The live demonstration was carried out over Softbank BB's commercial WLAN network and BB Mobile's WCDMA 3G mobile network operating on the 1.7GHz radio frequency band.

The demonstration shows that consumers will be able to use IMS services as they roam between a mobile network and a WLAN area, interruption free. This ability gives consumers a better and more natural service experience.

Hiroshi Ishihara, General Manager, Regulatory and External Affairs Division, BB Mobile, says the Softbank Group is an innovator and pioneer in the telecom industry. "The success of this demonstration is an important step towards our target to create a society where mobile broadband is a part of ever day life. New mobile communication opportunities and the convergence between broadband services, including our wireless LAN, will provide the most advanced mobility for consumers," he says.

By demonstrating the seamless handover of IMS services, BB Mobile and Ericsson have led the way in taking the Combinational Services Standard (service combinations specified by 3GPP) to the next level. Handover capabilities for combinational services between WCDMA and WLAN networks are being considered for inclusion in 3GPP Release 8.

Mikael Bäck, Ericsson Vice President, WCDMA Radio Networks, is very proud that Ericsson, together with BB Mobile, was the first to demonstrate this handover capability. "I believe that this technology will provide more convenient communication services for consumers, as well as creating opportunities for new revenues for both fixed and mobile operators," he says.

For the demonstration, BB Mobile/Softbank supplied WiFi expertise through its commercial WLAN network. Ericsson provided the 1.7GHz WCDMA radio network, circuit-switched and packet-switched core networks, and the IMS network. The demonstration was held on July 22, at BB Mobile's test site in Saitama Prefecture, Japan.

About Softbank Group
Softbank Group is a corporate group that aims to be a company of the 21st century lifestyle by changing the lifestyle of its subscribers through broadband. Its management principle is: Contribute to people and society by promoting the sharing of wisdom and knowledge among people through digital information innovation. By June 2005, within four years of being introduced, its broadband service "Yahoo! BB ADSL" reached 4.9 million users - more than 30 percent of the ADSL market in Japan. Softbank Group has also announced its intention to enter into the mobile communication business as part of its aim of making communication available for everyone. More information on Softbank Group is available at http://www.softbank.co.jp.

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