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15th September 2004 - Nokia and NEC Corporation have
successfully completed the first phase interoperability
testing between the two companies' IP Multimedia Subsystems
(IMS). The testing program verified the functionality
of major IMS features over an IP network connecting
Europe and Japan. During the tests, Nokia and NEC established
sessions for voice over IP as well as transferred instant
messages between test terminals.
IMS enables both mobile and fixed devices to establish
IP sessions between each other. These connections form
the basis for a wide range of multimedia communication
services, such as sharing presence information, interactive
applications, sharing content and sharing real time
video. Also Push to talk over Cellular, the voice service
for one-on-one and one-to-group communications, will
work over IMS. IP multimedia services can be accessed
over any IP connection, such as GPRS and WCDMA networks,
broadband home connections or WLAN hotspots.
Standardized in 3GPP Release 5, IMS is designed to allow
service access and interoperability between operators
and vendors. The success of these trials has shown that
the industry's long IMS standardization efforts are
starting to bear fruit as IMS standards are now mature
enough for compatible implementation by different vendors.
This points the way to the commercial introduction of
advanced real-time and near real-time multimedia services.
"IMS is a vital component of our long-term business
strategy and these trials mark an important milestone
in bringing this new technology to operators,"
says Petri Pöyhönen, Vice President, Core
Networks, Networks, Nokia. "In the future, we see
IP based multimedia becoming mainstream, providing people
with a richer means of communications. Earlier this
year Nokia announced the availability of end-to-end
SIP and IMS. Now these first successful IMS-to-IMS interoperability
tests clearly demonstrate the commitment of Nokia and
NEC to open standards."
The trials are also being used to look at issues related
to roaming at the service level. The ultimate objective
is to have roaming for IMS-based services, allowing
users to access the services of their home country even
when they are abroad.
"The tests serve as proof of NEC's commitment to
bringing next generation data services to worldwide
mobile operators," says K. Jay Miyahara, General
Manager of NEC's Mobilefone Solutions Division. "IMS
increases the value of an operator's network and subscriber
base. It will also allow mobile network operators to
deliver new kinds of services to their users. NEC was
very happy to take part in these tests with Nokia, which
to our knowledge are some of the first in the world
to show that the technology is ready now.
About NEC Corporation
NEC is one of the world's leading providers of Internet,
broadband network and enterprise business solutions
dedicated to meeting the specialized needs of its diverse
and global base of customers. Ranked as one of the world's
top patent-producing companies, NEC delivers tailored
solutions in the key fields of computer, networking
and electron devices, by integrating its technical strengths
in IT and Networks, and by providing advanced semiconductor
solutions through NEC Electronics Corporation. The NEC
Group employs more than 140,000 people worldwide and
had net sales of approximately $40 billion in the fiscal
year ended March 2003. For additional information, please
visit the NEC home page at: http://www.nec.com
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