TeliaSonera, a telecommunications company in the Nordic and Baltic regions, has chosen Unlicensed Mobile Access (UMA) technology from Kineto Wireless, Inc. to deliver its new Home Free cellular WiFi (News - Alert) service offering. Kineto’s technology is used within the UMA Network Controllers deployed by TeliaSonera.

The collaboration enables seamless handover between TeliaSonera’s GSM network and WiFi access points. The Kineto technology is also integrated with the Philips Nexperia platform for use in the Samsung (News - Alert) P200, a commercially available UMA handset available for the Home Free service.

UMA technology is the 3GPP global standard for fixed/mobile convergence, enabling secure, scalable access to mobile voice, data and IMS services through broadband IP access networks. The technology enables mobile operators to deliver a variety of converged services, including applications for dual-mode cellular/WiFi handsets. These devices allow consumers to roam and handover among cellular networks and public and private WLANs.

“Kineto has been a key partner in helping TeliaSonera be the first operator in the world to offer a dual-mode cellular/WiFi service based on UMA technology,” said Peter Bredgaard, vice president of business development with TeliaSonera. “Now, our customers can make calls at lower rates when at home and use their standard mobile service outside the home. With Kineto’s technology, we’re able to offer a service that is the future of mobile usage.”

“With their UMA-enabled Home Free service, TeliaSonera is able to deliver a compelling fixed-mobile substitution service while leveraging the broadband IP network to lower costs and benefit its customers,” said Rick Gilbert, president and CEO of Kineto Wireless. “Those benefits are key drivers for operators deploying UMA worldwide.”

Are you interested in learning more about UMA and other converged voice and data technologies? Then check out the upcoming INTERNET TELEPHONY Conference & EXPO WEST. The event is the number one VoIP conference in terms of attendance; the leading IP Communications event for exhibitors in terms of lead generation; and the VoIP industry event which features special attractions for service providers and resellers. The event runs October 10-13, 2006 in San Diego.

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Laura Stotler writes about IP Communications and related topics for TMCnet. She has covered VoIP and related technologies for seven years, contributing to Internet Telephony magazine and TMCnet, and as a freelance writer. To see more articles, please visit: Laura Stotler’s columnist page.