IMTC Selected to Lead Interoperability Testing of Voice over LTE Profile
SAN RAMON, Calif., Mar 16, 2010—The International Multimedia Telecommunications Consortium (IMTC) is pleased to announce that it has been selected by the GSMA’s Voice over LTE (VoLTE) initiative to develop usage profiles / specifications and then conduct interoperability testing events for the voice over LTE profile, previously known as the One Voice profile. The GSMA’s VoLTE initiative was set up to drive the global mobile industry towards a standard way of delivering voice and messaging services for Long-Term Evolution (LTE), and will provide a seamless IMS-based solution for voice and text messaging for next generation mobile broadband networks.
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IMTC has more than 17 years of experience developing and conducting testing events and building usage profiles primarily focused on standards-based protocols, encoders, decoders and other related technologies and products for the telecommunications industry. IMTC creates a vendor neutral, safe and productive environment for competing companies wishing to test their latest technologies and solutions. GSMA’s selection of IMTC was based on the combination of IMTC’s IMS Activity Group work on defining the profile for VoLTE, and on IMTC’s unique experience and strong technical know how as an Interoperability testing organization.
“VoLTE is a leap forward in the areas of mobile VoIP and IMS. By ensuring that all current services migrate smoothly to LTE, the GSMA is ensuring an ecosystem that permits interoperability for operator deployments and connectivity. The IMTC is committed to effort required to achieve interoperability of all products provided by vendors to service provider operators,” said Tsahi Levent-Levi, Chair of the IMTC IMS AG and Project Director and Community Facilitator for RADVISION.
“We are delighted that the IMTC is working with the GSMA to move our VoLTE initiative forward,” said Dan Warren, Director of Technology, GSMA. “Creating the specifications for voice over LTE is one thing but having them tested by an independent body like the IMTC provides important validation of the technical work required to create these implementations. IMTC testing events validate the usability of each implementation. This is an important step on the road to deploying VoLTE and further demonstrates the intent of the mobile industry to adopt a single voice solution for LTE.”
Operating within IMTC, the IMS Activity Group focuses on interoperability of end-to-end functionality and terminal-network signaling and media, from the point of view of the terminals. IMS, the IP Multimedia Subsystem, is an open, standardized, operator friendly, NGN multimedia architecture for mobile and fixed IP services. The work product developed by IMTC’s IMS AG includes finalizations of application specifications, creation of test specification, implementation guides and organizing test events. Information about IMTC IMS Activity Group, including the list of members can be found at IMTC web site at http://www.imtc.org/activity_groups/ims/home.asp.
The IMTC IMS AG has already conducted its first VoLTE Interoperability testing event in Stockholm, Sweden, February 2-4, 2010. The event was hosted by Ericsson. The event was successful and established initial level of interoperability of the VoLTE profile.
About the International Multimedia Telecommunications Consortium (IMTC)
The IMTC is an industry-leading, non-profit organization whose mission is to promote and facilitate the development and use of interoperable, real-time, multimedia telecommunication products and services based on open international standards. The IMTC hosts interoperability testing events and demonstrations throughout the world. IMTC has hosted more than 20 such events to test H.323, 3G-324M, 3G-PSS, SIP, Nat/Firewall Traversal, T.120, H .320, and Voice over IP products and services with each other. The IMTC Board of Directors includes representatives from AT&T, Cisco Systems, Dilithium Networks, Ericsson, LifeSize Communications, Nokia, Polycom, RADVISION and TANDBERG. The San Ramon, California-based consortium comprises approximately 40 member organizations from around the globe. Membership is open to any interested party, including vendors of audio, document, and video conferencing hardware and software; academic institutions; government agencies; and non-profit organizations. “The IMTC is making Rich Media happen Anywhere, Anytime.” Further information on IMTC can be found at http://www.imtc.org.
SOURCE: International Multimedia Telecommunications Consortium