Working Group and Plugfest 9 to Address the Explosion in Demand for Applications
Las Vegas, NV - March 24, 2010
Today the NGN/IMS ForumTM 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 ForumTM 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.
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