Verizon, Cisco, Lucent Technologies, Motorola,
Nortel and
Qualcomm along with key telecom industry suppliers, today announced a vision for the advancement of next-generation network architecture for wireless mobile telecommunications networks. Their goal has been to develop enhancements to a well known, emerging architecture, known as IMS (IP Multi-media Subsystem).
The multi-vendor team has generically termed this architecture A-IMS – for Advances to IMS -- in order to reflect its evolution from work done earlier in technology standards bodies. The A-IMS architecture developed by the task force provides solutions to implement next-generation services in current networks, as well as creates a foundation for the efficient roll-out of both SIP- and non-SIP-based services in future networks.
When I first heard about A-IMS and the taskforces "extensions" to the IMS standard, I couldn't help but be reminded of
Microsoft making extensions to their browser that broke industry standards and fractured the browser market. IMS is accepted as a core component of virtually all next-generation, IP-based communications networks for SIP-based applications, and is designed to assure standardization of multi-media services across all of these interconnected networks. So it is critical that any improvements made by the A-IMS initiative is rolled into the IMS standard.
I listened to the conference call and they claim that these "extensions" to the IMS standard will be put forth to the appropriate standards bodies. They pointed out that the response from the market has been positive and that the goal is not to cause a schism in the standard but instead to help bring more security, interoperability and stronger features.
Additionally, on the conference call Dick Lynch, Executive Vice President and CTO of
Verizon Wireless pointed out that Verizon has been in discussion with other carriers and the goal is to make this a standard implemented wordwide and not just something for Verizon. He added that the years worth of work on enhancing IMS goal is to help move IMS forward.
Dick Lynch said, “We applaud the visionaries who have done a great job developing IMS over the last few years. But as we approached implementation planning, it became apparent that there are some practical, real-world issues that need to be addressed if we are to transparently and completely deploy and maximize the use of this new architecture. To us, it is also important that it be built to support the bridging of the present non-IP reality as we transition to the future. As people look at what our task force has accomplished, I expect that they will see significant benefits, including embedding VoIP hooks into the lower levels of the stack and addressing security issues in a more systemic way. These are exciting advancements that are headed rapidly into our mainstream technology roadmap.”
The current outputs of the task force are a concept document and an architecture document that are being provided to industry leaders. From these documents, the task force companies plan to make necessary standards contributions in the immediate future.
“The promise of IMS is extraordinary, for wireless service providers, as well as for all network providers. A-IMS enhances the opportunity for success for not only the network providers but also for companies in technology, infrastructure, handset manufacturing and service design and, most importantly, for the consumer,” said Charlie Giancarlo, Chief Development Officer, Cisco.
“Having been at the forefront of creating IMS-based next-generation multi-media solutions for mobile networks, we recognize the benefits of this collaboration, particularly in terms of multi-vendor interoperability, as we move into an all-IP mobility world,” said Paul Mankiewich, Chief Technology Officer,
Lucent Technologies Network Systems Group. “This effort continues to enable the delivery of blended voice, video, data and multi-media applications, what we call Blended Lifestyle services, to mobile end users.”
“This joint task force has defined the missing transition step from today to pure IP architecture, and knowledge learned from this effort will help us in development of seamless mobility solutions using this new architecture. We see operators adopting A-IMS to deploy a unified platform for the rapid deployment of new services, including SIP-based interactive applications and non-SIP applications, all of which run on top of IP,” said Fred Wright, Senior Vice President, North America Region, Networks & Enterprise, Motorola.
“With our extensive experience deploying VoIP networks and SIP-based applications worldwide, we have a unique understanding of the system requirements and design and configuration enhancements necessary for successfully implementing VoIP in a wireless environment. With the augmentations to the current standards we envision coming from A-IMS,
wireless VoIP can efficiently arrive in the mainstream a lot sooner than anticipated,” predicted Richard Lowe, President, Mobility and Converged Core Networks, Nortel.
“With A-IMS, Qualcomm will be able to provide a consistent client environment that will drive the faster deployment of new and innovative IP-based applications,” said Roberto Padovani, Chief Technology Officer, Qualcomm. “By deploying an access-agnostic A-IMS- based core network, operators will benefit from seamless integration of a rich array of services delivered across access technologies. A-IMS also provides operators flexibility in configuring and controlling services, and allows the device client to implement consistent policies for dealing with air interfaces, security, signaling and multi-media capabilities, while freeing the application developer to focus on providing compelling functionality to the user.”
The A-IMS standard is based on several key architectural principles, including:
Comprehensive Security: Security is more than authentication, and involves all components in the network, including the devices. Indeed, security agents run on the network devices, providing reverse-firewalls to protect the network from the device and to aid in posture assessment during logon. Comprehensive security also requires the Security Manager to monitor the network at all times, determine baseline traffic patterns, and then use those to detect and respond to anomalies. To respond, the Security Manager can change server configurations, install firewall rules or modify Intrusion Detection Services (IDS) behaviors.
