Nortel Unveils IMS StrategyNortel Unveils IMS Strategy

Nortel teams with group of technology partners including IBM to speed delivery of converged multimedia services; unveils CMS solution

February 15, 2005

3 Min Read

CANNES, France -- Nortel (NYSE:NT) (TSX:NT) has announced a comprehensive new networking solution designed to transform wireless, wireline and cable providers' business models by enabling operators to rapidly deliver the industry's broadest and richest suite of multimedia services. This new solution, including a group of technology partners anchored by IBM, will allow operators to offer multimedia services to virtually any end user device across any wired or wireless access network.

Nortel's new Converged Multimedia Services (CMS) solution will streamline the complicated process of developing, integrating, testing and launching new multimedia services. CMS will help position service providers to drive reduced costs and create differentiated multimedia services designed to win the race for subscribers and achieve a competitive advantage.

For end users, the CMS solution offers a dynamic new service environment and enhanced personalization capabilities. End-users will be able to initiate multiple services from within a single communication session. For example, they will be able to launch a video conference during a voice conversation, or access a personalized Video-on-Demand service subscription not just from their home TV, but online from a laptop, a hotel room or from a mobile phone.

"Nortel is delivering precisely what this emerging market needs -- an open applications environment that will stimulate unprecedented service innovation and accelerate network convergence," said Alan Stoddard, general manager, Converged Networks, Nortel. "Our CMS solution leverages more than five years of internal R&D investment in SIP and the significant experience we have gained through deploying our SIP-based Multimedia Communications Server (MCS) 5200 in more than 40 service provider networks. We are well versed in what it takes to integrate different applications and extend them to the broadest possible base of devices and range of access networks."

Nortel's CMS Solution consists of a comprehensive portfolio of IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS), Multimedia Domain (MMD) and PacketCable standards-compliant networking products, complemented by a multi-vendor convergence ecosystem of best-in-class technology partners anchored by IBM. Through this ecosystem, Nortel plans to deliver a broad suite of pre-integrated and tested solutions to help service providers immediately attract new subscribers and generate new revenues through flexible bundles of multimedia services that can be accessed from any network connection and device.

Nortel's CMS will enable multimedia services to be delivered over a common IP-based network using Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) to link the core network and the application service layer. Designed to easily evolve from today's circuit and packet switching networks, Nortel's CMS offering will extend well beyond industry standards to provide unique service control capabilities that will give service providers unprecedented levels of flexibility to integrate elements from separate applications to create differentiated services. Its service coverage capabilities will allow service providers to maximize market coverage by supporting a full range of devices and access security mechanisms.

"Carriers are looking for a vendor that is able to integrate enablers, gateways, applications as well as end-clients in a multimedia service offering," said Bettina Tratz-Ryan, principal analyst, Gartner, Inc. "Vendors with a longstanding IP expertise are able to utilize their end-to-end solutions approach to allow operators a quick-to-market-going strategy for multimedia services."

Nortel Networks Ltd.

Subscribe and receive the latest news from the industry.
Join 62,000+ members. Yes it's completely free.

You May Also Like