Fixed vendor strategies 05-14-05

Alcatel finds demand for WiMAX is growing and out pacing demand for UMTS infrastructure in some regions, such as LATAM, Russia, India. It is not the case in WE and China.

Alcatel is abandoning further development of its IPTV middleware product, the Open Media Platform (OMP). It appears as a complete U-turn in its IPTV strategy, but seems a part of recently-announced deal with Microsoft. The main problem is OMP is commercially available and deployed, while Microsoft solution still needs enhancement, specially for large-scale carrier deployments.

Microsoft will release soon its new multimedia Xbox console, called Xenon. It will be a real multimedia device featuring a PC, enhanced communications tools, gaming, and including the Windows Media Center software menu.

Zhone Technologies claims pole position in broadband loop carrier systems.