In search of a 'best effort' Internet; Cisco's data center guru talks direction, strategy

Cisco's data center guru talks direction, strategy; Slideshow: Products of the week Convergence and VoIP Alert NetworkWorld.com | Update Your Profile | Forward this to a Friend >>> Sponsored by HP ProCurve 802.11n Drives an Architectural Evolution The sharp capacity increase possible with 802.11n is a compelling force behind the evolution in WLAN architectures. This paper examines both the centralized WLAN switch architecture and the optimized WLAN architecture, so that the wireless network choice an organization makes today will protect its investment and allow it to experience the substantial benefits of 802.11 for years to come. Learn more Spotlight Story In search of a 'best effort' Internet Today we propose one alternative that could both maintain net neutrality and solve a looming crisis as more Internet users send and receive bandwidth intensive content. Namely, service providers should offer consumer-centric VPNs with multiple service classes in tandem with equal access to a "best effort" public Internet. The vision we have for this tiered consumer access to select content and applications is similar to the way most enterprises use a mix of public Internet access and VPNs. Read full story Related News: Cisco's data center guru talks direction, strategy As a 13 year Cisco veteran, John McCool, senior vice president and General Manager of Cisco's Data Center Switching and Services Group, has seen a boatload of change. Slideshow: Products of the week Our round-up of intriguing new products from Fortinet, IBM and Emulex among others. Avaya developing "chameleon" units for business communications Avaya is coming out next spring with chameleon-like appliances that will take on the characteristics of phones, desktop video systems, locked-down contact-center terminals – a whole range of dedicated communications gear. Cisco dropping Tandberg buy? Cisco is reportedly considering dropping its $3 billion bid for videoconferencing leader Tandberg in the face of resistance from a block of shareholders owning 24% of the Norwegian company. DiVitas mobile collaboration goes to iPhone, Android, RIM Mobile unified communications vendor DiVitas Networks has added iPhone, BlackBerry and Android to the set of platforms it is supporting with software to access desk-phone and presence features on cell phones. Softphones Require Strong Endpoint Protection What happens when the phone becomes the computer and vice versa? We're finding that 70% of organizations are using softphones for Voice over IP (VOIP) for at least some (on average, 22%) of their employees. And these are not just toys. Among organizations using softphones, a little more than a third are using softphones in lieu of a desktop phone. Just over half are using them primarily as... Net Neutrality - Somebody Get John McCain A VoIP Clue Phone The FCC's actions on net neutrality are about keeping the Internet open. You should try it sometime, McCain.Net Neutrality vs. John McCain. Consumer vs. Ignorant Politician. Party affiliations aside, anyone proposing we allow carriers to clamp down and determine what content we can run through our Internet and ISP connections probably still has their secretaries print out emails for them. Would you allow Verizon or AT&T to determine who you can make calls to on their wireless networks? No. It's a ridiculous... Mobile Unified Communications - Windows Phone vs iPhone My comments on experiencing mobile unified communications capabilities on both the iPhone and new Windows Phone platform.Over the past decade, I have been a dedicated Smartphone and PocketPC phone user until last year when I purchased an iPhone based on mainly my family wanting the device so badly. So, I went out to the Apple Store and purchased 4 iPhone 3G devices and 1 iTouch for my 8 year old. Since that time, I have loved the device, absolutely loved the device and even upgraded the family to the 3Gs version upon... November giveaways Cisco Subnet is giving away free books on VMware vSphere security. Microsoft Subnet is giving away training from New Horizons and free books on Exchange Server 2010. Google Subnet is giving away free books on Android app development. Entry forms can be found on the main contest page. Trivia answers are revealed on each main Subnet page. Network World on Twitter? You bet we are Ethernet everywhere! Inside planes, trains, cars and spaceships, Ethernet is a morph master. Here's a look at some of Ethernet's cooler implementations. 7 tools to ease Windows 7 rollout These utilities help you plan, ensure app compatibility and manage images. Getting the Right Foundation: Unified Communications IP telephony is moving into its second decade with enormous momentum, most users are still waiting for full convergence and voice-enabled applications. Increased network efficiencies have been the primary benefit of IP telephony to date as enterprises struggle with infrastructure and organizational issues. These first-generation benefits have been considerable, but the focus is now shifting to converged applications, with the initial spotlight on Unified Communications (UC). Learn more now.   November 02, 2009 MOST-READ STORIES EFF fights 'censorship' with Takedown Hall of Shame Verizon expands Droid invasion with Eris After one year, Conficker infects 7 million computers Cisco's data center guru talks direction, strategy Verizon Droid FAQ: What we know so far 12 mad science projects that could shake the world Microsoft Linux: Why one free software advocate wants it Is John Chambers an investor's nightmare? Review: Apple Snow Leopard Server Motorola Droid vs. Apple iPhone 3GS Protecting Your Intellectual Property Learn about the growing threat of insider data theft, the extent to which most companies are vulnerable, and how McAfee security products enable businesses to protect their most valuable asset-their data. Click here. EMO Labs: Better Sound Through Innovation at DEMOfall 09 EMO Labs' Invisible Speaker innovation takes People's Choice Award top honors at DEMO conference. Watch EMO Labs product launch.   This email was sent to networking.world@gmail.com Complimentary Subscriptions Available for newsletter subscribers. Receive 50 issues of Network World Magazines, in print or electronic format, free of charge. Apply here. Terms of Service/Privacy   Subscription Services Update your profile To subscribe or unsubscribe to any Network World newsletter, change your e-mail address or contact us, click here. Unsubscribe Network World, Inc., 492 Old Connecticut Path, Framingham, MA 01701 Copyright Network World, Inc., 2009 www.networkworld.com | Forward this to a Friend >>>