Smart Grid Forum™ Announces Utilities and Communications Working Groups and Call for Members

[Denver, Colorado] June 7, 2011 -- The NGN Forum™ announced today the technical working groups that will comprise the Smart Grid Forum (SGF).  The new groups will cover smart grid topics such as security, infrastructure and network management, green energy, applications development, business intelligence, and Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI).  A full list of working groups with description can be found at www.SmartGridForum.org. 

Tech Mahindra Co‐Chairs NGN & IMS Forum Working Group that examines new business models for applications running over IMS, 3G and 4G networks

Mumbai, March 23, 2011 ‐ Tech Mahindra^TM announced at CTIA Wireless 2011 in Orlando, Florida today that, as co-chairs, they contributed significantly to the Business Models for the Deployment of Applications Over Broadband IP Networks Working Group document that has been announced and released by the NGN and IMS Forum. This framework document from the Forum’s Technical Working Group examines new business models and use cases for applications running over IMS, 3G and 4G networks. It illustrates business models using different technologies such as Service Delivery Platform,Cloud and Smart Grid technologies that can be integrated into the “all-IP” business model. In particular, Tech Mahindra contributed to the architectural evolution, migration and integration challenges of implementing and deploying end-to-end 4G solutions and applications.

“Tech Mahindra is helping equipment vendors and service providers resolve the unprecedented challenges they face in architecting, integrating and testing complex 4G (LTE, WiMax etc.) and IMS networks, associated OSS/BSS & IT systems and multimedia 4G applications and services that these solutions enable. Our efforts - as part of the IMS Forum - to define and pre-test such solutions via  Plugfest events go a long way towards easing and accelerating this process,” said Raju Wadalkar, Sr. Vice President, Tech Mahindra.

“Integration is critical to the deployment of new applications and service delivery in today’s converged all IP service delivery environment,” said Michael Khalilian, President, NGN and IMS Forum. “Tech Mahindra has made a great contribution to this document and we look forward to their participation in our upcoming Plugfest 9.”

For Immediate Release:

IMS Forum® Delivers Business Models for the Deployment of Applications over Broadband IP Networks

Forum to Hold Board & Working Group Meeting on Wednesday March 23 at 10 am to 12 pm at CTIA to Discuss Apps over “all-IP” networks (IMS, 4G, IPTv, SDP, M2M, Cloud & Smart Grid)

Denver, CO – March 22, 2011 - The IMS Forum® announced at CTIA today that it has published its Business Models for the Deployment of Applications over Broadband IP Networks Working Group document.  This framework document from the Forum’s Technical Working Group examines new business models and use cases for applications running over IMS, 3G and 4G networks. It illustrates business models that can be integrated into the “all-IP” service deployments using different technologies such as Service Delivery Platform, Cloud and Smart Grid.

The Forum also announced that they will hold an IMS, 4G, Security and Plugfest Working Group meeting at CTIA to discuss the launch of their next technical working group on Wednesday, March 23, 2011 from 10 am to 12 noon.  All members and CTIA attendees are welcomed to attend this meeting with RSVP to pr@ngnforum.org.

“With data still accounting for only a fraction of carriers' revenue, and standard voice minutes all but commoditized, carriers are looking for new revenues from voice and multimedia applications developed in-house or by third-parties,” said Michael Khalilian, President, NGN and IMS Forum. “This paper presents innovative business models supporting new revenues for service providers.” 

This Working Group document covers OTT (over-the-top) services, new business models and other new options for operators. Other topics covered in this document include:

• Network Architecture and Service Classification 
• Business Models for Operators 
• Applications over Broadband IP Networks 
• Use Cases 
• Security Issues for Applications Over Broadband IP Networks 
• Testing 

The following companies contributed to this working group document:

• Alcatel-Lucent
• Aricent
• D2 Technologies
• Huawei Technologies
• IPgallery
• MARBEN Products/NE Technologies
• Mu Dynamics
• Sonus Networks
• Sprint
• Symantec
• Tekelec
• Tektronix
• Tech Mahindra
• Teraquant Corporation
• T-Mobile USA
• Wipro

The Forum will validate many of these business models, along with others, at the next IMS and NGN Plugfest™ interoperability test event, planned for the second half of 2011. Registration for this Plugfest and Working Group is now open for any service providers, integrators and vendors who would like to participate (www.ngnforum.org/Plugfest) and determine the final test plan.  For additional information please contact admin@ngnforum.org

Last year the Forum published the following guideline documents on best practices for IP BSS/OSS & Security and Diameter implementations:

• BSS/OSS & Security for Services in NGN/IMS Paradigm: Guidelines for Implementation
• Interoperability Challenges in Diameter Implementations
• IMS AAA Architecture: The Diameter Advantage

About the NGN Forum^TM

The NGN Forum is the premier global telecommunications association devoted to Next Generation Networks (NGN) and Applications Delivery.  NGN Forum association includes IMS Forum (IP Multimedia Subsystem), SDP Forum (Service Delivery Platform), NGN IT Forum, Smart Grid Forum, Smart Energy Forum, Softswitch Consortium, VoIP Council, IP BSS/OSS and IPCC.  The Forum’s mission since its inception in 1996 has been to promote and accelerate the deployment and interoperability of all-IP applications and networks for fixed and mobile.

