Portugal Mobile Operator Deploys IMS-based PoC Service

Motorola has deployed a Push-To-Talk over Cellular (PoC) network for Optimus and the Portugese mobile operator has signaled that its 2.1 million customers will have the ability for other IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) services in the near future, the handset maker announced on Thursday.

Albeit small, Portugal's telecommunications market is among the most advanced in Western Europe. In mid-2005, mobile and Internet usage are among the highest in Europe and broadband adoption is far above the EU average. So it's no wonder that operators like Optimus, formed only in 1998, have embraced burgeoning new technologies like Motorola's IMS platform. This comes despite analysts' predictions that real-world IMS deployments won't like come until 2007 or 2008 in the U.S.

But while U.S. telecom execs continue to sort through the promise and the hype surrounding the emerging IMS standard, Optimus is now offering its subscribers the opportunity to make walkie-talkie style mobile conversations with individuals or groups of contacts. Optimus' subscribers will initially have a choice of PoC handsets; the Motorola V400p and Symbian Series 60 devices with the Motorola PoC Client. Depending on the success rate and market acceptance, Optimus executives believe more IMS services could be forthcoming down the road.

"'Push-to- x' applications are expected to develop considerably over the next few years with compelling roadmaps, for which Optimus wants to be ready," said Miguel Almeida, Chief Operational Officer for Optimus.

Motorola is far from the only handset maker that's embraced IMS-based PoC functionality. Nokia and Ericsson have also issued white papers detailing their Push-To-Talk over Cellular offerings. Unlike what Motorola manufactures for Nextel for its so-called "Direct Connect" service in the U.S., PoC is an IP-based technology that uses cellular access and radio resources as opposed to circuit-switched cellular services. The platform allows operators to not only deploy voice but other applications like Push-To-Text, Push-To-View, Push-To-Video, etc. But Optimus turned to Motorola because of existing relations -- Motorola helped deploy the operators 3G network in 2004.

IMS and other standards-based technologies are among the topics to be discussed at the second annual VoIP Developer Conference, hosted by the parent of this Web site, TMC, on August 2-4, in South San Francisco. For information as well as the full conference brochure, be sure to visit the official show Web site: http://www.tmcnet.com/voipdeveloper/

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Robert Liu is Executive Editor at TMCnet.Previously, he was Executive Editor at Jupitermedia and has also written for CNN, A&E, Dow Jones and Bloomberg.For more articles, please visit Robert Liu's columnist page.

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