TECORE Rolls Out IMS-Based Platform for MVNOs

By Laura Stotler

TECORE Wireless Systems (news - alert) introduced its new core platform for the Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO) market. The T-MVNO platform offers a modular architecture that supports a variety of MVNO business models and is based on the company's SoftMSC platform.

The new solution features TECORE's IMS architecture, which enables operators to design their services around GSM, CDMA or converged WiFi/WiMAX wireless technologies. The T-MVNO platform features core network components and application services, including a fully functional MSC/Gateway-MSC, integrated HLR, SMSC
and SIP-based application servers. The platform's design includes edge gateways that can be used to provide localized call services and traffic aggregation over IP backbones.

Empirix Sets Sights on IMS

Empirix, Inc. (news - alert), has announced that its portfolio of Hammer products has been broadly extended to enable transitions to IMS in device and application development labs, pre-deployment system test labs, and field trials right through to operational networks.

The IMS architecture requires a set of tools that enable feature verification of new converged applications, enable multi-vendor device interoperability, emulate real-world network environments, and accelerate time-to-market for IMS device vendors and time-to-revenue for service providers. Empirix's Hammer portfolio is focused on providing best-of-breed device development test, pre-deployment system test, and operational-network monitoring solutions spanning legacy PSTN, NGN, and converged fixed/mobile and multimedia IMS architectures.

Sonus Networks, Inc., was among the first network equipment manufacturers (NEMs) to leverage Empirix solutions for pre-deployment IMS testing.

"With IMS protocols continuing to evolve, leveraging the experience of a company like Empirix for pre-deployment testing is a tremendous asset to us, and by extension, our customers,said Chuba Udokwu, Vice President, Worldwide Engineering, Sonus Networks. Empirix test equipment enables us to perform comprehensive element and load testing in our system labs before our solutions are shipped to our valued customers who depend on us for reliable, scalable, carrier-class IMS solutions."

http://www.empirix.com Components of the platform can migrate to full IMS-based architectures as the MVNO subscriber base and market grow. The solution can support from a few thousand to over a million subscribers, and enables either a centralized integrated core network model or a distributed core networking model.

The solution addresses a number of challenges MVNOs face as they define their core network architectures, including the need to support a variety of operational models, the ability to handle multiple wireless technologies and the need to scale cost effectively. The new platform addresses these challenges, and incorporation of the SoftMSC platform also enables a range of multimedia services like voice, text messaging and video. All services may be carried via a variety of wireless technologies. Operators may use the SoftMSC platform as a standalone "one-box" solution or in an architecture that provides localized or distributed processes on dedicated systems as required for growing subscriber bases and new services. www.tecore.com BEA, Cantata to Advance IMS Service Creation

BEA Systems (news - alert), announced it has expanded its partnership with Cantata (news - alert)Technology (formerly Brooktrout and Excel Switching Corporation). The two companies have completed interoperability testing for Cantata's SnowShore IP Media Server and BEA WebLogic SIP Server. The combined products are designed to allow Web application developers to rapidly build applications for VoIP and IMS networks such as voice/video messaging, video ring back clips, voice/video conferencing and IVR.

BEA WebLogic SIP Server is the converged J2EE and SIP Servlet (JSR 116) based application server component of the BEA WebLogic Communications Platform. The product is designed to help telecommunications network operators accelerate the deployment of next-generation network architectures based on SIP and IMS and increase revenue by more readily capitalizing on IMS and next-generation service delivery opportunities.

Cantata's SnowShore IP Media Server is a software- based, carrier-grade IP media server supported by a wide range of industry standard hardware platforms running on Red Hat Linux. It leverages the simplicity, openness, and flexibility of SIP, VoiceXML, and MSCML to provide a cost-effective and scalable IP media server solution, powering a broad range of voice and video services for next-generation wireline, wireless and broadband networks including the 3GPP/3GPP2 IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) network architecture.