The Forum is the creator and organizer of the IMS Plugfests^TM, NGN Plugfests^TM and Smart Grid Plugfest^TM, the industry’s only testing events focused on demonstration and verification of all-IP fixed and mobile applications and B/OSS interoperability through the NGN Certified^TM programs.

Through organized plugfests, technology, business and marketing working groups and other activities, Forum members develop cost-effective technical frameworks and architectural guidelines for revenue generating converged IP NGN solutions. The combined organizations include over 2000 executives, technical, business development and marketing professionals from global and emerging equipment vendors, integrators, apps developers, service providers, utilities and governmental agencies.

For additional information or to join the NGN Forum and Plugfests please visit www.NGNForum.org.

For Further Information contact:
NGN Forum Media Relations
Cathy Clarke
508-833-8533
PR@NGNForum.org

For Immediate Release:

The NGN Forum^TM Launches Smart Energy Forum^TM

Denver, CO - October 5, 2010 - The NGN Forum^TM announced today that it has launched a Smart Energy Forum^TM which will focus on IP services used to power the smart grid, home grids and alternative energy sources such as wind and solar. The NGN Forum will focus its activities on the two main areas going forward:

• Next Generation Communications, and
• NGN Energy Applications

"Utility companies have traditionally developed their own networks and communications systems," said Michael Khalilian, Chairman & President, NGN Forum. "However, they are now looking toward the telecommunications industry for apps, technology development, and OSS/BSS/Security to help them manage consumer demand. A number of major telecom operators and vendors are driving the initiative to expand into the highly lucrative energy management and applications field."

According to Smart Grid News, the US smart grid industry is valued at about $21.4 billion. By 2014, it is projected to exceed $42.8 billion. The world market is expected to grow at a faster rate, surging from $69.3 billion to $171.4 billion by 2014. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act allocates billions of dollars for energy projects including $4.5 billion to modernize the electric grid. Other major government initiatives that will increase telecom-related funding include $7.2 billion in broadband deployment grants administered by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) and the Rural Utility Service (RUS). 

"By ensuring that the Smart Grid is effectively managed, protected and secured, we will help speed its overall adoption by increasing confidence in the reality of these visionary solutions," said Doug Havas, vice president of communication industries at Symantec.

Under Next Generation Communications the Forum will continue to focus on IMS, SDP, 4G, VoIP, RCS/RMS, IP Video, IP Billing, IP Security, and the Forum's Interoperability/Plugfests.

The Smart Energy Forum will focus on NGN Energy Applications and NGN communications services for Smart Grid and Renewable energy apps such as security, billing and integration services. It will explore all types of energy apps that employ IP services for smart metering, billing and transport of energy. The Smart Energy Forum will develop guideline documents to help guide the industry in its adoption of this technology as well as enhancing NGN / IMS Interoperability and its Plugfests to include Smart Energy apps requirements.

Initial member companies involved in the new Smart Energy Forum include:

"Machine-to-machine technologies, including Smart Meters in the utility market, present an attractive opportunity for service providers," said Nigel Upton, director, Communications and Media Solutions, HP. "The Smart Energy Forum can help HP customers, who are already making inroads in this market, using BSS/OSS solutions that have been battle-tested in telecom." 

"The Smart Energy forum shall play an important role bringing together telecom operators, utilities companies and companies like ourselves involved in design and development of smart energy communications core and smart home applications" said C.P.Murali, senior vice president at Aricent®.  "We are pleased to offer our vast experience in interoperability testing, NGN and wireless system design to empower the smart energy forum to overcome these challenges."

The Smart Grid is comprised of the integration of two networks: the electrical transmission & distribution network and the IP communications network. Smart Grid technologies help improve power reliability through smart devices and applications that adapt in real-time to consumer demand and environmental conditions. Governments are promoting this sophisticated electricity network as a way to address energy independence, global warming and emergency resilience issues. Smart Grids will also require a higher level of Security because they link large and small utilities and individual customer product data, which requires advanced IP addressing protocols such as IPv6. Some of the largest hurdles yet to be overcome are the storage of energy in off-peak usage hours and the development of adequate management systems for the smart grid.

"One can draw parallels from the optimizations employed within large, nationwide, IP communications networks, such as moving traffic over the links with least cost, and handling overload and overflow conditions," commented Mehdi Ghasem, vice president of strategy for Sonus Networks.  "As the leader in building and managing some of the largest IP voice networks in the world, Sonus is pleased to lend its expertise to this forum to ensure that the best practices are employed in developing the Smart Grid."

"There is much more work to be done to overcome challenges around Smart Grid implementation strategies, which include developing interoperability standards and protocols," said Suresh Bhandarkar, NGN IMS Board member and Director of Technology, Tech Mahindra. "The Forum welcomes the telecom and utility industries to become more involved in helping us move the smart energy industry forward in the interest of both the telecom and the utilities industries."

About the NGN Forum^TM

The NGN Forum is the premier global telecommunications association devoted to Next Generation Networks and Communications (NGN & NGC) service delivery and interoperable IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) services architectures and solutions including Smart Energy / Smart Grid. The Forum's mission is to accelerate the interoperability of NGN, IMS and Smart Energy services and to enable enterprise and residential consumers to benefit fully from the delivery of all-IP M-play^TM/rich multimedia, mobility, M2M, cloud computing, and fixed services over wireline, cable, GSM, UMTS, Wi-Fi, 4G (WiMAX / LTE), power line/smart meters and fiber broadband networks. The Forum is the creator and organizer of the IMS Plugfests^TM and NGN Plugfests^TM, the industry's only events focused on verification and certification of IMS and NGN service interoperability through the IMS Certified^TM and NGN Certified^TM programs.

