (Nasdaq:IACI), Hearst Corporation, and Allen & Company LLC have joined with existing Brightcove investors Accel Partners and General Catalyst Partners to invest $16.2 million in Brightcove. The investments complete a Series B financing round that will fuel the company's growth and the launch of its products and services.

In a separate industry milestone, Brightcove signed a significant and innovative content distribution agreement with AOL.

"We are thrilled to get both the backing of such a strong group of strategic investors and a major distribution agreement with AOL," said Jeremy Allaire, Brightcove Chairman and CEO. "The opportunities these investors bring to Brightcove, combined with the relationships we are already developing, put us in an incredible position to deliver our open Internet TV service and realize our mission to transform the media landscape by enabling video publishers to build broadband businesses that reach consumers directly through the Internet."

Internet pioneer sounds alarm on threats to broadband

By Mark Cooper

As Vinton Cerf, ``the father of the Internet,'' accepted the Presidential Medal of Freedom at the White House last week, at the other end of Pennsylvania Avenue, the House Energy and Commerce Committee held hearings on a bill -- an update of the 1996 Telecommunications Act -- that stands to dramatically transform the information superhighway.

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Warner units to offer TV shows online

By David B. Wilkerson & Alan Doyle, MarketWatch

SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) -- Two Time Warner Inc. units plan to counter TV networks' video on demand by offering vintage television programs such as "Welcome Back, Kotter" free over the Internet, the company said.

Beginning in January, In2TV plans to offer 300 episodes per month and about 100 shows in the first year on six channels ranging from comedy to drama, and Warner Bros. has cleared 300 series, or about 14,000 individual episodes, for use on the service, including a diverse range of programs including "The FBI," Eight Is Enough," "Growing Pains," "Chico and the Man," "V" and "Head of the Class."

The 30-minute shows will include up to two minutes' worth of 15-second commercials that viewers can't circumvent, America Online said.

In the latest reflection of industry-wide concerns about digital piracy, the service won't allow viewers to record shows.

The move is part of its effort to transition AOL from a dialup service to the portal-based model, taking advantage of both the increased penetration of high-speed Internet connections and rising online-advertising revenues.

XO Communications Announces Agreement to Create National Fixed Broadband Wireless Company

11/11/05 - XO Communications, Inc. (OTC Bulletin Board: XOCM.OB) announced an agreement that will create a leading provider of fixed broadband wireless services to businesses and service providers. In order to create and finance the fixed wireless business, XO will sell its national wireline telecommunications business for $700 million in cash. Following the sale, the Company will retain its fixed broadband wireless spectrum assets and be uniquely positioned to be a leading provider of fixed broadband wireless services nationally as one of the largest holders of fixed wireless licenses in the 28 GHz-31 GHz spectrum range covering more than 70 U.S. major metropolitan markets.

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Less VoIP May Be More When It Comes to Click-To-Call Ads

By Robert Poe

It's no secret that the big Web portals consider voice over IP a key ingredient in the mix of e-mail, instant messaging and other services they're offering visitors to their sites. The mystery is how exactly they expect to make money from it. One clue to their thinking is scheduled to surface soon, with the expected announcement of a big-name customer for eStara's click-to-call VoIP software. The software and other eStara products make it possible for advertisers to know exactly how many customers contacted them by phone in response to a specific Web ad.

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The Changing Face Of The Internet

You may have missed it this week. In the dead middle of a Business Week interview with SBC chief Edward Whitacre is a comment that foretells the future of broadband. At least, the future incumbent broadband providers are planning for. But it’s not a pretty picture for the rest of us.

When asked whether he was concerned about Google, MSN, Vonage, and other companies' plans to get into broadband services, the CEO of the telco giant let slip his plans to create a "walled garden" where your freedom to surf is sacrificed at the altar of SBC profits:

How do you think they’re going to get to customers? Through a broadband pipe. Cable companies have them. We have them. Now what they would like to do is use my pipes free, but I ain’t going to let them do that because we have spent this capital and we have to have a return on it. So there’s going to have to be some mechanism for these people who use these pipes to pay for the portion they’re using. Why should they be allowed to use my pipes?

