Users reluctant with convergence

In-Stat reports that conventional wisdom within the portable device industry is that consumers have a preference to use converged devices, meaning single devices that combine the functionality of previously separate devices, says SMT.

The research firm has found that wholesale adoption of a device that combines multiple devices is unrealistic, noting that a survey of US businesspeople shows that users tend to remain loyal to older technology, and employers are reluctant to force the issue.

Before employers can insist that employees use fewer devices, manufacturers need to address battery life and ergonomics issues for portable devices. Once a converged device proves to offer additional value, and technological obstacles are addressed, adoption progresses relatively quickly, according to Bill Hughes, In-Stat analyst.

When it comes to convergence, the trend these days is to cram all sorts of functionality into a single device, even if those functions seem to be massively impractical given the limitations of current technology, reports Gizmodo.

However, UK based design firm named Alloy has taken a more practical approach with its Couple-IT concept. The unit consists of a handset and a pocket-sized "laptop" that share information over a network.

The idea is that the user can do more detailed work with information using the laptop, but access that shared info using a handset while on the go. While there are currently plenty of ways to sync info between mobile devices and computers, the Couple-IT promises a more thorough coupling using twin SIMs and software.

XO Communications has accelerated its deployment of Ethernet-enabled IP services based on the Cisco IP Next-Generation Network architecture, says CNNMoney.

This expansion features deployment of new Cisco Ethernet over SONET/SDH technology on many of the more than 4 000 Cisco ONS 15454 Multi-service Provisioning Platforms currently deployed in its network.

Convergence of Cisco Multilayer Ethernet over SONET technology has increased scalability and throughput for a number of XO services, including Metro Ethernet for Dedicated Internet Access, layer-1 private line (point-to-point) services, VOIP and IP-VPN.