Through organized Plugfests, technical working groups and other activities, Forum members develop cost-effective technical frameworks for revenue generating converged IP NGN solutions.  The combined organizations include over 2000 executives and technical, business development and marketing professionals from global and emerging equipment vendors, solution providers, integrators, service providers, and governmental agencies. For additional information or to join the NGN Forum, Smart Energy Forum, the IMS Plugfest, and NGN Plugfest, please visit http://www.ngnforum.org/ or http://www.smartenergyforum.org/.

For Further Information contact NGN & Smart Energy Forum Media Relations:

Cathy Clarke

CNC Associates

O: 508-833-8533

M: 617-527-2089

PR@NGNforum.org

Working Group and Plugfest 9 to Address the Explosion in Demand for Applications

Las Vegas, NV - March 24, 2010

Today the NGN/IMS Forum^TM announced its new Technical Working Group for Applications running on fixed and mobile broadband networks (e.g. 3G/4G/LTE, wireline and cable networks).  This Technical Working Group (TWG) will help accelerate the availability of IMS-based applications by providing additional tools and resources to foster the ecosystem of application developers, content creators, network operators, and telecommunications vendors (i.e. network equipment, handset, ICT, and original equipment manufacturers).

Mobile handsets are becoming the platform on which a wide variety of applications can be run.  Today's mobile handsets are not only used for web browsing and email but, increasingly, are becoming sophisticated computing devices that run a wide variety of data applications such as social networking applications, applications to share user-generated content, multi-user games, and music and video streaming.  Traditionally, each of these capabilities has been provided by siloed platforms.  As mobile networks migrate to 4G/LTE, additional applications will be possible and end users will be looking for a common experience between their fixed and mobile broadband networks.

As carriers deploy IMS networks, applications can be enhanced to create new end user experiences by simultaneously blending voice, data, video and multimedia.  This new generation of applications will be able to take advantage of elements of the IMS network, such as QoS and Voice-over LTE (VoLTE), to deliver end-user experiences (e.g.  Multi-play: Triple Play, Quadruple Play, M-Play) that are consistent across both fixed and mobile networks.

"The IMS investment enables network operators to fully exploit applications running both inside their network or by third party application developers and content providers," said Michael Cooper, Alcatel-Lucent Vice President of Wireline marketing and business strategy. "It allows their unique network assets, such as location, presence and preferences, to be leveraged in applications to provide a personalized and differentiating service experience for consumers and business users."

"Because of the explosion of applications, this Working Group and our upcoming Plugfest 9 will concentrate its efforts on application developers to help them better internetwork web 2.0 applications with IMS networks and BSS/OSS systems (including billing, charging and security)," said Michael Khalilian, Chairman & President, NGN/IMS Forum. "These efforts will bring the same level of interoperability enabled by our Plugfests from the realm of protocols, network architectures, hardware and devices to the software and applications space by including Application Programmable Interfaces (APIs) that expose network capabilities such as VoIP, group management, presence and instant messaging."

"One of the key tenets of IMS is to evolve a vendor agnostic, open interface based architecture - through this Working Group we'll be able to guide the Industry to exploit the IMS network capabilities via Service Delivery Platforms (SDPs) & Device frameworks, to realize combinatorial applications, in an interoperable and a standards based manner", said Jinu Koshy, General Manager & Global Head, Applications & Devices Practice, Wipro Technologies. "We are glad to be part of this Working Group and use our experience as a System Integrator from global SDP, Value Added Services (VAS) deployments & Device development, to realize deployment guidelines and Best Common Practices for the Working Group"

"Given the incredible pace of change vis-à-vis new devices, applications and services, as well as the challenges of IMS deployments which are highly customized and unique, service providers and their vendors are struggling to ensure their implementations work as advertised using current approaches to testing," said Simon Berman, Mu Dynamics' Vice President of products. "We look forward to participating in the Working Group and upcoming Plugfest 9, in order to share new and innovative tools and strategies for dramatically accelerating the testing process while also increasing the quality of IMS deployments."

About NGN Forum^TM and IMS Forum^®

The NGN Forum is the premier global telecommunications association devoted to Next Generation Network (NGN) service delivery, Rich Multimedia and Communications Suite (RMS/RCS), Service Delivery Platform (SDP), IP BSS/OSS/Security, interoperable IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) services architecture solutions, and best practices and guidelines development.

The NGN/IMS Forums' Plugfests are the industry's premier interoperability events covering NGN services over wireless 3G, 4G, LTE, WiMAX, wireline xDSL, cable, fiber optics broadband and IMS architectures. The NGN Forum and IMS Forum is dedicated to interoperability and certification of IMS and Next Generation Communications (NGC) applications and services for fixed, mobile and cable networks.  Participation in NGN/IMS Plugfests and Technical Working Groups is open to all companies.

