Year: 2009

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Alvarion's BreezeMax Extreme

Alvarion Logo

My initial intention was to praise Alvarion for their BreezeMAX Extreme line, how “D” like basestations and CPE with Mobile WiMAX (“E”) technology makes sense.

But, as I was going through Alvarion website and datasheets, I got irritated by some mis-information and inaccuracies. So, I still think Alvarion are doing a great job with the Exterme line and their License exempt offering, but the following post will focus on the “fails” rather than successes.

Sequans Press Release clearly states:

Sequans provides a comprehensive Mobile WiMAX product line that includes the award-winning SQN2130 base station ASIC and the SQN1130 mobile station system-on-chip, both of which are WiMAX Forum Certified™. Sequans’ solutions feature superior receiver sensitivity along with Sequans’ patent-pending technology, mimoMAX™, which combines a maximum likelihood decoder on the downlink with two transmitters on the uplink.  The latter enables uplink MIMO for greatly improved link budget and cell coverage

Key Points: CPE as well as Base Station, WiMAX Forum Certified, mimoMAX for uplink MiMO

Now, let’s try to find the information on Alvarion website.

CPE – Alvarion’s BreezeMAX Extreme page does not mention a CPE. End User Devices Page does not mention a license exempt CPE.

WiMAX Forum Certified – it is not. A simple search in WiMAX Forum Certified products page shows only BreezeMAX Macro base station. Where is the Extreme?

Uplink MiMo – BreezeMAX Extreme datasheet clearly states that MiMo matrix B is not available yet, not to mention uplink MiMo.

I am sure Alvarion’s (under NDA) customers receive all the information, but why does the website launch/publish only partial information which confuses rather than educate?

(And again, I would like to say that I think the Extreme line will be quite successful as it addresses real customer needs).

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Cisco's Starent Acquisition

The Tech blogs and news agencies are excited about the recent Cisco acquisiton.

Some newspapers discuss the sums Cisco recently paid (~$3 Billions for Tandberg, ~$3 Billions for Starent Networks), some like the LTE angle, another speculates Juniper will be hurt. From every angle, the recent acquisitions are interesting.

Tandberg: For years, Cisco supplied Video conferencing equipment, OEMed from several manufacturers, including Israeli Radvision (RVSN). What has triggered Cisco to change their business plan and buy a manufacturer? Market Growth? Deep Pockets?

Starent Network: Signals that Cisco is also going into the Wireless world. Starent equipment is indeed in the networking space, but strongly coupled to Wireless deployments.

My take: Cisco has the money (deep pockets), found the chance (economic downturn) to acquire good companies with great products and bright future. This is yet another step outside of the their core business, growing into a more diverse Corporation (flirting with Monopoly).

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Hatoyama Cabinet Email Magazine – Yu-Ai

The first Hatoyama (Japan’s prime minister) cabinet email magazine was distributed yesterday. Titled Yu-Ai (友愛　－ゆうあい), which means fraternity, friendship, but also selected for the English word play of  “You” and “I”. I found it quite amusing that someone felt the need to name the newsletter.

An interesting statement which all politicians give, but few actually fullfil:

We will fundamentally change the politics of Japan in order to restore it to the possession of the people. We will realize a government led by politicians who connect with the minds of the people and who will directly reflect the people’s voices in the administration of the national government. That is, we will create a government that is led by the people of this country.

And one last thing, within the first month of Hatoyama’s cabinet, he managed to travel abroad twice, once for the G20, the second for Olympic appeal. I certainly hope he finds the time to run the country.

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Indian Visa Anomaly

As I am planned to visit India next month for business and my previous Visa expired, I visited the Indian Visa Application Center website to understand what I need to arrange beforehand.

As I was browsing, I found a strange anomaly in the Employment visa section:
Visa for Israeli citizens cost 10 (6 months period) to 5 (1-5 years) times than a Visa for US citizens.

I wonder why? Is it because Israeli are richer than US citizens? Do Israeli application requires a different and more expensive process?

See below (and on the website):

India Visa

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Liar's Poker

Liars Poker

I am reading Liar’s Poker by Michael Lewis for maybe the 4th time, and it is as interesting and funny as it was in the 1st time.

What caught my eye this time is a review printed on the very first page:

“Makes the bond-trading business look like a cross between Animal House and Greed Incorporated… Lewis recounts incidents that should make customers stuff their money in mattresses.” – The Washington Post

That was the 80’s, which I guess is enough time for the masses to get their money out of the mattresses and give it to the wrong people (again).

As I am in Japan, I am having a problem which I have to figure out: What if you don’t have a mattress. As we sleep in the traditional Japanese way, futons over Tatami, it is impossible to hide the money there. I need to figure out what is the traditional Japanese way of stashing.

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AIRN to AIRO

Airspan (formerly AIRN) has previously announced a voluntarily de-list from NASDAQ.

Therefore, I was a bit surprised to read about the 1-15 reverse stock split and the new ticker : AIRO.

Change of ticker, change of luck.

From Airspan PR:

With this new funding, we believe that Airspan will be well positioned to weather the current economic downturn and to benefit from some of the current initiatives in our industry. After a long process wherein we looked at many strategic alternatives, we believe the new funding from Oak Partners represents the best path forward for Airspan and our stakeholders.

Good luck!

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Candian RuggedCom acquires WiNetworks

WiNetworks was founded in 2004, received investments of about $28 Millions according to Globes, or $40 Millions according to TheMarker. RuggedCom is expected to pay $14 Millions, of which $5 Millions will go to cover WiNetworks debts.

Thinking very hard what I can write about WiNetwork:

  • They had a reasonable strategy: Developed smaller Base stations intended for smaller deployments or for additional coverage, which was previously Airspan’s Niche.
  • Had some traction in developing countries, but not enough revenues to justify their existence.
  • Most recent products were based on Sequans chipset which means less development efforts, but less IP.