NetFlash: The most powerful vendors, people and technology in networking

At Network World we like to start the year off right by speaking truth to power – or at least speaking truth about power. The annual Power Issue always profiles the movers and shakers – the people, companies and technologies that will shape the coming year.

The Power Issue

http://www.networkworld.com/power/2005/?net&story=power

Nortel acquires Tasman Networks

Nortel didn’t sit still last week, finishing up business before the end of 2005 with the $99.5 million acquisition of specialty router maker Tasman Networks.

http://www.networkworld.com/news/2005/122705-nortel-tasman.html?net&story=122705-nortel-tasman

Cities battle carriers over Wi-Fi

Has broadband Internet access become as necessary to individuals as water and electricity? The answer to that question has been at the heart of a long and often-rancorous dispute between municipal governments and telecom service providers. Tempers are now cooling, as the two sides recently coalesced around a common municipal broadband service model.

http://www.networkworld.com/power/2005/122605-wifistruggle.html?net&story=122605-wifistruggle

Cisco vs. OpenView and Tivoli?

Cisco one day would like to be known as much for IT infrastructure management as it is for routers and switches – at least that’s the general industry belief, even if the company hasn’t said so outright.

http://www.networkworld.com/power/2005/122605-mgtstruggle.html?net&story=122605-mgtstruggle

Today on Layer 8, where we welcome the New Year:

We wrap up the final caption contest of 2005 and kick off a new contest for the first week of 2006; a look at the top 25 Webcams of 2005; and a new free voice messaging service. Get 2006 started right at:

http://www.networkworld.com/weblogs/layer8/?net&story=layer8