Through organized Plugfests, technical working groups and other activities, Forum members develop cost-effective technical frameworks for revenue generating converged IP NGN solutions.  The combined organizations include over 3000 executives and technical, business development and marketing professionals from global and emerging equipment vendors, solution providers, integrators, service providers, and governmental agencies. For additional information or to join the NGN Forum groups, the NGN/IMS Plugfests, please contact info@NGNforum.org and visit www.IMSforum.org or www.NGNforum.org.

About Alcatel-Lucent 

Alcatel-Lucent (Euronext Paris and NYSE: ALU) is the trusted transformation partner of service providers, enterprises, strategic industries such as defense, energy, healthcare, transportation,  and governments worldwide, providing solutions to deliver voice, data and video communication services to end-users. A leader in fixed, mobile and converged broadband networking, IP technologies, applications and services, Alcatel-Lucent leverages the unrivalled technical and scientific expertise of Bell Labs, one of the largest innovation powerhouses in the communications industry. With operations in more than 130 countries and the most experienced global services organization in the industry, Alcatel-Lucent is a local partner with a global reach. Alcatel-Lucent achieved revenues of Euro 15.2 billion in 2009 and is incorporated in France, with executive offices located in Paris. For more information, visit Alcatel-Lucent on the Internet: http://www.alcatel-lucent.com

About Wipro

Wipro Technologies, a division of Wipro Limited (NYSE: WIT), is the first PCMM Level 5 and SEI CMM Level 5 certified global IT services organization. Wipro Technologies was recently assessed at Level 5 for CMMI V 1.2 across offshore and onsite development centers. Wipro is one of the largest product engineering and support service providers worldwide. Wipro provides comprehensive research and development services, IT solutions and services, including systems integration, information systems outsourcing, package implementation, software application management, and datacenter managed services to corporations globally.

In the Indian market, Wipro is a leader in providing IT solutions and services for the corporate segment in India, offering system integration, network integration, software solutions and IT services.

Wipro also has a profitable presence in niche market segments of consumer products and lighting. In the Asia-Pacific and Middle East markets, Wipro provides IT solutions and services for global corporations. Wipro's ADS' are listed on the New York Stock Exchange, and its equity shares are listed in India on the Stock Exchange - Mumbai, and the National Stock Exchange. For more information, please visit our websites at www.wipro.com, www.wiprocorporate.com and www.wipro.in

About Mu Dynamics

Mu Dynamics' testing solution offers a more than 10-fold effectiveness gain in IP services testing with better time to market, lower cost and higher quality.  The award-winning Mu solution is deployed at over 100 locations, primarily at leading global service providers, government agencies, and product vendors. Headquartered in Sunnyvale, California, more information on Mu's products, customers and solutions are online at http://www.mudynamics.com.

 
For Further Information contact:

For Immediate Release:

Registration for NGN IMS Forum Plugfest 9 Interoperability

Test Event Now Open

Ninth Plugfest to Focus on NGN Network and IMS Rich Applications Deployment

Denver, CO - January 21, 2010 The NGN IMS Forum^TM announced today that its next IMS Plugfest^TM and NGN Plugfest^TM interoperability test event, Plugfest 9, will take place from June 1 - 4, 2010 at the InterOperability Lab (UNH IOL) in Durham, NH.  Themes for this Plugfest center on NGN Network and IMS Rich Applications deployment including location-based services, interoperability testing and real-time IP Service integrity.  Registration for the Interoperability and Testing (Plugfest) Working Group is now open for any service providers, integrators and vendors who would like to participate (www.imsforum.org/Plugfest).  

Standards are constantly changing in the marketplace and new ones emerging along with hundreds of vendor-specific implementations that need to be backward compatible for real-world IP service interoperability. The work of the NGN IMS Forum is focused on helping wireless, wireline and cable broadband service providers, vendors and integrators address these challenges.

"The need for seamless integration of multiple vendor products into real-time services is a difficult and complex NGN IMS requirement," said Adam Stein, VP Marketing at Mu Dynamics and Vice-Chair of the NGN IMS Forum Security, BSS/OSS Working Group.  "Real-time applications utilize so many moving pieces of software in the core and edge of the network that the only way to truly test them is to leverage the real-time service traffic they create.  Mu Dynamics, as a long-time participant in NGN IMS Forum Plugfests continues to work with many forum participants on their IP service creation and delivery testing to ultimately provide the best interoperability, security, functionality and resilience."

The NGN IMS Forum will define network topologies based on the participants' requirements for these tests. A sample listing of services to be tested at NGN IMS Plugfest 9 include:

-          IMS core, CSCF, AS, HSS, Policy

-          Inter and intra network testing areas of key interest including: billing services, interdomain scenarios, roaming users and visited networks scenarios for applications such as presence, voice, video, etc.

-          SDP / Rich Communications Services (RCS) / Voice Features and IMS Applications

-          VoIP / SIP / QoS

-          Security and Reliability

-          Billing - off-line charging and on-line charging

-          Control Plane and Diameter

-          Voice over LTE/4G

-          IP Video (IPTV)

-          Wireless  and Smart Grids

-          Messaging, IP traffic, presence, IM and termination, integration

-          Implementation of Convergence: integrating legacy to NGN

-          Transition 3G to 4G LTE and WiMAX

-          Metrics for standard sets of SIP call flows in IMS and NGN,

-          IPv6

"Aricent is honored to once again contribute to the IMS Forum Plugfest event," said CP Murali, sr. vice president at Aricent.  "As an IMS Forum board member and a key supplier of advanced wireless and wire line technology and integration services, we continue to see the inherent value of multi-vendor interoperability and a robust certification process for IMS."