A special two-port license of Cantata's SnowShore IP Media Server supporting BEA WebLogic SIP Server is now available to developers free of charge.

www.cantata.com
www.bea.com

Sonus Enables my people wholesale VoBB Service

Sonus Networks, Inc.news - alert) , and my people wholesale (news - alert), a provider of Voice over Broadband (VoBB), announced the deployment of the Sonus-certified consumer Voice over Broadband (c-VoBB) solution to power my people wholesale's VoBB Network. The recently launched Sonus-certified c-VoBB Solution is the first in a series of integrated IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS)-ready solutions designed to enable the rapid deployment of next-generation services. my people wholesale is using the Sonus platform to support a host of personalized services and applications.

my people wholesale administers private label VoBB services for independent cable operators and other resellers throughout the U.S. my people wholesale has launched its VoBB product offering, which during testing successfully demonstrated the solutions' robustness and appeal to end-users.

"With Sonus, service providers like my people wholesale are able to simultaneously deliver high-quality telephony service and enriched communication applications. The Sonus VoBB solution also allows service providers to seamlessly and cost effectively comply with developing IMS standards, maximizing their network investment," explained Patrick Toomey, director of wholesale services for my people.

my people wholesale is committed to being a compelling choice for independent cable operators who service between 2,000 and 100,000 customers. www.mypeoplewholesale.com and www.sonusnet.com

Nokia in Fixed/Mobile Deals with Euro Carriers

Deutsche Telekom Group (news - alert), announced T-One, an integrated dual-mode telephony solution combining the benefits of fixed line and mobile communications, which is being piloted on Nokia N80 and Nokia E60 devices. T-One will offer customers a simple and convenient way to access both fixed line and mobile data services on the aforementioned Nokia devices. Using the WLAN enabled Nokia N80 and Nokia E60 devices, customers will be able to use the same data and voice services from home or on the go through a T-Com HotSpot.

Together, Nokia and T-Com, a division of Deutsche Telekom Group, are testing Internet Protocol (IP) convergence solutions on the Nokia N80 and Nokia E60 devices.

In a separate announcement, Nokia (quote - news - alert) and Telenor R&D (news - alert), revealed that they are trialing services for fixed and mobile environments using Fixed-Mobile Convergence technologies. The results of the research and development collaboration include the ability to deliver IMS services over Nokia's D500 DSLAM multiservice broadband platform; VoIP calls between mobile and fixed SIP (Session Initiation Protocol) clients; and establishing test capabilities for gaming and video sharing on a converged platform.

Nokia and Telenor began this project last year by seeking to assess how different IP services can be delivered over multiple access technologies like WLAN/DSL, GSM and WCDMA to a multiradio device such as the Nokia E60. The Fixed-Mobile Convergence architecture is based on SIP technology and the Nokia IMS system.

"The shift towards IP convergence over the next few years is clear to Telenor. Introducing an IMS-based architecture is central to this development," said Hans-Christian Haugli, CEO Telenor R&D. "Taking a proactive role in the development positions us well to offer IP-based multimedia services to
our customers." www.t-com.de and www.telenor.com and www.nokia.com

Broadsoft Announces IMS-Ready MRF

Broadsoft, Inc. (news - alert), recently announced the availability of a new Media Resource Function Server (MRF) for IMS environments. The first in a series of next generation enhancements to the BroadWorks Media Server, the new MRF builds on core features by enhancing them with IMS capability, permitting interoperability with other application servers and allowing service providers to quickly deploy a range of audio and video functions over an IP network to enhance existing voice applications.

As a fully IMS-compliant media server, the MRF links the control and transport layers of the network, processing requests for media services from the application server. The MRF is designed to enable multiple media capabilities in the enterprise including audio and video IVR functions (i.e., record and playback), audio conferencing with ad-hoc and group calling, fax reception and forwarding and streaming (audio and video broadcast).

With no deployment location pre-requisites, the standalone format of the enhanced MRF means that it can be installed anywhere in the network to make full use of traffic characteristics. More cost-effective to service providers than hardware-based solutions, the software-based standalone MRF server preserves scalability, performance and reliability while offering service providers increased freedom to configure network infrastructure across business units and according to individual company needs.

"Now decoupled from the platform, the MRF offers the
flexibility to derive maximum benefit from an IMS (define - news - alert), network by its ability to be deployed centrally. Where it excels however, is in processing capabilities that an isolated application server would never hope to achieve." said Scott Hoffpauir, chief technology officer for BroadSoft.