Uniform Treatment of SIP and non-SIP Applications: To the greatest degree possible, A-IMS allows the service provider to manage and control both SIP and non-SIP applications in a uniform way. This is done primarily by usage of the Policy Manager (PM), which allows the service provider to manage the usage of network resources on behalf of both types of applications. Key network functions, including mobility, roaming and packet accounting are also defined in ways that allow them to support both types uniformly.
Dual Anchoring: A-IMS provides a mobile terminal with two IP addresses – one anchored in a Bearer Manager (BM) in the visited network, and one in a BM in the home network. Service provider policy controls which address is used for which applications. This allows for latency sensitive applications to use the visited anchor, whereas applications that require greater levels of service provider control can use the home anchor.
Three-Layer Peering: When connecting to roaming partners, peering occurs at three layers: security peering, used for access authentication, IP peering, used for transport of bearer traffic, and policy peering, used for control of bearer services. Policy server peering involves the usage of a policy server in both the home and visited networks. Usage of two allows for the home provider policies to apply even while roaming, yet allows them to be tempered by visited network policies on usage of the network.
Multi-Tiered Service Interaction Management: Feature interaction management across SIP-based applications, and between SIP and non-SIP applications is provided. Feature interaction management is linked with network policies, allowing for application interaction decisions to take into account the state of the network. The architecture also allows for extensibility to new interaction resolution mechanisms through the addition of service interaction application servers.
Highlights of the A-IMS plan clearly define several “pillars” as essential to the architecture:
Bearer Manager (BM): Allocates resources and manages bearer traffic to meet customers’ service quality requirements. The primary functions include policy enforcement, mobility management, security, accounting, and access control.
Policy Manager (PM): A primary policy decision point for network policies, deciding the ways that the underlying network supports applications on behalf of subscribers and visitors to the network.
Application Manager (AM): The SIP services platform in the network that authorizes access to SIP services, provides SIP registration and authentication functions, and is responsible for the invocation and management of SIP-based features.
Security Manager (SM): Responsible for monitoring the network for security threats and responding to them in real time, making decisions on what devices are allowed access to the network based on their posture – a measure of the safety of the device based on the freshness of its software patches and security features.
Services Data Manager (SDM): The main repository of subscriber and network control data and collects and stores charging data for the network.
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Tomorrow CableMatrix at SCTE will announce an interesting unified policy management solution that guarantees end-to-end service quality (QoS) for applications (e.g. VoIP) traversing converged IP networks - managing WiMAX, cable, wireless, and DSL access solutions. It even has
IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) implications. Using QoS and centralized management, operators will have the ability to extend high-quality services no matter where and how the subscriber accesses the network.
YourLink, a broadband service provider will begin trials this summer.
Here's the news:
CableMatrix and VCom Showcase Unified Policy Management VoIP Solution
High Quality Cable-to-WiMAX Voice Demonstration Precedes Summer Field Trials
DENVER, CO – (June 20, 2006) - CableMatrix Technologies, a leading provider of Quality of Service (QoS) policy management solutions, will be demonstrating a unified policy management solution in conjunction with WiMAX designer and manufacturer VCom Inc. (TSX:VCM) that guarantees end-to-end service quality for VoIP calls traversing dissimilar networks, in this case cable-to-wireless. The demonstration will take place at the Society of Cable and Telecommunication Engineer (SCTE) Cable-Tec Expo (Booths 1645 and 1753) and highlights the potential for centrally managing QoS across a converged network, similar to the emerging IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) architecture. Field trials are scheduled to begin this summer.
“Employing unified policy management, service providers can extend their distribution network and deliver a consistent quality-of-experience, regardless of access medium,” said Satish Putta, director of product development for CableMatrix. “Our WiMAX support is the first in a series of platform extensions designed to address all major cable, wireless, and DSL access solutions.”
The central components powering the demonstration are the CableMatrix On-Demand Service Platform (ODSP™) integrated with the VCom VistaMAX 802.16-2004 based transmission gear, as well as a DOCSIS-certified CMTS and accompanying customer premise equipment. ODSP is an advanced, standards-based policy management platform for seamlessly delivering next-generation IP-based services such as SIP voice, streaming video, multi-player online gaming and video conferencing with dynamic QoS, on a per-session basis. The combined elements enable QoS-enhanced VoIP sessions on the attached DOCSIS network, connected to a corresponding standards-based IP voice over the WiMAX air interface.
