HP Gets Call for Carriers

Motorola is hoping to get a jumpstart on next-generation
network infrastructure with a new hardware/software package debuting this
week from HP .

The two tech giants inked a joint multi-year deal of an undisclosed
amount designed to address next-generation CDMA and
iDEN networks.

HP said it has designed the Intel/HP hardware
and the Linux/HP software specs to dovetail with Motorola’s Radio
Access Network. The systems will eventually be sold to large and medium
sized carriers for their call path centers. The first systems are being
tested but no official deployments have been announced.

“Virtually each of the network equipment providers is migrating to next-generation
platforms based on Linux,” Joy King, HP director of its worldwide
marketing for its network and service provider business, told
internetnews.com.

HP’s partnership with Motorola is the first significant active deployment
of this kind for the company, but it is just the tip of the iceberg, said
King. HP is in talks with providers, such as Ericsson,
Lucent and Nokia, and it will eventually expand its offering to all its
network equipment vendors. “All are progressing at different rates,” King
said.

The Motorola/HP system includes three elements. First,
HP has modified its Integrity rx2600 64-bit rack-mount server to
offer a carrier-grade version (NEBS Level 3-certified). Dubbed the
cx26000, the server is outfitted with 1.3 GHz Intel Itanium “Madison”
dual-core processors and a backup power supply, which has been tested to withstand
certain levels of fire, hazard and earthquake events.

Second, HP has modified the Debian Linux distribution to optimize it for carrier grade systems.
Doug Small, a marketing manager with HP Carrier Grade Systems, said the
choice to go with Debian over HP’s traditional Linux partners — Red Hat and
SUSE Linux — was less about quality and more about readiness.

“We have great relationships with Red Hat and SUSE, but there were some
things that were just not there yet,” Small told internetnews.com.
“One of our customers wanted some specific changes. In some cases, some of
the changes will go back into the GPL.”

Finally, HP worked with Motorola to enhance HP’s OpenCall Radio Signaling
Controller software. The platform is a version of HP’s Signaling System 7
software, which handles all call signaling and connection in the core network.

“These new HP platforms will enable Motorola to give our customers
exactly what they need in a fast-changing market — world-class equipment,
attractive return on investment, and the flexibility to adapt their networks
as needed,” said Adrian Nemcek, executive vice president of Motorola and
president and CEO of its Global Telecom Solutions Sector.

Still reeling from last week’s
financial news,
HP is spending this week getting in touch with its partners
in Chicago for its annual HP World show.
CEO Carly Fiorina fired three executives
and informed Wall Street that it would offer lower
revenue expectations for its third quarter. The company is expected to
file its quarterly financial statement Wednesday.