Equinix launches new $61m data center in Atlanta
Equinix, the multinational retail colocation provider, has opened the first phase of its new data center in Atlanta, Ga. The facility, located in the Atlanta city center, will have room to support up to 1,450 cabinet equivalents at full build-out. The newly launched first phase supports up to 400 cabinet equivalents.

Equinix expects to invest $61m into the two-phase construction project. Construction of the second phase is already underway, expected to be completed in the fourth quarter.

HP to settle lawsuits re. allegations of false claims for government contracts
HP said it has reached a settlement agreement with the US Department of Justice, which may end the department's investigation into the vendor's contract with the US General Services Administration in addition to a separate claim referred to as the Rille complaint. The settlement remains subject for to the approval of a number of federal agencies.

Justice initiated the probe in connection with allegations that HP and a number of other large IT vendors had been submitting false claims to the government for technology contracts, with some dating as far back as the late 1990's, according to a Bloomberg report. In its statement about the settlement, HP did not admit any wrongdoing.

Eaton UPS system gets sustainability certificate
A UPS system by the manufacturer of industrial electrical equipment Eaton Corp. has been certified as a sustainable product by an organization that aims to promote sustainable product design. The Institute for Market Transformation to Sustainability rated Eaton's 9396 UPS system with its Sustainable Materials Rating Technology Gold certification, or SMaRT Gold.

The certification qualifies the system as a contributor to a LEED certification of a project that incorporates it. LEED certification is given by the US Green Building Council to buildings designed and built according to high sustainability standards.

RCN Metro expands New York colo
Provider of network connectivity and data center services RCN Metro Optical Networks, a division of RCN Corp., has expanded its colocation data center at 111 8th Ave. in New York, N.Y. The building is one of the largest carrier hotels on the East Coast.

The facility is connected to RCN Metro's backbone, offering access to the provider's Wavelength, Ethernet and SONET services. RCN metro operates 24 data centers around the US.

Hosting provider Dacentec opens new North Carolina data center
Hosting service provider Dacentec has launched a new data center in Lenoir, N.C., according to a McClatchy-Tribune report. The facility is housed within a former 23,000 sq ft sportswear manufacturing plant. Dacentec bought the building and began renovation work in October 2009.

The first phase will house 72 server racks, with full-build-out capacity expected to be about 500 racks. The company chose Lenoir because of power and real-estate costs, as well as assistance from local governments. The project received a grant from the North Carolina Rural Economic Development Center.