The internet can’t be free in that sense, because we and the cable companies have made an investment and for a Google or Yahoo! or Vonage or anybody to expect to use these pipes [for] free is nuts!

Americans take for granted the diversity of information and services they find at the click of a mouse.

Legal Music Downloads Rising with Broadband and MP3 Player Adoption

Broadband households in Europe and North America will re-shape the distribution of recorded music over the next five years, according to Martin Olausson, a Senior Analyst at Strategy Analtyics. His latest research shows broadband households will spend billions of dollars through 2010 to download music from sources like Apple Computer's iTunes Music Store, RealNetworks' Rhapsody, Napster, Yahoo and a hoard of Internet service providers.

According to a new report from the Strategy Analytics Broadband Media and Communications service, broadband users in these regions will spend over a billion dollars on online music this year, with sales expected to reach $4.5 billion by 2010. This figure will represent nearly 16 percent of total sales, up from less than two percent in 2004.

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Apple Launches The New iPod

Witness the evolution of the revolution. First it played songs. Then photos. Then podcasts. Now iPod plays video, changing the way you experience your music and more. Again. In lighter, thinner 30GB and 60GB models starting at $299, the new iPod is music to your eyes.

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Broadband National Awarded Exclusive Affiliate Rights

Broadband National has been awarded the exclusive affiliate rights to market broadband services from SBC Communications, Comcast, Qwest and Covad. To market these products Broadband National utilizes a "Private Label Program". This programs promote services via a private label website that maintains the look and feel of the providers website. Customers will view broadband services as an extension of current products in a seamless web environment. Broadband National creates a private label site with Logo and content consistent with the providers website. In addition, Broadband National provides an affiliate ID and tracking mechanisms in order to manage all inquiries and orders provided by Private Label customers. To view some examples of Private Label Programs that we have produced visit comcastspecial.com, sbcyahoospecial.com, or qwestspecial.com.

Broadband National Appoints David Wilcox As Chief Technology Officer

Broadband National today announced the appointment of David Wilcox as Chief Technology Officer. Wilcox is responsible for directing the development and management of Broadband Nationals technology infrastructure. This includes BBN’s software development and data center operations.

Prior to joining BN, Wilcox served as CIO for Integrated Physician Solutions (IPS) from 1999-2005. He also was the concept development lead and architect of IPS’s web based healthcare ASP business. He earned a Bachelor of Science Degree and Ph.D. in physics from the University of Missouri.

Broadband National and CBIZ Team to Offer Broadband Solutions for Managed Services

Broadband National LLC., the leading online retailer of consumer and commercial broadband services, today announced a partnership with CBIZ allowing CBIZ's team of technology advisors and customer support specialists to utilize Broadband National's proprietary Integrated Broadband Information System (IBIS) technology.

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INDIA - Hole in the Wall

A billion people live in India -- one of every six on the planet. Half of them are illiterate. Only one in four has access to adequate sanitation. Some 350 million Indians live on less than a dollar a day. Yet India is also home to some of the world's most advanced high-technology firms, and New Delhi is Silicon Valley East.

Several years ago, a computer scientist, Dr. Sugata Mitra, had an idea. What would happen if he could provide poor children with free, unlimited access to computers and the Internet? Mitra launched what came to be known as the hole in the wall experiment. FRONTLINE/World producer Rory O'Connor first encountered Dr. Mitra and his experiment while directing a film on global poverty.

Speed Test Reposted

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Inexpensive MP3

Take up to 50 music titles anywhere you go with this MP3 player from Broadband National. It comes with 128MB Flash Drive and supports WMA and MP3 and all for low low price of just $39.99. Click here for details.

FCC Requires Certain Broadband and VoIP Providers to Accommodate Wiretaps

Washington, D.C. – Responding to a petition from the Department of Justice, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Drug Enforcement Agency, the FCC Commission determined that providers of certain broadband and interconnected voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) services must be prepared to accommodate law enforcement wiretaps, the Federal Communications Commission ruled yesterday.

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Katrina photos, are they real?

A friend of mine sent me this photo and more of hurricane Katrina coming ashore in near New Orleans. There are several others in this series. All equally impressive. I don't know if they are real or not.