Re-Posted from 03/10/10 at 1:32pm from Zacks
US telecom behemoth AT&T (T) reported that it has successfully completed a real-time field trial of 100-Gigabit Ethernet technology, a next-generation backbone network standard. The technology is expected to be available commercially over the next few years. 

In the trial, AT&T tested Cisco’s (CSCO) newly unveiled CRS-3 core router in a live network environment. Moreover, the carrier used leading IP network test solution provider Ixia’s (XXIA) “K2″ 100-gigabit Ethernet test solution and Opnext’s optical equipment. The trial demonstrated a single-carrier 100-gigabit data transmission on a 900-kilometer ultra-long-haul transport link between New Orleans, Louisiana and Miami, Florida.

The 100-gigabit standard supports a data rate of 100 gigabits per second (Gbps), representing a significant increase from the current peak speeds of 40 Gbps enabled by the existing industry standard of 40-gigabit Ethernet. The technology has been designed to effectively support the burgeoning volumes of wireless and wireline broadband data traffic.

Leading carriers across the globe are increasingly focused on accelerating Internet network speeds, given the rapidly growing demand for greater bandwidth. Total bandwidth consumption significantly increased in 2009, driven by the growth of video and other high-bandwidth applications.

100 Gbps networks have emerged as the next major Ethernet standard. Demand for 100 Gbps service in enterprise data centers is ten times greater than the existing fastest deployments. At this speed level, users can enjoy super fast data transmission speeds, which can transmit a 2-hour high-definition movie in 9 seconds or fully loaded 500-gigabyte hard drive in 46 seconds.

AT&T’s trial follows a similar live trial by Verizon (VZ), which was recently conducted using Juniper’s (JNPR) core router and NEC America Inc’s network routes in North Dallas, Texas. Verizon is optimistic in deploying the 100 Gb technology in late 2010.

The ongoing initiative to deploy 100 Gbps capability should render greater overall network efficiency while improving cost effectiveness. Additionally, this advancement will enable AT&T to address increasing customer demand for higher network throughput for both wireless and wired Internet applications.

With all the buzz about Twitter as a customer service tool and many well known companies diving in, you might be asking yourself, should your company use Twitter to connect with your customers. There are a number of things to consider as you answer this question but the most important (by far) is “are your customers using Twitter?”

If they are not, that will affect how you use Twitter. You can’t connect to people who are not there.

Mashable estimates about 12% of the US population will be using Twitter by the end of 2009 with 18% by 2010.

Consider where you do business. Some states have many more people using Twitter. For example, here is a ranking of the top 10 states in the USA based on their Twitter users

1. California
2. Texas
3. New York
4. Flordia
5. Illinois

With all of this in mind, what Telecom Carriers are using twitter at all, and who is using it as a traditional one way push marketing tool.

Carrier Support Twitter Accounts
@askintelletrace            Intelletrace Inc.
@verizonsupport           Verizon Business
@sprintcare                    Sprint
@talktoqwest                  Qwest Communications

Carriers with Marketing ONLY or unknown usage.
@lvlt                                Level3 – Unused Many Followers no tweets
@attnews                       AT&T – Marketing
@xolearning                  XO – Marketing
@Globalcrossing          Global Crossing - Marketing
@integra_cares            Integra Telecom – Many Followers no tweets
@grandecom                 Grande Communications – Marketing
@abovenet                    Abovenet Communications – Many Followers no tweets

No Twitter Accouts Found at all
Yipes
Electric Lightwave
Cogent Communications
Time Warner Telecom
360 Networks

Do the carriers with no twitter presence even know they are being talked about?  Are the Carriers with only a marketing presence doing a traditional PUSH method or are they actually using it as a tool? For the few Carriers Intelletrace, Verizon Business, Sprint, and Qwest Communications, my Congrats for being a telecommunications leader in support.

A great example is a post recently sent out here.  Are you following yet?  It describes an outage with Level3 and Verizon Business.

I have focused on terrestrial telecommunication carriers.  If you want your information to be added to this post, I will be happy to do it at any time.  Just Tweet me @dzerbe or Post a comment to this blog.

On Monday, Verizon Wireless announced its entry into the market for femtocells, small home cell sites expressly designed to allow mobile phones to place calls within a 5000 Square foot radius.  This creates a Mini Cell Site.

Verizon’s “Network Extender” device is priced at $249.99, a flat fee that will not be supplemented – or subsidized – by any monthly pricing. The device is manufactured by Samsung.

Sprint also provides a similar device, the Airrave, while T-Mobile’s HotSpot@Home uses Wi-Fi to connect its handsets. To date, AT&T has not announced a femtocell offering, but is currently testing 3G MicroCell.

Verizon uses the home’s broadband connection as a backhaul, essentially translating the cellular call into a VOIP connection. Who needs it? People in rural areas that may live on the outskirts of a cell site. One drawback: EV-DO is not supported, including those services that depend on it.

Using the Network Extender doesn’t incur additional monthly charges, however, users will be charged against their plan, in minutes, for any calls they make.

The service is open to Verizon customers as well as Family Share Plan members, the company said. But Verizon customers can also use a built-in management program on the Wireless Network Extender to prevent neighboring Verizon subscribers from placing unauthorized calls.

The Wireless Network Extender will be available from Verizon Wireless stores and through its Web site, the company said.

AT&T 3G MicroCell
This is a little Nifty device, If you happen to be an ATT customer and in the Charlotte, North Carolina area.  I am sure with the adoption of the Iphone that it will eventualy roll out in other areas. 

My Home is a Deadspot and I have had to be creative.   I use the Google talk number then SIM ring my Cell Phone number and a VOIP number.

You can register up to 10 phones (3G models with AT&T accounts) to work with the device, but it only supports four simultaneous calls or data sessions. It has a roughly 5000 square foot range, and calls originated from it are automatically handed over to AT&T towers once you leave the house/office.

Travelers will be sorry to hear that, as with Sprint and Verizon did with their femtocell units, AT&T’s device has a GPS chip, so it can’t be used out of the country. For that reason it’s recommended to be placed near a window.

You’ll need to have a net connection of at least 1.5Mbps down/256kbps up, and find your ZIP code in the availability checker at the site.