YourLink Inc., a Canadian based broadband service provider and wholly owned subsidiary of VCom, is planning summer trials of the technology. “WiMAX gives us the ability to provide a high-speed broadband service that rivals even wireline offerings,” said Robert Forget, director of wireless sales at VCom. “Adding unified QoS policy management allows us to guarantee service levels for both our enterprise and residential subscribers across disparate networks.”
About CableMatrix
CableMatrix provides IMS compatible software solutions that enable broadband operators to maximize their revenues while delivering media-rich IP applications and services. Its standards-compliant ODSP Policy Server, in conjunction with the XAM Application Manager, enables dynamic QoS and bandwidth management on a per-customer, per-application basis, giving broadband cable operators the ability to directly link increased bandwidth usage with increased revenue. For more information, visit www.cablematrix.com.
About VCom
VCom Inc. (TSX: VCM) designs, manufactures and sells products that enable broadband access to cable, wireless and telephony networks. VCom’s hardware products incorporate embedded software developed by it to meet the complex requirements of next-generation, high-speed digital networks. Service providers use VCom’s solutions to deliver services to a converging worldwide broadband market, including what are commonly known as “triple play” (voice, video and data) and “quadruple play” (voice, video, data and wireless) services. VCom’s solutions allow service providers to rapidly and cost-effectively bridge the final network segment that connects the system directly to end users, commonly referred to as “the last mile”, by overcoming the bottleneck resulting from insufficient carrying capacity in legacy, last mile infrastructures. VCom’s products are directed at three principal markets: Data over Cable, Broadband Wireless and Digital Video. The Company has also developed and continues to focus on developing products to address emerging markets such as Voice over Internet Protocol, fibre to the home and IP video.
VCom is a Principal Member of the WiMAX Forum that has developed the international open standard for this new technology. Certification to the IEEE 802.16 standard under the WiMAX certification process requires interoperability of equipment manufactured by different vendors. Operators demand interoperability to ensure that economies of mass production will be achieved by aggregating production for all manufacturers. VCom’s VistaMAX Time Division Duplexing (TDD) Base Station was successfully tested for interoperability under the provided guidelines at the WiMAX Forum 3rd Plugfest in Sophia Antipolis, France in March 2006. For more information, visit www.vcom.com.
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Written by VoIP & Gadgets Blog on June 19th, 2006 with no comments.
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Ericsson today announced the launch of an IMS applications initiative for its Mobility World developers program. Through the initiative,
Ericsson is expanding its support for the development of IMS based applications. IMS is a nascent technology that will surely need trained and experienced VoIP developers to take convergence to the next level. Speaking of VoIP developers, TMC's
VoIP Developer show focused exclusively on VoIP developers, engineers and the like, is great place to hone your skills and it is just a few months away. It's taking place at the Hyatt Regency in Santa Clara, CA from August 8-10, 2006.
In any event, check out Ericsson's IMS developers program...
Ericsson Launches Developers Program for IMS Applications
As the global market leader in IMS, Ericsson (NASDAQ:ERICY) has now launched the IMS eco-system as part of Ericsson Mobility World's developers program. The initiative is aimed to accelerate the creation of innovative new applications and services, drive user demand for IMS enabled networks and create further revenue opportunities for operators.
Through the IMS eco-system initiative, Ericsson is expanding its support for the developers' community to develop IMS based applications. Ericsson is already driving the standardization of JSR 281.
Application developers will be able to take advantage of Ericsson's IMS based solutions, as well as the he Ericsson Service Development Studio (SDS), the development and end-to-end testing tool provided by Ericsson, which is based on Eclipse Technology.
Kurt Sillén, VP, Ericsson Mobility World, says: "The eco-system for IMS applications will give operators access to a portfolio of IMS based applications and gives application developers a chance to work closely with Ericsson and gain exposure to Ericsson customers worldwide."
End-to-end support is fundamental in new IMS application development and Ericsson together with Sony Ericsson and Ericsson Mobile Platforms will ensure the availability of IMS clients and terminals in the market.
As a part of Ericsson's IP multimedia solution, Ericsson also supports the BEA WebLogic SIP-server (WLSS) as an open JAVA-based programmable 3GPP-compliant SIP Server environment for 3rd party application providers to develop and provide IMS applications to the operator community.
The Ericsson Mobility World Developer Program is the Ericsson program helping application developers to successfully plan, develop, verify and get applications to the market for operators and end-users.
Ericsson is the leader in the IMS area with 19 commercial IMS contracts and a further 40 trials either completed or in progress. Ericsson has been selected by Vodafone Group as a preferred supplier of its IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS). In June 2005 Telefónica became the first operator in the world put live commercial traffic onto an IMS system - Ericsson's IMS Multimedia Telephony solution.
