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telecommunications

Gartner: IT spending to grow 4.6 percent this year

IT spending around the world will rise 4.6 percent this year to reach $3.4 trillion, according to research released Thursday by Gartner.

Though modest, the growth will show much needed improvement over last year when spending actually dipped 4.6 percent from 2008. Gains are expected to hit all major segments of the IT market, including hardware, software, IT services, and telecommunications. This latest forecast is also higher than Gartner's previous prediction from last quarter when the firm said it didn't expect IT spending to hit 2008 levels until 2011.

Around the world, a recovery in … Read more

Telco tool

Managing telecommunications and data services to reduce costs is critical to any business, but small- and medium-size businesses frequently find themselves at a disadvantage when it comes to tracking and analyzing telco expenses. Access Business Communications' Telco Manager, or TelcoMgr, can cut business costs by monitoring and recording telecommunications and data services for reporting and analysis. It includes extensive and powerful database and reporting features that not only help a company track telco expenses but also use the data to maximize returns on services.

TelcoMgr's main interface and other windows are a bit busy in appearance, thanks to copious … Read more

Europe getting 'Internet freedom' law

Europe is set to get a major overhaul of its telecommunications regulation, after the European Parliament and Council of Telecoms Ministers reached a compromise on the rights of Internet users.

The Telecoms Reform Package is a raft of new laws that tackle issues ranging from data-breach notification to faster number porting. Following an agreement reached on Wednesday night, the package will now become part of national legislation in every EU country, with a deadline of May 2011.

A sticking point in the package's progress had been a provision regarding "three strikes" laws targeting Internet users suspected of … Read more

Telecoms are missing their cloud opportunity

For some time now I've been advocating to my core network provider customers (and anyone else who would willingly listen) a concept that I think is both central to the future of cloud computing and one of the great opportunities this market disruption presents. The idea is simple: who will be the cloud service aggregator to enterprises, large and small?

Think about it. Even the smallest of businesses require multiple software systems to both meet minimal data management and creative expectations and (I would hope) to establish come competitive differentiation where it counts. Large enterprises scale this need to … Read more

Obama eases U.S.-Cuba telecom restrictions

In a move to reach out the Cuban people, the White House on Monday announced a series of changes to U.S. policy toward Cuba, including the authorization of greater telecommunications links to the communist country.

"This will increase the means through which Cubans on the island can communicate with each other and with persons outside of Cuba," the White House said in a statement. "Cuban American connections to family in Cuba are not only a basic right in humanitarian terms, but also our best tool for helping to foster the beginnings of grassroots democracy on the … Read more

Qwest looking to unload long-distance business?

Qwest Communications International is reportedly seeking a buyer for its long-distance carrier business, as the company searches for ways to lower its outstanding debt load, according to a report Thursday in The Wall Street Journal.

Qwest, a struggling telecommunications carrier that ranks third in the nation, is reportedly hoping to raise $2 billion to $3 billion through the sale of its long-distance carrier business, according to the story which cited sources familiar with the matter.

That would pare down the footprint of the Denver-based telecommunications company, leaving it as a regional telecommunications player.

But such a sale could help offset … Read more

Huawei seals deal with Cox

Chinese telecom equipment maker Huawei Technologies announced Monday that it will provide wireless equipment to cable operator Cox Communications, which is building its own 3G cell phone network.

Cox, the third largest cable provider in the U.S., is using the $300 million worth of spectrum it bought in last year's Federal Communications Commission's auction to build the network. The company also plans to resell Sprint Nextel wireless service. The service is expected to launch later this year.

Huawei is providing the CDMA equipment to build the network, which the company says will be upgradeable to the 4G … Read more

Will Huawei finally make it big in America?

Chinese communications equipment maker Huawei has nailed an important deal and is close to striking a second one with American service providers, according to The Wall Street Journal.

The company, which has tried for several years to crack the U.S. market, has scored a deal with cable operator Cox Communications and is a finalist in bids to help Clearwire build its nationwide 4G wireless network using a technology called WiMax.

Clearwire expects its network to be available to 120 million people by 2010. And it is currently selecting equipment suppliers to help it build the network. The new Clearwire … Read more

CNET News Daily Podcast: Listening in on Google Voice

Google on Thursday unveiled a service called Google Voice, which has the potential to make the search giant a middleman in an important part of people's lives, telephone communications. What does it do? CNET News intern Erik Palm asked reporter Stephen Shankland.

Plus, what went down during the Palm Pre Webcast? Unfortunately, not so much. That, and more of the day's headlines, on Thursday's CNET News Daily Podcast.

Listen now: Download today's podcast

Today's stories:

FBI raids former offices of Obama's choice for CIO

A new spin on battery technology

Live blog of Palm Pre WebcastRead more

Report: Nortel may sell off two key businesses

Telecommunications equipment maker Nortel Networks is reportedly in discussions to sell two key business units, a move that may affect its ability to re-emerge from its Chapter 11 bankruptcy status, The Wall Street Journal reported.

Nortel, which filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in January, has received interest from competitors in its wireless equipment operation, as well as its unit that creates corporate communications networks, according to the Journal.

In September, the struggling telecommunications equipment maker raised the issue of finding a buyer for some of its assets, after it warned Wall Street its financial situation had worsened.

Avaya and … Read more