"Our Plugfests enable our members to test their services in real world, multi-vendor and multi-service provider networks," said Michael Khalilian, Chairman & President, NGN IMS Forum. "Our Plugfests empower them to demonstrate for their customers and prospects that their new services and offerings will work in these environments, helping them to rapidly generate new revenues."

The NGN IMS Forums' Plugfests are the industry's premier interoperability events covering NGN services over wireless 3G, 4G, LTE, WiMAX, wireline xDSL, cable, fiber optics broadband and IMS architectures. The NGN Forum and IMS Forum is dedicated to interoperability and certification of IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) and Next Generation (NGN) applications and services for fixed, mobile and cable networks. Participation in NGN IMS Plugfests and Technical Working Groups is open to all companies. We look forward to your participation in our 2010 Working Groups and in Plugfests. For more information please contact Info@NGNForum.org or visit www.NGNForum.org, www.IMSForum.org.

About the NGN Forum^TM and IMS Forum^®

The NGN IMS Forum is the premier global telecommunications association devoted to Next Generation Network (NGN) service delivery and interoperable IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) services architectures and solutions.

The Forums' mission is to accelerate the interoperability of IMS and NGN services and to enable enterprise and residential consumers to benefit fully from the delivery of M-play^TM/rich multimedia, mobility and fixed services over wireline, cable, GSM, UMTS, Wi-Fi, WiMAX, LTE and fiber broadband networks. The Forum is the creator and organizer of the IMS Plugfests^TM and NGN Plugfests^TM, the industry's only events focused on verification and certification of IMS and NGN service interoperability through the IMS Certified^TM and NGN Certified^TM programs.

Through organized Plugfests, technical working groups and other activities, Forum members develop cost-effective technical frameworks for revenue generating converged IP NGN solutions.  The combined organizations include over 2000 executives and technical, business development and marketing professionals from global and emerging equipment vendors, solution providers, integrators, service providers, and governmental agencies. For additional information or to join the NGN Forum, the IMS Plugfest, and NGN Plugfest, please visit www.IMSforum.org or www.NGNforum.org.

For Further Information contact:

NGN IMS Forum Media Relations

Cathy Clarke - CNC Associates                                               

+1 (508) 833-8533

pr@ngnforum.org                       

###

Berlin, Germany - September 30, 2009 - Testing Technologies announced today that it will participate in the NGN IMS Forum's^TM eighth Plugfest^TM to be held October 5 thru October 9^th, 2009 at the InterOperability Lab (UNH IOL) in Durham, NH.

"We are very pleased to participate in the NGN IMS Forum Plugfests," said Frank Frederking, VP Sales, Americas, Testing Technologies. "The NGN IMS Forum Plugfests are the industry's only interoperability events covering converged IMS and NGN services over wireless, wireline and cable broadband.
The NGN IMS Forum Plugfest^TM is the most frequent interoperability event in the industry."

Testing Tech's TTworkbench will provide a test stimulus (simulating SIP clients/UAs) to the CSCF, setting up USER sessions and transactions that will then be forwarded over the DIAMETER Cx interface to the HSS and Sh interface, to AS and other relevant Network Elements. This will allow the participants in Plugfest 8^TM to do Interoperability Testing between the CSCF, HSS and AS. Testing Technologies has expanded its TTsuite product line with TTsuite-HSS, the certification and interoperability test framework for Home Subscriber Server implementations (HSS).

Testing HSS contains user and service data for authorization, accounting and roaming. TTsuite-HSS supports 3GPP release 6 and 7, providing 88 test cases for all kinds of procedures (location management, user data handling, authentication, subscription, and notification). TTsuite-HSS focuses on protocol conformance of the interaction between HSS and other IMS signaling components in compliance with the relevant requirements for the Cx and Sh interface. Users are able to perform standards-based testing according to DIAMETER specifications.

"We welcome the contribution and participation of Testing Technologies in our NGN and IMS Plugfest modules," said Michael Khalilian, President NGN IMS Forum. "We are looking forward to enhancing the module testing series in our upcoming Plugfests events."

About Testing Technologies GmbH

Testing Technologies designs and markets a variety of ready-to-run test solutions for commercial, proprietary or PC based test systems. Testing Technologies helps customers create high quality products by high quality testing. Their solutions enable test automation across technologies, development phases and any types of testing. With a wide range of services, their experts support you in all phases of your test life-cycle. As a market leader in customer-oriented testing for standards-based technologies, Testing Technologies is dedicated to TTCN-3 only. Together with ETSI, they guarantee durability and continuous improvement of standardized test solutions to secure your investments.

Through cooperation with strong global and local partners, Testing Technologies is able to respond more effectively to customer needs in testing. Numerous partner companies across Europe, USA and Asia spread the ideas and basic principles of systematic, automated testing worldwide. Testing Technologies was founded as a spin-off of the Fraunhofer Institute FOKUS in 2000. Our team of experts is continuously developing new products to meet the expectations of evolving markets.

