The Internet Society has designated June 6, 2012 its official “World IPv6 Launch” Day, part of its ongoing Deploy360 Programme, the aim of which is to assure the transition to IPv6 progresses as smoothly as possible.

Major Internet Service Providers (ISPs), home networking equipment manufacturers and Web companies around the world will participate, permanently enabling IPv6 for their products and services, according to the Internet Society.

Those interested interested in participating can register their websites, networks or home routers via a link on the Internet Society’s website. Deploy360 is also providing information resources on its IPv6 resources site.

The Internet Society has published initial lists of participants. Among ISPs, included are AT&T, Comcast, Free Telecom, Internode, Japan’s KDDI, Time Warner Cable and XS4ALL. Cisco and its D-Link subsidiary are participating as network equipment providers, while Facebook, Google, Microsoft Bing and Yahoo! are listed as initial content provider participants. Akamai and Limelight are the initial content delivery network (CDN) participants.

Cisco and Itron yesterday announced the launch of their next-generation smart grid platform. Designed to provide secure, scalable advanced metering infrastructure (AMI), the open standards platform “will help utilities accelerate adoption and simplify deployment of smart grid solutions, reduce the total cost of ownership of these systems, and unleash innovation for smart grid applications and technologies in the marketplace,” according to a joint press release.

Based on an open, multi-service IPv6 architecture, the AMI platform provides pervasive monitoring and control of energy distribution networks that enable the introduction of new smart grid and home network features for both utilities and customers, the partners explain. The platform’s key components include the Cisco 1000 Series Connected Grid Router (CGR), Cisco Network Management System (NMS), and Itron’s OpenWay Reporting System, IPv6-enabled meters and the OpenWay Collection Engine.

Worldwide smart grid systems and applications revenue totaled $16 billion in 2010, a figure that’s forecast to balloon to $155 billion by 2018, according to recent research and analysis from Memoori Business Intelligence.

Cisco and Itron have been working to develop an open yet secure, interoperable platform to support electricity grid modernization since forming a strategic alliance in September, 2010. The goal was to deliver an AMI platform capable of “delivering ‘plug and play’ interoperability of smart grid services and applications and devices, as well as freedom from vendor-specific, proprietary integration requirements.”

“Together, Itron and Cisco are setting the stage for the industry. We are transforming the traditional purpose-built, meter-centric AMI solution into an enterprise-class architecture featuring robust network management, standardized security and quality of service,” Philip Mezey, Itron president and COO of Energy. “It is with this technology that we are able to build the smartest grids in the world.”

Vancouver’s BC Hydro will be the first to put the Cisco-Itron AMI platform to use in a commercial, enterprise environment. Serving more than 1.8 million customers throughout British Columbia, installation of the platform is to begin in March. Cicso’s Connected Grid Router will be installed in the field to provide secure communications for routing of critical data from Itron’s IPv6 smart meters and other grid-connected devices over an IPv6 RF (Radio Frequency) mesh network.

BC Hydro expects that the smart grid system will enable it to keep a lid on customers’ utility bills by yielding savings of $1.6 billion over its expected 20-year life. “The ability to leverage our infrastructure with Itron’s smart grid solution and Cisco’s Connected Grid networking and security capabilities is a great stepping stone into smart grid. We will be able to leverage it for years to come,” said Gary Murphy, chief project officer for BC Hydro’s Smart Metering Program.

Powerline networking standards body the HomePlug Alliance has completed and launched its HomePlug AV2 specification. The new digital home networking specification provides high-performance “coverage for broadband networking over powerline wires while remaining fully interoperable with previous HomePlug AV/IEEE 1901-compliant products that are used in millions of consumers’ homes,” according to the trade group’s news release.

HomePlug AV2 supports gigabit-class broadband speeds, which in turn enables HD streaming Internet video, multi-room IPTV, online gaming, HD audio and other high-throughput network services.

The new digital home networking spec was developed by the HomePlug AV Technical Working Group, which includes Broadcom, devolo, France Telecom, Marvell, Qualcomm Atheros, Ralink, Sony, SPiDCOM Technologies and STMicroelectronics.

Improvements to coverage and performance include enhanced delivery of HD/3D network streams throughout homes; accommodation of next-generation ultra-high speed broadband access and services.

Key features include gigabit-class PHY Rate (Physical interface rate); support for MIMO (Multiple Input-Multiple Output) PHY; whole home coverage with built-in repeater functionality; high-definition video and audio support; interoperability with HomePlug AV and HomePlug Green PHY devices; and Active, Standby and Idle power saving modes.

“HomePlug AV2 is the much anticipated and logical follow on to the successful HomePlug AV specification,” said Kurt Scherf, senior analyst for Parks Associates. “AV2 greatly increases the capacity of home networks to support ultra-high speed applications by increasing the network’s bandwidth and also greatly improves reliable delivery of that bandwidth to all areas of the home.”