IMS developers interested in the Ericsson Mobility World Developer program can receive complete information by visiting http://www.ericsson.com/mobilityworld/
Ericsson is shaping the future of Mobile and Broadband Internet communications through its continuous technology leadership. Providing innovative solutions in more than 140 countries, Ericsson is helping to create the most powerful communication companies in the world.
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Written by VoIP & Gadgets Blog on May 9th, 2006 with no comments.
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According to my ABI Research Daily newsletter,
Siemens and Time Warner Cable have successfully demo'ed IMS which will certainly usher in the promise of a converged blend of personalized wireless and fixed consumer services, bringing entertainment, telephones, Internet applications and wireless together. IMS is going to be huge due to it's ability to go beyond Triple Play's "simple" offering of three services to instead offer customers a customized and personalized experience that integrates all three disparate services. I say "three" but really it could be four, five, or even more applications, but "triple play" is still the catch-phrase of the day.
Anyway, here's the news:
Siemens Communications Inc. and Time Warner Cable announced the successful demonstrations of fully integrated fixed line, mobile and WiFi broadband technologies via Internet protocol multimedia subsystem (IMS) standards to deliver fixed mobile convergence (FMC). The demonstrations highlight the operational value of adopting Siemens' IMS solutions and show how consumers can now enjoy shared multimedia applications, entertainment features and communication sessions - including converged wired and wireless solutions.
Time Warner Cable is one of the first cable operators to demonstrate the use of IMS at the company's Herndon, Va., facility. Time Warner Cable is using Siemens' technology to support a range of IP-based services. One demonstration used several online gaming scenarios to test the integration of both packet- and circuit-switched telephony networks as well as a range of different wireless and fixed technologies. The technology supported gaming between a user with a wireless device who was playing against an opponent on a fixed-line network device. The two companies have also demonstrated dual-mode handset usage, including seamless handoffs as users roamed from WiFi coverage - either at work and at home - to cellular coverage areas.
"IMS technology is an exciting new technology for consumers who want their devices to work seamlessly together - including presence-aware features that can direct calls, video and messages to devices that are currently in use and in ways that are most convenient for the end user at any given moment," said Mike LaJoie, Chief Technology Officer at Time Warner Cable.
"Rather than being limited in capabilities due to silos of network architectures, IMS promises a new world of seamless provisioning opportunities for broadband operators. This will include the ability of operators to rapidly and cost-effectively deploy highly personalized entertainment services."
Siemens is an industry leader in fixed mobile convergence, leveraging its global experience that cuts across both mobile and fixed networks. The company is a global leader in delivering voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) applications for cable service providers, enterprises, government organizations and others.
"The building blocks are here today to remove the obstacles created by fragmented network domains, protocols and devices," said Harald Braun, president,
Siemens Networks Division,
Siemens Communications Inc. "IMS is another significant step in the
Siemens LifeWorks vision to provide end-to-end service delivery platforms for the next generation of services that will help people get more enjoyment out of life and work."
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Written by VoIP & Gadgets Blog on May 3rd, 2006 with no comments.
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AudioCodes (NASDAQ:AUDC), today announced general availability of the Transcoding Resource Blade (TRB) family of blade products. The TRB products support IP to IP conversion of a wide range of standard and low bit-rate (LBR) coders, including: G.711, G.726, G.727, G.723.1, G.729.a, iLBC, GSM-FR, GSM-EFR, AMR and others. Alan Percy from Audiocodes is here at ITEXPO (he's a keynoter) and I ran into him last night and we talked for a bit. (Audiocodes is also exhibiting at the show.) I'm surprised Alan didn't tell me about this news being announced today.
In any event, the new line of Transcoding Resource Blade products addresses the IMS market's needs for complex wireline and wireless VoIP transcoding. In addition to voice coders, the TRB family also supports encryption/decryption, conversion of G.711 fax to T.38 and a number of DTMF conversions. Transcoding features are controlled via SIP, MGCP or via the high-performance
AudioCodes API.
"One of the widely understood challenges of the IMS architecture and Peer-to-Peer VoIP applications is transcoding," said Sharone Ben-Levi, Vice President of Marketing, Blade Business Line at AudioCodes. "The TRB family of blades solves this challenge by offering a range of high-performance, low-latency IP to IP transcoding solutions that are vastly more efficient than host-based solutions."
The TRB product family is available today in a number of blade form factors and densities, including:
IPM-260/TRB - PCI form factor, supporting up to 120 transcoding sessions
IPM-1610/TRB - cPCI form factor, up to 240 transcoding sessions
IPM-6310/TRB - cPCI form factor, up to 1008 transcoding sessions
In addition to the above PCI and cPCI version, an AdvancedTCA form factor product is planned for early 2007.
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