About Teraquant

Teraquant is an owner-operated Test Solutions company staffed with technical specialists with decades of experience in Telecommunications Test. Founded in 2001 Teraquant is privately owned and profitable. Teraquant are dedicated to supplying test solutions that precisely match the needs of our customers and are supported with proactive and immaculate professionalism. Their customers include Cisco, Comcast, Level(3), Microsoft, Motorola, Ericsson, Nortel, Bell Mobility and AT&T Labs. We are the distributor for Utel Systems, Qosmotec GmbH and Netcare International for the United States and Canada. Teraquant Corporation is the distributor for the USA for Testing Technologies' TTworkbench

About the NGN Forum^TM and IMS Forum^®

The NGN/IMS Forum is the only global telecommunications association devoted to Next Generation Network (NGN) service delivery and interoperable IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) services architectures and solutions.

The Forum's mission is to accelerate the interoperability of IMS and NGN services and to enable enterprise and residential consumers to benefit fully from the delivery of M-play^TM: rich multimedia, mobility and fixed services over wireline, cable, GSM, UMTS, Wi-Fi, WiMAX, LTE and fiber broadband networks. The Forum is the creator and organizer of the IMS Plugfests^TM and NGN Plugfests^TM, the industry's only events focused on verification and certification of IMS and NGN service interoperability through the IMS Certified^TM and NGN Certified^TM programs.

Through organized Plugfests, technical working groups and other activities, Forum members develop cost-effective technical frameworks for revenue generating converged IP NGN solutions. The combined organizations include over 2000 executives and technical, business development and marketing professionals from global and emerging equipment vendors, solution providers, integrators, service providers, and governmental agencies.

For additional information or to join the NGN Forum, the IMS Plugfest, and/or the NGN Plugfest, please visit www.IMSforum.org or contact info@imsforum.org.

For further information contact:

Plugfest to Leverage Work of Diameter/Control Plane and BSS/OSS & Security Working Groups

Denver, CO - July 29, 2009 The NGN IMS Forum^TMannounced today that its eighth NGN IMS Plugfest^TM will be held October 5 thru October 9^th, 2009 at the InterOperability Lab (UNH IOL) in Durham, NH. The NGN IMS Forum Plugfests are the industry's only interoperability events covering converged IMS and NGN services over wireless, wireline and cable broadband. Plugfest 8 will focus on Interoperability for voice and multimedia applications, BSS/OSS and Security inter and intra network:

• End-to-end interoperability testing for IMS and NGN applications and services
• Interoperability of the Control Plane and the Diameter Protocol
• Charging functions impacts on BSS

"Plugfest 8 is a cooperative effort between our three technical working groups, including the Diameter/Control Plane, BSS/OSS and Security Working Groups," said Michael Khalilian, Chairman and President of the NGN IMS Forum. "It will showcase the great progress that these groups have made in advancing NGN and IMS architectures."

Examples of test topics for Plugfest 8 include:

• Application and Feature Testing across the Control Plane
• Online & offline charging scenarios for IMS events and sessions
• Interface Compliance testing: The 3GPP standard interfaces that use Diameter
• Topology hiding scenarios: IMS/NGN Control Plane interoperability including border controllers, legacy network gateways, service location function, and policy control elements
• Multi-domain scenarios covering user-to-network and network-to-network IMS interoperability
• Further study of IPsec on the Gm interface
• Inclusion of IPv6 within the core network

"PlugFest 8 is a great opportunity to demonstrate ‘smart monetization' approaches as a way to leverage the full potential of Next-Generation Networks, and we are honored to be participants" said Gabriel Matsliach, General Manager, Billing & Active Customer Management at Comverse and vice chair of the BSS/OSS and Security Working Group.

"Many operators will rely on existing intelligent network technology for at least the next 10 years, and many will evolve to IMS and NGN technology in that time, requiring interoperability within networks and in between global service providers," said Ron de Lange, executive vice president at Tekelec. "Plugfest 8 continues the NGN IMS Forum's commitment to accelerating deployment of next-generation technology, and we are excited to participate and bridge the gaps between networks more rapidly."

Plugfest 8 participants will include such companies as: Comverse, HP, Mu Dynamics, Radvision, Tech Mahindra, and Tekelec. Sponsors of Plugfest 8 include T-Mobile, Intel and Radvision. The following media organizations are also sponsors of Plugfest 8: CTIA, Informa, Supercomm 2009, TMC, and Virgo Publishing.

Participation in NGN IMS Plugfest 8 is open to all companies. For online registration and info contact the forum at: info@imsforum.org or visit www.NGNforum.org.

About the NGN Forum^TM and IMS Forum^®

The NGN/IMS Forum is the only global telecommunications association devoted to Next Generation Network (NGN) service delivery and interoperable IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) services architectures and solutions.

The Forum's mission is to accelerate the interoperability of IMS and NGN services and to enable enterprise and residential consumers to benefit fully from the delivery of M-play^TM: rich multimedia, mobility and fixed services over wireline, cable, GSM, UMTS, Wi-Fi, WiMAX, LTE and fiber broadband networks. The Forum is the creator and organizer of the IMS Plugfests^TM and NGN Plugfests^TM, the industry's only events focused on verification and certification of IMS and NGN service interoperability through the IMS Certified^TM and NGN Certified^TM programs.

