IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) is about to revolutionize the telecom market. According to ABI Research analyst Ian Cox, "Every Tier 1 service provider in fixed and wireless networks will announce SIP-based services running over IMS in the next six to twelve months." IMS began life as a wireless network architecture for adding IP-based services to existing circuit-switched voice. When Session Initiated Protocol (SIP) was introduced, IMS evolved to an open architecture: operators are not locked into a proprietary solution, nor are point solutions needed for each service. Soon fixed network providers began adapting it to IP networks. IMS allows a single device to use both fixed and wireless networks. IMS will allow many new services, including VoIP, to be offered simultaneously over SIP-enabled networks. Vendors can develop applications and equipment knowing they will be fully interoperable. Services can be tried quickly and discarded if unpopular. A single database holds all subscriber information, lowering operating costs for multiple services.
Artificial intelligence (AI) has rapidly become the defining force in business technology development, but integrating AI into applications remains a formidable challenge. According to a recent Gartner survey, 77 percent of engineering leaders identify AI integration in apps as a major hurdle for their organizations. As demand for AI-powered solutions accelerates across every industry, understanding the tools, the barriers, and the opportunities is essential for business and technology leaders seeking to evolve. The Gartner survey highlights a key trend: while AI’s potential is widely recognized, the path to useful integration is anything but straightforward. IT leaders cite complexities in embedding AI models into existing software, managing data pipelines, ensuring security, and maintaining compliance as persistent obstacles. These challenges are compounded by a shortage of skilled AI engineers and the rapid evolution of AI technologies, which can outpace organizational readiness and...