Brocade converges the network

Brocade has unveiled a switch and network adapters that join fibre channel over Ethernet and convergence enhanced Ethernet into one platform, but the company does not expect mass adoption of these emerging technology standards until 2011, states Network World.

Emulex and Cisco are preparing products so they will be ready if and when these technologies attract attention from enterprise IT buyers.

Within a rack, the new switch will connect to servers equipped with the Brocade 1010 (single-port) and 1020 (dual-port) adapters. Brocade says its new products offer more bandwidth and consume less power in a smaller form factor than competing products.

Starent Networks, a provider of infrastructure solutions, has released its service convergence platform allowing operators to deploy new multimedia services on next-generation IP networks, says FoxBusiness.

This platform provides voice and messaging solutions that bridge devices between legacy and next-generation networks, and supports critical applications such as converged VOIP, Femtocells, messaging and presence solutions.

Ashraf Dahod, president and CEO of Starent Networks, says: "Our XT30 Service Convergence Platform allows operators to keep up with technology advances in fixed mobile convergence services by evolving the network in a cost-effective manner”.

CounterPath, a provider of desktop and mobile VOIP software products and solutions, has released its Messaging Convergence Gateway (MCG), reports PR Newswire.

The MCG is a carrier-based, core-network messaging server that bridges VOIP and mobile networks' SMS infrastructure.

With the MCG, service providers can enable their VOIP softphone subscribers to send and receive SMS text messages to and from mobile phone numbers by adding a non-intrusive gateway component to their existing infrastructure.