“The explosion in demand for robust home networking is driving the need for ultra-high speed broadband across the home,” commented Rob Ranck, president of the HomePlug Powerline Alliance. “HomePlug AV2 leads the way in enabling a variety of manufacturers to deliver this capability with maximum interoperability.”

Developing applications that make use of UPnPs open standards protocol offers utilities and smart grid information systems vendors a way to quickly, reliably and securely develop applications that can communicate through HANs to the wide ranging, and fast growing host of connected consumer electronic devices found in today’s homes and businesses.

Given their involvement and investment in smart grid systems communications,  broadband carriers and utilities, may be interested in getting involved in development and adoption of UPnP standards related to smart grid and home automation networks. There’s no cost to join the UPnP Forum or to download and contribute to specifications.

“In practice, the current widespread deployment of UPnP-based products means that utilities have a well-established developer and support ecosystem for delivering cost-effective energy management solutions,” according to UPnP’s press release.

“UPnP technologies already provide the foundation in the home to complement a variety of energy management gateways and device control scenarios incorporating well-vetted mechanisms for security, discovery and service advertisement.”

The open architecture UPnP internetworking protocol also provides a “robust, manageable, and secure IP platform to facilitate energy data communications” as its supports modular integration with multiple Smart Grid and Smart Energy protocols, including Zibee SEP 2.0, NAESB’s ESPI initiative, OpenADR and OASIS, UPnP notes.

The UPnP Forum has been playing an active role in the development of home and business automation energy networking standards. It’s published Device Control Protocols for Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC), security cameras, lighting controls and solar protection blinds.

As Culpit concisely and eloquently points out, “Words have incredible power. They create love; hate and confusion. They define us and the world in which we live. They shape our reality as well as our perceptions. Our words determine our ideologies and beliefs.”

In the way of cutting through the fog of unclear and shifting meaning, he proceeds, with a tip of the hat to Johnny Carson and David Letterman, to offer an irreverent top 10 list of definitions for popular cloud terminology used in 2011. His countdown begins at 10 with “cloud portability” and finished at number 1 with the really big question, “What are cloud services?”

Here are a few highlights:

• At number 9: What is SlapOS? SlapOS is what you want to do to your forehead every time you get an email from that coworker (you know the one) who intentionally leaves the “Sent from my iPad” or “Sent from my Blackberry” signature on his or her emails. Oh, wait — you meant that SlapOS. Yes…the one that doesn’t involve bodily harm or potential assault charges.

• At number 5: What is a telecom cloud provider? This very curious breed of cloud provider is known for its conservative demeanor, stratified silos, compulsive trench digging and insane addiction to obscure acronyms. Despite these traits, they often become great family pets.

• At number 3: What is a cloud provider? This is the first question that I ask myself each and every morning when I look at myself in the mirror. And I always answer my reflection saying, “I am, you handsome devil.”

WhiteSpace Alliance founding members AmeriSys, BAE Systems, Korea’s ETRI (Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute), NICT (National Institute of Information and Communications Technology) and say that TV white space, also referred to as super wi-fi or white-fi, has the capacity to provide wireless broadband access to as many as 3.5 billion people worldwide.

The new association “has been formed with the goal of enabling the emerging worldwide WhiteSpace ecosystem to deliver cost-effective broadband solutions, and support products and services that use WhiteSpace,” according to a Dec. 15 WSA press release.

The association will highlight and promote the use of the emerging IEEE 802.22 standard, which in the U.S. uses spectrum currently allocated to unused television channels. This spectrum promises to provide 20+ Mbps broadband wireless access with a range as far as 100 kilometers (62.5 miles), although actual commercial deployments have not been built yet.

“We welcome new members that are willing to invest time and energy to realize this global, multibillion dollar opportunity and make an impact on their company’s bottom line,” said WhiteSpace Alliance chairman Dr. Apurva Mody. “This is a unique opportunity to shape the organization, and participate in the WhiteSpace market– the next generation of Internet connectivity.”

A special thanks to our clients for your confidence in us to help you meet your community and customer needs. Have a safe and enjoyable holiday season!

A 2011-through October-review of the U.S. smartphone market from The NPD Group’s “Mobile Phone Track” and “Smartphone Track” services reveals that the market share of Google’s Android mobile OS grew to 53%, while that of Apple’s iOS grew to reach 29%. Former market leader RIM’s BlackBerry mobile OS market share fell to 11%, a falling trend line followed by other former market leaders. RIM and its lagging peers “have made critical business decisions this past year in a quest to shore up their U.S. smartphone businesses,” however, NPD researchers report.

“The competitive landscape for smartphones, which has been reshaped by Apple and Google, has ultimately forced every major handset provider through a major transition,” said Ross Rubin, executive director, Connected Intelligence for The NPD Group. “For many of them, 2012 will be a critical year in assessing how effective their responses have been.”