Network applications that can be built by using the MRF include:

· Video Mail and messaging
· Auto Attendant
· Video advertisement in call center queues
· Play tones

The MRF is generally available now.

http://www.broadsoft.com

Minerva, Nortel Announce Joint IPTV Development

Minerva Networks (news - alert) , and Nortel (quote - news - alert), have announced the joint development and release of an Application Interface (API) designed to enable the integration of real-time IPTV services with Minerva's iTVManager software. Nortel is using this jointly developed interface as a first step to bring together Minerva's IPTV middleware platform with Nortel's IMS solution to make content available to users anywhere, anytime, on any device.

Using SIP, the new API gives developers and service providers the tools needed to enable real-time applications such as voice mail access and callback functionality over the television set. This innovative development environment also provides service providers with investment protection through support for legacy non-SIP systems including Caller ID and instant messaging as well as well providing a foundation for future IMS services.

The API enables several communications features such as click-to-call, network address book, buddy lists, mobile-to-TV text and picture messaging, and the ability to configure communications services directly through the set-top box (STB). The Minerva iTVManager platform has been enhanced to leverage a broad range of capabilities in Nortel's standards compliant SIP solutions.

The iTVManager platform is targeted to support Nortel's SIP and IMS infrastructure. www.minervanetworks.com and www.nortel.com

Convedia Expands Media Server Family for IMS Services

Convedia (news - alert), announced two new products - the CMS-9000 and the CMS-3000 media servers. The carrier-class CMS-9000 and entry-level CMS-3000 encompass new hardware and technology improvements, along with Convedia's new eXtended Media Processing (eXMP) technology for media-intensive IMS services.

The CMS-9000 incorporates both new shelf control cards (SCC-III) and media processing cards (MPC-III). The new MPC-III cards are also 100 percent backwards compatible with existing CMS-6000 equipment shelves deployed worldwide, allowing existing Convedia customers to benefit from Convedia's latest hardware advancements while protecting their investment.

The CMS-3000 media server, targeted for enterprise customers or smaller service providers, incorporates the new media processing technology in a 1RU network appliance packaging.

Both products are designed around Convedia's new eXtended Media Processing (eXMP) technology, a media processing software architecture that will provide a common foundation for a growing family of software media server, blade server, and purpose-built hardware media server products. eXMP will form the technical foundation to extend Convedia's proven carrier-class media processing expertise to cover the entire range of media processing requirements, from small enterprise customer point solutions up to the largest carrier-class IMS multi-service deployments.

Noted Grant Henderson, Convedia's Executive Vice President of Marketing and Strategy, "Convedia's new CMS-9000 and CMS-3000 media servers consolidate our expertise into an evolutionary modular product architecture with numerous technical and performance improvements, resulting in improved capacity at a lower price point for all IP audio and video media processing applications, while ensuring 100 percent investment protection for our existing customers."

Both the Convedia CMS-9000 and CMS-3000 media servers will be available for Beta trials with customers in late Q2 2006, with volume shipments scheduled to begin before the end of the year. www.convedia.com

Emergent Adds New IP Capabilities to ENTICE 2.4

Emergent Network Solutions, Inc . (news - alert), announced ENTICE 2.4, a significant new release of the company's call control platform. Among the additions and upgrades in Version 2.4, announced are support for SOAP-based Web services, a new traffic monitoring and reporting module and dynamic least-cost routing. As part of Emergent's continued progression towards IMS compliance, ENTICE has been enhanced with advanced mobility features for roaming SIP endpoints and new security features enabled by the addition of p-header support.

Among the new capabilities in ENTICE 2.4 is its support of SOAP (Simple Object Access Protocol), for the creation of new Web-based services. This technology, along with a customer facing Web portal is designed to minimize the provider's investment in programming and enables secure value-added services to be added with a minimum of effort and cost.

ENTICE 2.4's new traffic reporting and monitoring module enables service providers to set and monitor limits on important parameters such as ASR and call duration. This enables the more effective management of the network and minimizes the affect of upstream or downstream problems. Additionally, with the use of Emergent's billing system, dynamic, least-cost routing can be deployed to maximize profitability. The billing system has also been upgraded to include buy/sell rates, separate reseller rates, configurable levels of administrative control, and profitability reporting, and other tools of value to wholesale providers.

www.emergent-netsolutions.com

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