http://www.networkworld.com/topics/convergence.html The latest convergence news and analysis from NetworkWorld.com. Network World, Inc. Copyright(C) 1994 - 2009 Network World, Inc. http://www.networkworld.com/newsletters/converg/2009/090709convergence1.html Continuing our coverage of announcements coming out from IT Expo West held last week, Dash Carrier Services (DASH a provider of wholesale carrier voice solutions, announced that it would provide E911 emergency service solutions for Gizmo5. Gizmo5 offers VoIP services to both consumers and businesses from any computer with either browser access or with IP phones. Gizmo is also interoperable with Google Voice. Larry Hettick 2009-09-06T12:00:00-04:00 http://www.networkworld.com/newsletters/converg/2009/081709convergence2.html DiVitas Networks and Samsung announced earlier this week that are collaborating to improve mobile unified communications. Along with support from Microsoft, the companies are working to enable Enterprise-class fixed mobile convergence (FMC) and unified communication (UC) on Samsung phones using the Microsoft Windows Mobile platform. Larry Hettick and Steve Taylor 2009-08-18T12:00:00-04:00 http://www.networkworld.com/news/tech/2009/081209-tech-update.html For companies with employees traveling internationally, the ability to stay connected with mobile devices is imperative. Unfortunately, this generally means astronomical roaming fees. Jonathan Shaw 2009-08-12T12:00:00-04:00 http://www.networkworld.com/news/2009/060309-cisco-rack-server.html Cisco this week extended its Unified Computing System data center convergence platform with rack mountable servers, saying the new form factor represents an "entry level" into UCS and more choice for customers. Jim Duffy and Matt Hamblen 2009-06-03T12:00:00-04:00 http://www.networkworld.com/newsletters/converg/2009/060109convergence1.html Today we'd like to refer our readers to two papers posted on Webtorials that provide some excellent analysis. The first piece, written by Michael F. Finneran at dBrn Associates, is titled "Enterprise Options for Fixed Mobile Convergence and Mobile UC." It provides a structure for understanding and evaluating the various enterprise- and carrier-based fixed mobile convergence FMC solutions. The second paper comes from Fluke Networks and offers a discussion on the "Business Case for VoIP Readiness Network Assessment." Larry Hettick and Steve Taylor 2009-05-29T12:00:00-04:00 http://www.networkworld.com/newsletters/converg/2009/052509convergence2.html In this newsletter, we'll provide a quick wrap-up on VoIP and convergence-related announcements from Interop 2009 held last week in Las Vegas. Highlights include news from Glowpoint on its Telepresence InterExchange, Polycom with several announcements, Shoretel's integration showcase, and Skype's views on business voice. Larry Hettick and Steve Taylor 2009-05-26T12:00:00-04:00 http://www.networkworld.com/newsletters/converg/2009/051109converge2.html Following our recent newsletter about video over IP featuring a discussion with Radvision, we had a chance to get another viewpoint from Ofer Shapiro, CEO at Vidyo and Marty Hollander, SVP for Marketing, about the merits of a Scalable Video Coding (SVC) approach. Both executives are industry veterans in video conferencing and enjoy bringing disruptive technologies to market. Steve Taylor and Larry Hettick 2009-05-13T12:00:00-04:00 http://www.networkworld.com/newsletters/converg/2009/051109converge1.html Today we turn our attention to the world of wireless with recent announcements from AT&T, Qwest, Verizon, and Cablevision. Though each announcement has a slightly different topic, we think they collectively point toward progress in the converged enterprise and consumer-centric applications and content across fixed and mobile networks. Steve Taylor and Larry Hettick 2009-05-11T12:00:00-04:00 http://www.networkworld.com/newsletters/converg/2009/050409converge2.html Acme Packet last week announced it has acquired Covergence in exchange for about $22.2 million in stock and $600,000 in cash. Covergence provides software-based session border controllers (SBC) for unified communications, and is focused on the enterprise market while Acme Packet's portfolio is more typically found in service provider networks. Acme Packet's move follows the company's April 2009 release of the Net-Net 3800, a hardware-based SBC also designed for small enterprise sites, contact centers and service providers. Steve Taylor and Larry Hettick 2009-05-06T12:00:00-04:00 http://www.networkworld.com/newsletters/converg/2009/050409converge1.html Mitel recently took the next step with its software delivery strategy when it launched the Mitel Dynamic Extension solution. Dynamic Extension offers single-number 'reachability,' so calls to a user's business phone line can simultaneously ring up to eight devices in a "personal ring group," handing off the call seamlessly between devices. Steve Taylor and Larry Hettick 2009-05-04T12:00:00-04:00