IMS Forum Plugfest™ FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions December 2007 

Table of Contents

  1. What is the IMS Forum?
  2. Why does the IMS Forum exist?
  3. Why does the IMS Forum have Plugfests?
  4. What are the marketing and sponsorship opportunities?
  5. What kinds of companies are members of the IMS Forum?
  6. When is it? Where is it? How much does it cost?
  7. What is the UNH-IOL?
  8. Why does the UNH-IOL exist?
  9. What kinds of testing will you do and what kind of information is given to me?
  10. How do I find out more about IMS Plugfests?
  11. How do I register for Plugfests?
  12. What do I need from a technical standpoint to attend the IMS Plugfests?

1) What is the IMS Forum?

The IMS Forum is a global non-profit industry association dedicated to the advancement of IP Multimedia Subsystems applications and services interoperability. Together, the vendors form a group of industry leaders, experts and visionaries focused on real-world, revenue-generating services and best practices for IMS applications convergence. The IMS Forum is the creator and organizer of IMS Plugfests, the industry’s only event focused on IMS services interoperability verification and certification.

2) Why does the IMS Forum exist?

The IMS Forum’s mission is to accelerate the interoperability of IMS applications and services, enabling enterprise and residential consumers to quickly benefit from the delivery of quadruple play voice, video, internet and mobile services over broadband via cable, mobile and fixed networks.

IMS applications and services comprise residential VoIP, entertainment including IPTV and gaming, IP Centrex / IP PBX and business unified communications including fixed-mobile converged services, videoconferencing and web-collaboration. IMS networks include DSL, Cable, GSM, UMTS, Wi-Fi and WiMAX implementations.

3) Why does the IMS Forum have Plugfests?

The IMS Forum Plugfests, typically held every 3 to 4 months, bring together dozens of industry-leading IMS vendors from around the world, all of whom build real, full-featured, IMS networks during the test event.

The goals of the Plugfests are to:

  • Save product and service development time through access to multi-vendor interoperability test beds, leading test equipment, IMS cores and applications, and multi-protocol engineering expertise
  • Reduce time-to-market and acceptance testing cycles by pinpointing bugs and conformance issues
  • Validate services and products in a respected third-party lab
  • Gain access to leading IMS service providers and vendors on site
  • Influence IMS developments
  • Increase standing within the investment community and with press and analysts, build brand and leverage marketing opportunities
  • Increase service provider confidence in the IMS architecture and help speed the adoption of IMS

Results from the Plugfests become objective proof-points for removing barriers to the adoption of IMS. Ultimately the Plugfests will serve as the proving ground for industry-recognized certification for IMS applications and services interoperability.

4) What are the marketing and sponsorship opportunities?

The IMS Forum offers sponsorship opportunities. For Plugfest III the list of sponsors includes Empirix, Intel and Sonus. Vendors and service providers can leverage Plugfest 2007 to:

  • Establish identity as a leader in IMS marketplace
  • Gain access to IMS thought leaders
  • Participate in an on-site open house with analysts and top-tier trade press
  • Enhance brand image · Gain or secure investor support
  • Influence the future and direction of IMS
  • Build research collateral and market insight for multiple channels
  • Partner with the IMS Forum on post-Plugfest tradeshow events and outreach

An open house event will be held during the Plugfest IV at IOL.

5) What kinds of companies are members of the IMS Forum?

IMS Forum is comprised of equipment and software vendors, systems integrators, and service providers delivering cable, wireless, wireline and enterprise solutions. Members run the gamut from startups and medium-sized companies to Fortune 500 enterprises.

6) When is it? Where is it? How much does it cost?

The next IMS Plugfest is February 25-29, 2008 at the UNH-IOL Lab, located in Durham, NH, USA.

  • Non-IMS Forum Members - $10,000
  • IMS Forum Members - $5,000 (50% discount)

UNH-IOL VoIP members receive additional discounts.

7) What is the UNH-IOL?

The University of New Hampshire InterOperability Laboratory (UNH-IOL) tests networking and data communications products. The university established the laboratory in 1988 with the dual mission of providing a neutral environment to foster multi-vendor interoperability and conformance to data communications networking standards while educating students for future employment in the industry. The laboratory has since grown into one of the industry's premier independent proving grounds for new technologies.

8) Why does the UNH-IOL exist?

The UNH-IOL exists to foster multi-vendor interoperability while preparing UNH students for careers in the industry.

The UNH-IOL maintains a strong reputation for independent, vendor-neutral testing with a focus on quality assurance rather than marketing or promotional goals. The confidential test reports the UNH-IOL provides to its members are recognized throughout the data communications industry as evidence of interoperability and conformance to technical standards.

Testing is conducted in the laboratory's 32,000+ square foot facility, which houses a multi-million dollar array of test equipment and the latest devices from member companies. In return for their latest devices and support, members are entitled to high-caliber interoperability and conformance testing against other vendors' devices – without having to incur the capital expense of setting up and operating their own test facilities

9) What kinds of testing will you do and what kind of information is given to me?

IMS Plugfest III™ focuses on interoperability for Video, VoIP, FMC, IP PBX, SMS, security and interworking with the Service Oriented Architecture (SOA) for Enterprises.

10)How do I find out more about IMS Plugfest?

Specific questions or concerns may be directed to the UNH-IOL VOIP Manager:

  • Lincoln Lavoie, lylavoie(at)iol.unh.edu, +1-603-862-4809
  • UNH-IOL IMS Forum IOT Vice-chair
  • Manuel Vexler, mvexler(at)imsforum.org
  • IMS Forum Chair of IMS Forum Technical Working Groups

11) How do I register for Plugfest?

http://imsforum.org/plugfest-registration

12) What do I need from a technical standpoint to attend the IMS Plugfest?

The IMS Plugfests are first and foremost to be considered technical events, intended to further your research and development efforts, and help provide your customers with confidence that you have tested your solutions with other vendors. You should be prepared to send your IMS solution to the testing facility in Durham, NH, along with your test engineers. In the time leading up to the plugfest, the IMS Forum IOT study group is in charge of development of the test plan and overseeing the Plugfest; and you are welcome to participate in that group as a registered Plugfest attendee.