Thos of you who read here regularly have noted that I'm a fan of Siemens. They're one of the thought leaders in the changes sweeping across the unified communications sector. And that isn't a new position for Siemens. I've watched their leadership for a number of years, particularly since I was directly involved in seeing them make small rural telcos successful and profitable withe DSL deployment while the big telcos (Verizon, Bell South and Qwest) were taking 6 truck rolls just to establish connectivity.

For those who watch Siemens, we've seen the HiPath 8000 find incredible success since its release. The HiPath and HiQ platforms are essentially cousins in architecture. What the HiPath8000 is to the enterprise networks, this SURPASS HiQ solution is to carrier networks.

On Friday I posted a couple of other Siemens notes, but I knew this was coming on Monday. I had that opportunity to speak with Susan Schramm, Siemens VP of Marketing on Friday about this big win. Susan described how this is far more than simply a VoIP solution for Time Warner Cable. Not only have they deployed a solid VoIP solution, but with the SURPASS HiQ, Time Warner Cable is deploying a fully IMS-ready architecture that's position to move directly into fixed mobile convergence as well.

Time Warner Cable's selection of Siemens is a double proof point. It shows recognition of Siemens thought leadership in creating next generation solutions, but beyonf that, it demonstrates that Siemens is delivering the right solutions to market. Siemens delivers not just on paper, but in the market with winning solutions in the IP and MSO space.

With IP networks, geographic considerations for management and deployment of large scale carrier solutions are becoming less and less a factor. Network elements can be effectively managed anywhere in a widely distributed network using IMS tools for carrier service deployment. Other sources, that I'll leave nameless for now, have confirmed that Time Warner Cable has an aggressive rollout and deployment schedule ahead and will be very focused on fixed mobile convergence solutions coupled with carrier-grade IMS to deliver a very competitive range of services.

As always, I'll be watching these developments very closely.

Time Warner Cable Selects Siemens Next-Generation IP-Based Voice Feature Server for its Continued Deployment of Digital Phone

BOCA RATON, Fla. – October 23, 2006 – Siemens Networks LLC today announced that Time Warner Cable selected its SURPASS® next-generation Internet Protocol (IP)-based voice feature server platform to help accelerate VoIP deployments of Time Warner Cable’s Digital Phone service, now in use by 1.6 million of its 14.4 million U.S. subscribers.

Capable of multiple network configurations, the Siemens SURPASS hiQ platforms have the capacity to support as many as 150,000 subscribers in a single voice feature server, along with the carrier-grade reliability users have come to expect from their telephones. In addition to providing call management functionality, the Siemens platform will help Time Warner Cable deliver a rich and growing feature set to its Digital Phone subscribers over time.

“We are currently very pleased with the rapid adoption of Digital Phone by our customers. These customers are seeing the value of adding Digital Phone to their video and high speed data bundle,” said Mike LaJoie, Chief Technology Officer for Time Warner Cable. “We’re confident that Siemens will assist us in achieving our deployment goals as we deliver the value of our Digital Phone service to a growing number of customers.”

“Time Warner Cable is a recognized leader in its VoIP deployments, and we worked hard to meet and exceed the high standards it set for us in trials,” said Harald Braun, president and COO, Siemens Networks LLC. “We believe that the scalability, reliability and ease of adding new features provided by our SURPASS platform will help Time Warner Cable drive more rapid VoIP adoption among its subscriber base.”

In July 2006, Siemens reached the five-million mark in licenses sold for the SURPASS hiQ platforms, which have been deployed by other service providers in the U.S., including Cablevision, as well as by service providers across the globe. International customers include Shaw Cable in Canada, Multimedios in Mexico, and UPC, Com Hem, Casema and Essent in Europe; among many others.

About Siemens
Siemens AG (NYSE:SI) is one of the largest global electronics and engineering companies with reported worldwide sales of $96 billion in fiscal 2005. Founded nearly 160 years ago, the company is a leader in the areas Medical, Power, Automation and Control, Transportation, Information and Communications, Lighting, Building Technologies, Water Technologies and Services and Home Appliances. With its U.S. corporate headquarters in New York City, Siemens in the USA has sales of $18.8 billion and employs approximately 70,000 people throughout all 50 states and Puerto Rico. Eleven of Siemens' worldwide businesses are based in the United States. With its global headquarters in Munich, Siemens AG and its subsidiaries employ 460,000 people in 190 countries. For more information on Siemens in the United States: www.usa.siemens.com

About Siemens Networks LLC
Siemens Networks LLC* engages in a dialog with its customers to create trendsetting communications solutions that help network operators and service providers achieve their business goals. Siemens Networks contributes its innovative strength, worldwide experience and unsurpassed implementation expertise in all areas of voice and data communications. As an innovation leader, Siemens Networks delivers customer value today and prepares customers for tomorrow with trendsetting solutions. Siemens Networks is a fully-owned subsidiary of Siemens AG. More about Siemens Networks at www.siemens.com/networks.

*Siemens Networks will merge into a 50-50 joint venture with the Nokia Networks Business Group, creating a telecommunications powerhouse that will be called Nokia Siemens Networks. The new company will be a global communications leader with strong positions in important growth segments of the fixed and mobile network infrastructure and services, featuring a world-class fixed-mobile convergence capability. The new company Nokia Siemens Networks is expected to start operations by January 1, 2007, subject to customary regulatory approvals, the completion of standard closing conditions, and the agreement of a number of detailed implementation steps.

Note: Siemens and SURPASS are registered trademarks of Siemens AG or its subsidiaries and affiliates. All other company, brand, product and service names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.

This release contains forward-looking statements based on beliefs of Siemens management. The words "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "forecast," "expect," "intend," "plan," "should," and "project" are used to identify forward-looking statements. Such statements reflect the company's current views with respect to future events and are subject to risks and uncertainties. Many factors could cause the actual results to be materially different, including, among others, changes in general economic and business conditions, changes in currency exchange rates and interest rates, introduction of competing products, lack of acceptance of new products or services and changes in business strategy. Actual results may vary materially from those projected here. Siemens does not intend or assume any obligation to update these forward-looking statements.