Through organized Plugfests, technical working groups and other activities, Forum members develop cost-effective technical frameworks for revenue generating converged IP NGN solutions. The combined organizations include over 2000 executives and technical, business development and marketing professionals from global and emerging equipment vendors, solution providers, integrators, service providers, and governmental agencies.

For additional information or to join the NGN Forum, the IMS Plugfest, and/or the NGN Plugfest, please visit www.IMSforum.org or www.NGNforum.org.

For Further Information contact:

NGN IMS Forum Media Relations

Cathy Clarke - CNC Associates

+1 (508) 833-8533

pr@imsforum.org

###

Aricent and IMS Forum Launch the Industry's First Collaborative Repository for Next Generation Equipment and Service Testing

Global Resource Designed to Reduce Testing Cycles, Complexity and Cost; Accelerate Time to Market for NGN Equipment and Services

Palo Alto, Calif., April 29, 2009 - IMS Forum, the only industry association dedicated to interoperability and certification of IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) and Next Generation Networks (NGN) applications and services, and Aricent, a global innovation, technology and service company focused exclusively on communications, today announced the launch of www.TestNGN.org. The www.TestNGN.org site hosts an industry-wide collaborative platform of comprehensive test cases for the validation of IMS and NGN equipment and services.

www.TestNGN.org offers the industry's first community-based, open repository for NGN testing that allows network equipment manufacturers and service providers to significantly reduce the time, complexity, and cost required to introduce next generation networks and services, including equipment such as multimedia gateways, home subscriber and application servers, and services including voice and multimedia over IP, converged Web-telephony services and IPTV.

The repository will allow equipment manufacturers and service providers to download, post and share global testing experiences, quickly creating a high value knowledge base. This approach will help minimize the time spent on test case development, planning, writing and preparation, and accelerate the testing cycle for NGN architectures while reducing complexity and time to market.

"There is increased competition in the consumer and enterprise multimedia markets, with an urgent need for NGN equipment manufacturers and service providers to get new products and services to market quickly," said Michael Khalilian, chairman of the IMS Forum and NGN Forum. "This joint effort between Aricent and the IMS and NGN Forum, complements our landmark IMS Plugfest^TM interoperability events. With easy access to downloadable test cases, equipment manufacturers will reduce their testing times and be assured of consistent compliance with the latest standards. Service providers will benefit from the ability to carry out their own end-to-end testing, and will be able to swiftly verify vendor assurances of NGN compliance testing. This site was designed to provide a major addition to the multivendor, multinetwork environment created for our IMS NGN Plugfest interoperability test events to further accelerate the deployment of Next Generation Services and Networks."

The IMS Forum's TestNGN and Interoperability Working groups are focused respectively on the product interoperability, reliability and operational and management issues associated with converged IMS and NGN applications and services delivered over wireless (3G, LTE), wireline (DSL, optical) and cable broadband. The groups ensure that converged applications and the vehicles which deliver such services will be timely and well supported from a provisioning, billing and management systems perspective.

Aricent has developed an extensive NGN testing practice, employing more than 1,600 test engineers and test consultants. The practice has over 70,000 test cases for wireless, VoIP and IMS, all designed to speed the worldwide delivery of Next Generation Networks.

"We are proud to be working closely with the IMS and NGN Forums to co-develop an innovative method of accelerating the standardized introduction of cutting-edge NGN products and services," explained CP Murali, senior vice president at Aricent. "Access to the professionally managed NGN test cases benefits both equipment manufacturers and services providers. This should lead to reduced development times for the whole NGN industry."

For more information about the Aricent NGN testing practice, visit: http://www.aricent.com/services/testing_services.html. For more information on the IMS Plugfest visit www.imsforum.org.

Keywords & tags: next generation network, NGN Forum, NGN Testing, testing practice, IMS forum

About the NGN Forum^TM and IMS Forum^®

The NGN/IMS Forum is the only global telecommunications association devoted to Next Generation Networks (NGN) service delivery and interoperable IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) services architectures and solutions. The Forum's mission is to enable delivery of M-play^TM: rich multimedia, mobility and fixed services over wireline, cable, GSM, UMTS, Wi-Fi, WiMAX, LTE and fiber broadband networks. The Forum is the creator and organizer of the IMS Plugfests^TM and NGN Plugfests^TM, the industry's only events focused on verification and certification of IMS and NGN service interoperability through the IMS Certified^TM and NGN Certified^TM programs.

Through organized Plugfests, technical working groups and other activities, Forum members develop cost-effective technical frameworks for revenue generating converged IP NGN solutions. The combined organizations include over 2000 executives and technical, business development and marketing professionals from global and emerging equipment vendors, solution providers, integrators, service providers, and governmental agencies. For additional information or to join the NGN Forum, IMS Forum, the IMS Plugfest, and/or the NGN Plugfest, please visit www.IMSforum.org or www.NGNforum.org.

About Aricent

Aricent is a global innovation, technology and outsourcing company focused exclusively on communications. Aricent combines the leading innovation capabilities of frog design with unparalleled domain expertise in communications gained as a strategic supplier to the world's foremost infrastructure, application and service providers. The company is owned by Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co., Sequoia Capital and Flextronics International Ltd. and has more than 550 clients worldwide. For more information, visit www.aricent.com.