In its research note, NPD reviews three key 2011 smartphone market developments whose effects are sure to carry forward into 2012.

1. Google Acquires Motorola

Motorola’s share of US smartphone handsets fell from a peak of 36% in 4Q 2006 to as low as 1% by 3Q 2009. They’ve been rebounding since, rising to 16% in 4Q 2010 before falling back to 12% in 3Q ‘11.

Google announced its intention to acquire Motorola Mobility back in August, a transaction that may be delayed past January 10, which was when the European Commission originally expected to issue a final antitrust ruling.

According to Rubin, “Android has helped Motorola climb back into the smartphone market; now, though, Google will seek to use Motorola’s patent pool to help protect other Android licensees,” according to Rubin.

2. The Fall of RIM

Once loved by users, the tiny keypads and small screens of RIM’s BlackBerry smartphones were made awkward and limiting with Apple’s industry-leading shift to touchscreens and larger screen sizes with the iPhone. RIM saw its US smartphone market share fall from 50% in 2Q 2006 to 8% by 3Q 2011. RIM’s made some “incremental improvements” as it prepares to release its next-generation platform, including release of the BlackBerry 7 mobile OS, Rubin notes; however, it’s got a lot of catching up to do. RIM now ranks fifth among smartphone OEMs, behind Apple, HTC, Samsung and Motorola.

3. Nokia does Windows

Nokia is another former market leader that has its work cut out for it as it tries to close the gap between its smartphone sales and those for Google Android smartphones and Apple’s iOS mobile devices. For its part, Microsoft continues to try to break into the top tier of the US market.

While Microsoft’s previous generation Windows Mobile OS reached a peak US smartphone sales market share of 50% in 2Q 2007, Windows Phone 7 hasn’t captured more than 2% since its launch in 4Q 2010.

The two made a big splash this year with Nokia agreeing to use the Window Phone mobile OS on its smartphones, but “Nokia and Microsoft must build from almost nothing to carve out success between the consistency of the iPhone and the flexibility of Android,” according to Rubin.

The number of customer-edge (CE) routers capable of being deployed in IPv6 networks is increasing, according to results of the University of New Hampshire InterOperability Laboratory’s (UNH-IOL) recent IPv6 CE Router Interoperability Test Event.

The UNH-IOL IPv6 CE Test Event took place last month. Tests were designed to verify that CE routers are ready to be deployed in IPv6 networks, as well as prove support of transition mechanisms, such as 6rd, in some CE routers, which needed to maintain connectivity for subscribers when networks are not dual-stack, supporting both IPv4 and IPv6. Eight network operators and CE router vendors participated, including Actiontec, Broadcom, Cisco, D-Link, Lantiq, Motorola Mobility and Time Warner.

A collaborative, independent testing lab and certification center for data networking technologies, UNH-IOL also assists member companies speed up IPv6 broadband deployments via a variety of educational materials, including a recently released IPv6 CE whitepaper and a new YouTub video series.

The first video in the series, entitled, “How to complete a USGv6 Test Program Suppliers Declaration of Conformity (SDoC),” is a step-by-step guide for finalizing a “Suppliers Declaration of Conformity” (SDoC), which is required for companies planning to sell IPv6 products to the federal government. The second video in the series, “Scheduling Testing Using the IOL Website,” instructs businesses interested in testing their CE devices for IPv6 interoperability on how to prepare for the testing process, as well as register to have their products tested and certified by UNH-IOL.

Based on the IEEE’s 802.15.4 standard for the physical (PHY) and media access control (MAC) layers of low frequency radio personal area networks, Zigbee networks are “low-cost, self-healing, low-power, and scalable,” NPD In-Stat notes in a press release. That makes them ideal for smart grid, utility metering, residential automation, commercial and government building control, lighting, medical, industrial process control and consumer electronics applications.

“Smart energy” use is increasingly being espoused and supported by governments around the world, with government mandates increasingly compelling utilities to look to smart grids and automated metering infrastructure (AMI) as a means of doing so. These are fast growing markets being vied for by several well-funded alliances of standards and technology providers, Z-Wave, Wi-Fi, nd HomePlug and Google among them.

Helping spur demand, the ZigBee Alliance has become better organized and “has ramped up its profile development, and is aggressively going after a number of markets,” according to NPD-InStat.  In September, the ZigBee Alliance announced the completion of its building automation standard for interoperable products that enable the secure and reliable monitoring and control of commercial building systems. (LINK:

“Smart,” more energy efficient lighting systems have the potential to become a major demand driver for Zigbee equipment, network and chipsets, NPD-InStat says. In consumer electronices, Zigbee RF4CE is competing with BT-LE (Bluetooth-Low Energy) radio technology standard for home and personal network automation.