Business News.(A)(Business News)

Cisco releases new optical goods

in bid to fend off upstart rivals

The new 12400 series Internet routers are the first from Cisco Systems to run at 10 gigabits per second, four times faster than its current routers. Rivals such as Juniper Networks and Avici Systems have already announced or shipped 10gigabit routers. Juniper has grabbed an estimated 30% of the core Internet router market. But Cisco said its new router is superior and claims Jun

iper will become the "Macintosh" of the router market. The networking gear maker still expects 2001 optical networking gear sales of $3 billion to $7 billion. More on A9

Cisco and Openwave link up: The two firms will build a system to check e-mail, voicemail and fax via a single phone call. Openwave Systems' unified communications software will be combined with Cisco's AS5300 Voice Gateway server, which supports Internet voice calls and faxes. British Telecom's mobileInternet unit has expressed interest.

Sega ends Dreamcast production

Sega confirmed it will stop making its video-game console on March 31, unable to keep up with Sony and Nintendo. Sega will start making games for Sony's PlayStation2 and other industry rivals. Sega has suffered big losses, as its Dreamcast console failed to take significant market share, even after big pricecuts. Chairman and CEO Isao Okawa will give $730 million of his money so Sega can avoid a cash shortage.More on A9