Aricent is a trademark of Aricent Inc. in the United States and other jurisdictions. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

________________________________________

For further information, contact

Cathy Clarke

NGN Forum media relations

Tel: +1 508 833-8533

Email: pr@imsforum.org

Steven Manuel

Aricent

Tel: +1 650 391 1621

Email: steven.manuel@aricent.com

Chris Lalli

Aricent Americas: Cohn & Wolfe

Tel: +1 415 365 8540

Email: chris.lalli@cohnwolfe.com

Paula Muezerie

Aricent Europe: AxiCom

Tel: +44 208 392 4081

Email: aricent@axicom.com

Shikha Singh Sehrawat
Aricent India: Text 100
Tel: +91 989 107 1999
Email: shikhas@text100.co.in

To Establish Architectural Requirements for NGN BSS/OSS and Security

in Real-time Service Environments

Las Vegas, NV- April 14, 2009 -- The NGN and IMS Forum^®, the only industry associations dedicated to interoperability and certification of IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) and Next Generation Network (NGN) applications and services, announced today at the Billing & OSS World Conference & Expo the creation of its BSS/OSS & Security Technical Working Group.

The working group will help guide industry momentum for an integrated BSS/OSS framework to enable cost-effective transition to IMS/NGN environments. NGN IMS Forum members have demonstrated billing interoperability in the past six Plugfests^TM and through commercial deployments. This new working group will focus on the billing and charging, policy control and security functions required by service providers to capture the value promised by NGN networks. HP will chair the working group with support from vice-chairs, Comverse and Mu Dynamics. Other industry leaders such as, Acision, Aricent, DSET, Marben Products, NE Technologies, Tech Mahindra, and Tekelec are also founding members.

"We have learned through the course of our last 6 Plugfests that billing OSS and security play an integral role in the successful implementation of integrated communications services utilizing NGN and IMS," said Michael Khalilian, Chairman and President NGN and IMS Forum. "We look forward to including the input from this Technical and Business Working Group in our Plugfest 7 interoperability test event and in future Plugfests."

"Service providers can re-use existing resources, lower costs, and increase revenue opportunities through an integrated BSS/OSS," said Nigel Upton, Director, Communications and Media, Solutions, HP. "With interoperability already demonstrated, our working group will strengthen the business and technical foundation that service providers need for a smooth transition to IMS and next-generation services."

The Working Group will develop guidelines on the business and technical aspects of BSS/OSS and security in IMS and NGN services and will define the architecture and requirements for network interoperability and reliable real-time IP service application deployment. It will focus on the operational and management of converged IMS/NGN applications and services delivered over wireless (3G, LTE), wireline (DSL, optical) and cable broadband. The group will ensure that converged applications and services will have timely and complete support from provisioning, billing and management systems. A whitepaper describing BSS/OSS considerations of NGN will be the group's first deliverable and is planned by mid-year.

"This working group underscores the importance of ‘smart monetization' approaches in creating successful business models to leverage the full potential of Next-Generation Networks," said Gabriel Matsliach, General Manager, Billing & Active Customer Management at Comverse, who will serve as the Group's vice chair. "The group will draw on our experience in supporting any combination of network, service and payment types, including true quad-play offers."

"As a two-year veteran of the IMS/NGN Forum and their Plugfest events, Mu Dynamics is pleased to see the increased industry interest in secure Next-Generation Network deployments that prevent unexpected weaknesses in real-time networked applications," said Adam Stein, vice president of Marketing for Mu Dynamics who will also serve as the group's vice chair. "Many of our operator and vendor clients play an integral role in this important ecosystem with a high percent of their revenue dependent upon resilient, reliable and secure product development and continuous service deployment."

About Plugfest 7

IMS OSS/BSS & Security Working Group will be an integral part of the IMS Forum's Plugfest^TM 7 interoperability test that will take place in June 1-5, 2009 at the InterOperability Lab (UNH IOL) in Durham, NH. Participation in NGN IMS Plugfest 7 is open to all companies. For online registration and info contact the forum at: info@IMSforum.org or visit event at www.NGNforum.org.

About the NGN Forum^TM and IMS Forum^®

The NGN and IMS Forum are the only global telecommunications associations devoted to Next Generation Networks (NGN) service delivery and interoperable IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) services architectures and solutions. The Forum's mission is to enable delivery of M-play^TM: rich multimedia, mobility and fixed services over wireline, cable, GSM, UMTS, Wi-Fi, WiMAX, LTE and fiber broadband networks. The Forum is the creator and organizer of the IMS Plugfests^TM and NGN Plugfests^TM, the industry's only events focused on verification and certification of IMS and NGN service interoperability through the IMS Certified^TM and NGN Certified^TM programs.

Through organized Plugfests, technical working groups and other activities, Forum members develop cost-effective technical frameworks for revenue generating converged IP NGN solutions. The combined organizations include over 2000 executives and technical, business development and marketing professionals from global and emerging equipment vendors, solution providers, integrators, service providers, and governmental agencies. For additional information or to join the NGN Forum, IMS Forum the IMS Plugfest, and/or the NGN Plugfest, please visit www.IMSforum.org or www.NGNforum.org.

For Further Information contact:

NGN and IMS Forum Media Relations

Cathy Clarke - CNC Associates

+1 (508) 833-8533

pr@imsforum.org