Nokia pushes convergence

Nokia has unveiled a new corporate phone handset as part of a wider strategy to provide enterprise mobility through fixed-mobile convergence, says VNU Net.

The Nokia E51, available from the fourth quarter of 2007, is a traditional candy-bar design that features 3G and WiFi support, as well as closer integration with IP telephony infrastructure from vendors such as Cisco and Alcatel.

Antti Vasara, Nokia's senior VP of mobile devices for enterprise, said the latest handset is aimed at users who primarily make voice calls, but also need to keep an eye on e-mail and manage their schedule.

Communications system integrator Global Convergence Solutions recently merged with FieldOps Network, a company that designs deployment solutions for carriers, reports TMC Net.

The combined operation is now unified under the Global Convergence Solutions brand name. Neal Axelrod and Jay Meranchik will remain on board as CEO and president/CTO, respectively. FieldOps' CEO, Mike Januzzi, is heading up sales for the new entity.

"The union of our two organisations provides current and future customers with unparalleled expertise and service in design, deployment and management of next-generation networks and services," said Axelrod.

Verizon Business' multinational customers now have seamless connectivity to China Telecom's Next Convergence Network (CN2), a next-generation IP platform that covers more than 200 cities and 600 routers within China, says CNN Money.

Access to CN2 effectively extends the benefits of Verizon Business' own expansive IP backbone network and portfolio of global IP and mobile devices, services and solutions across the fast-growing Chinese market.

Verizon Business has been working with China Telecom on MPLS VPN since 2004, enabling full interconnectivity between the Verizon Private IP global network and China Telecom's national MPLS network.