Skip to main content

IMS Enabling Multimendia Convergence

IMS has quickly become one of the hottest areas in the telecommunications industry. It is a complex topic with profound implications because it is central to the long-term future of telecommunications. IMS stands for IP Multimedia Subsystem, a term coined by the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) for an architecture and associated set of standards for delivery of IP-based multimedia services over 3G wireless networks. It was called a subsystem because it was a part of the overall architecture directions for 3G networks. In-Stat believes that it is more appropriate now to think of IMS as an overall IP Multimedia System that consists of a unified architecture, end-user devices with IP multimedia functionality, and the systems integration necessary to deliver IP multimedia services in the most effective way across wireline and wireless environments.

IMS enables wireline/wireless multimedia convergence. The convergence is intended to occur at three levels: 1) convergence of multimedia, that is, voice, data, video, communications for the end-user; 2) seamless communications between wireline and wireless users; and 3) a single architecture for service providers that offer both wireline and wireless services that will enable 1) and 2). The term �fixed/mobile convergence� is broadly used to mean many things, such as dual-mode VoIP over Wi-Fi/cellular handsets or forwarding a call to a cell phone when a call comes to your wireline phone. IMS is really the central element of fixed/mobile convergence since it will enable all such integrated wireline/wireless applications and unite the architectures and business strategies of wireline and wireless service providers.

IMS is the long-term goal of wireline/wireless integration and convergence. There will be a gradual evolution to IMS, which can be viewed as occurring in three phases. The first phase is service providers selling bundles of wireline and wireless services to consumers and businesses. This phase has already occurred. The second phase describes the convergence that is occurring in wide-area connectivity networks and access networks: convergence of the traffic (data, voice, video) from multiple wireline and wireless networks onto a common IP/MPLS backbone network to reduce service provider capital and operations costs, and providing end-users integrated broadband access service. This phase is underway. In the third phase, service providers evolve from their broadband access infrastructures and converged wide-area IP connectivity networks to an overall IMS converged wireline/wireless architecture to offer a broad range of IP-based multimedia services seamlessly between any set of wireline and wireless end-users.

Popular posts from this blog

Open Banking Usage to Grow by 470 Percent

The Open Banking business model has been advantageous for Third-Party Providers (TPPs), helping them to extend their offerings into other areas of financial services with new capabilities. Open Banking is also advantageous for traditional banking institutions, despite the perceived loss of custodianship over their data, by providing greater accessibility to more bank services. Furthermore, Open Banking can help serve Mobile Internet providers that are able to leverage it to create tailored services according to customers’ preferences and/or economic limitations. Open Banking Market Development Since traditional banking services are made more convenient by TPPs via greater data access, customers can proactively manage their finances and shape the development of new financial offerings. This is particularly noticeable in the realm of Digital Payments, where retail merchants and customers transact through eCommerce, which has the greatest number of use cases for Open Banking. These includ

Global Digital Business and IT Consulting Outlook

Across the globe, CEOs and their leadership teams continue to seek information and guidance about planned Digital Transformation initiatives and the most effective enterprise organization change management practices. Worldwide IT and Business Services revenue will grow from $1.13 trillion in 2022 to $1.2 trillion in 2023 -- that's a 5.7 percent year-over-year growth, according to the latest market study by International Data Corporation (IDC). The mid-term to long-term outlook for the market has also increased -- the five-year CAGR is forecast at 5.2 percent, compared to the previous 4.9 percent. Digital Sevices & Consulting Market Development IDC has raised the growth projection despite a weak economic outlook, because of vendor performances across 2022, growth indicators from adjacent markets, increased government funding, and inflation impacts. The actual 2022 market growth was 6.7 percent (in constant currency), which was 87 basis points higher than forecast last year, alth

Mobile Device Market Still Awaiting Recovery

The mobile devices market has experienced three years of unpredictable demand. The global pandemic, geopolitical pressures, supply chain issues, and macroeconomic headwinds have hindered the sector's consistent growth potential. This extremely challenging environment has dramatically affected both demand and supply chains. It has led to subsequent inflationary pressures, leading to a worsening global cost of living crisis suppressing growth and confidence in the sector. In tandem, mobile device industry stakeholders have become more cautious triggering market uncertainties. Mobile Device Market Development Operating under such a backdrop, the development of mobile device ecosystems and vendor landscapes have been impacted severely. Many of these market pressures persisted throughout 2022 and now into 2023, borne chiefly by the smartphone market. According to the latest worldwide market study by ABI Research, worldwide smartphone shipments in 2022 declined 9.6 percent Year-over-Year