Optical and Carrier Ethernet equipment vendor ADVA Optical Networking has named Ulrich Dopfer as its CFO and president of ADVA's North American subsidiary. Dopfer, who has been with the company for 10 years and who was previously VP of financial planning & analysis and corporate services, takes over from Jaswir Singh, who left the company on December 31. (See ADVA Appoints New CFO.)

Norwegian mobile security specialist Birdstep Technology ASA (Oslo: BIRD) has sold its enterprise secure connectivity unit, Birdstep Technology Oy, to embedded software systems vendor Elektrobit Technologies Ltd for €1.9 million ($2.3 million). The move will enable Birdstep Technology ASA to focus on its "major area of growth, Smart Mobile Data services, offering advanced solutions for Mobile Network Operators, Cable Network Operators and device manufacturers," the company stated. (See Birdstep Sells Secure Mobility Unit.)

Is there going to be a bidding war for Blinkbox, the loss-making OTT video service currently owned by UK retail giant Tesco? Following reports a month ago that Vodafone Group plc (NYSE: VOD) was "poised" to acquire the video streaming platform, industry speculation suggests that UK competitive triple play service provider TalkTalk is also interested, reports The Guardian.

— Ray Le Maistre, , Editor-in-Chief, Light Reading