Vodafone awards global contract to Nokia for IMS
February 14, 2006
Espoo, Finland - Nokia has been selected by Vodafone Group as a preferred supplier, with a contract to begin deploying the Nokia IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) solution to Vodafone affiliates worldwide. The first deployments are expected during 2006.
Under the agreement, Nokia becomes a preferred supplier of Vodafone's IMS network architecture and the Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) technology that will enable Vodafone to pilot next generation services and start interoperability testing. Nokia is also deploying its OMA-compliant Presence and List Management solutions. IMS is an essential element of the Nokia Unified Core Network solution and a key enabler of multi-access methods.
"Vodafone is excited by the enormous possibilities that are emerging with IP Multimedia," says Detlef Schultz, Head of Global Supply Chain Management at Vodafone. "IMS is going to play a strategic role in our future service delivery. We intend to pilot the next generation of services using this technology and will start interoperability testing with other operators as soon as possible. We have the utmost confidence in Nokia's ability to deploy IMS on a world-wide scale."
"We are extremely pleased to be cooperating with Vodafone in pioneering the benefits of IMS for consumers," said Giuseppe Donagemma, Vice President, Networks, Nokia. "Vodafone clearly recognizes how important IMS is in providing next generation multimedia services that are rich in possibilities and independent of access."
Nokia provides to the telecommunications market a complete, end-to-end solution for IMS-based multimedia, including the Nokia IP Multimedia Subsystem solution and application servers for services such as Presence, which are connected to the IMS via the open IMS Service Control (ISC) interface. Nokia is the leading vendor of IMS/SIP enabled terminals, with several models of video sharing and SIP enabled terminals already on the market.
With its IMS solution and wide range of IP multimedia capable devices, Nokia has taken the lead in making IP Multimedia commercial. Nokia has over 70 IMS references, including 48 commercial references for the fully IMS compatible Push to talk over Cellular (PoC) solution and 14 references for IMS Core with mobile and fixed operators globally. Commercial launches include over 20 PoC and several Video Sharing services.
About Nokia
Nokia is a world leader in mobile communications, driving the growth and sustainability of the broader mobility industry. Nokia connects people to each other and the information that matters to them with easy-to-use and innovative products like mobile phones, devices and solutions for imaging, games, media and businesses. Nokia provides equipment, solutions and services for network operators and corporations.
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Notes to the Editor
The Nokia IP Multimedia Subsystem enables operators to deploy IP-based person-to-person multimedia services in 2G and 3G networks. It brings a major new capability to existing networks by allowing terminals to establish IP sessions between each other, which in turn enables a wide range of multimedia communication services and interactive applications, such as Push to talk over Cellular (PoC) and video sharing. SIP is the technology that makes IP-based person-to-person services possible. SIP and IMS are the key enablers of service convergence between different access technologies.
Compliance with Open Mobile Alliance (OMA) standards for PoC and Presences brings interoperability between similarly compliant terminals and networks from different vendors. The OMA PoC standard compliant architecture also includes a generic list management entity, which allows subscribers to use the same contact lists with multiple applications, such as PoC, Presence and Instant Messaging.
VODAFONE is a trade mark of the Vodafone Group. Other product and company names mentioned herein may be the trade marks of their respective owners.
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