Australia demos LTE speeds

Optus has demonstrated the first results of its long term evolution (LTE) 4G mobile trials, where it hit download speeds in excess of 40Mbps, reports The Australian.

Optus is hoping LTE will strengthen its mobile business, which has boomed over the past two years as customers continue to consume data-intensive services.

Optus director of product portfolio planning, Henry Colbert says: “People will want to watch high-definition content like TV in their homes, which is better served by fibre. It will be complementary in a convergence sense where you can take that content out of the home and have access to videos in real-time when you actually need it.”

Brocade has added a network infrastructure specialisation to its alliance partner network programme in a bid to skill up partners in the area of data centre virtualisation and cloud computing, states ARNnet.

“We're seeing a trend towards convergence and virtualisation driven by a move towards cloud computing,” says Brocade regional manager, Graham Schultz.

Schultz says the goal is to have a select group of partners that can offer a mix of technologies including storage area network and IP/Ethernet product portfolios, as well as virtualised, services-on-demand computing solutions.

Sprint has deployed 4G services in seven different metro areas, including Los Angeles, New York and Miami, says TMCnet.

Company officials claim 4G allows for video chat via the recently released HTC EVO 4G, America's first 3G/4G wireless smartphone.

Matt Carter, president of 4G, Sprint, says people are hungry for faster wireless speeds, 3G/4G smartphones and unlimited data plans.