The two companies claim that the tests between Nortel’s IP multimedia subsystem (IMS) based voice call continuity (VCC) network solution and the Qualcomm’s chipset solution are a major step toward the availability of VCC-enabled mobile phones, which will help users reduce cell phone charges by switching phone calls between cellular and Wi-Fi networks.
The companies also said that IMS is expected to enable fixed-mobile convergence where mobile devices with a dual-mode capability can automatically switch from an outdoor cellular network to a local Wi-Fi network inside a building. This would also enable multimedia services, including multi-player gaming, enterprise service integration, and interactive blogging over a wireless network.
The companies added that in the future, users will be able to purchase dual-mode mobile phones that are VCC-ready and won’t need to install any additional software or have them configured by service providers.
Alf Decardenas, general manager of carrier multimedia networks at Nortel said: Because Nortel’s VCC is based on IMS, it will allow operators to deploy more multimedia services compared to other fixed-mobile convergence solutions.
Nortel also announced that it will make its VCC network application commercially available in first quarter of next year, while Qualcomm’s VCC-ready mobile phones are expected to be available in the middle of next year.
The service providers would be able to deploy VCC within their current networks as they upgrade their networks to high-speed 4G networks such as WiMax, Ultra Mobile Broadband (UMB) or Long Term Evolution (LTE).
Last week, US wireless operator Verizon disclosed its plans to roll out its 4G mobile broadband network. The company said that it is using LTE, along with common access platform from UK-based mobile operator Vodafone to provide global services based on the technology. LTE is an upgrade to high speed downlink packet access (HSDPA), a GSM implementation of a 3G cellular technology that is capable of providing speeds of up to 10 Mbps.
Another US mobile operator AT&T also deployed IMS recently to enable fixed-mobile voice service and other IP-based services such as video calling.
Source: ComputerWire daily updates
