At CES in Las Vegas, Cingular is showcasing IMS-based video call capabilities over its 3G UMTS/HSDPA network. Alcatel-Lucent is providing the Las Vegas 3G network and IMS platform. LG Electronics is providing the handset.
Key network elements include:
- Alcatel-Lucent Session Manager, which provides multiple IMS functions including the call session control functions (CSCF), the service broker function — the enhanced service capabilities interaction manager (SCIM), the policy decision function (PDF) and the breakout gateway control function (BGCF). It forms the core of Alcatel-Lucent’s IMS architecture and manages user presence and call types, dynamically connecting subscribers to a variety of services such as “Push To Show” or “Video on Hold” on an IMS-based network.
- Alcatel-Lucent Network Controller, which provides the IMS media gateway control function (MGCF) and the signaling gateway (SG) function. These VoIP functions were previously associated with media gateway control (MGC) within traditional softswitches.
- Alcatel-Lucent Network Gateway, which provides the IMS media gateway (MGW) function and permits seamless interaction between IP networks and both traditional wireline and wireless networks.
- Alcatel-Lucent Unified Subscriber Data Server (USDS), which provides the IMS home subscriber services (HSS) function which maintains information such as subscriber profiles and user location on wireline and wireless networks. The Alcatel-Lucent USDS is a product resulted from the integration of the Home Location Register, Home Subscriber Server, and Authentication, Authorization, and Accounting (AAA) technology and next-generation Super-Distributed Home Location Register (S-DHLR) technology, along with Bell Labs enhancements.
- UMTS/HSDPA Radio Access Network, which includes Alcatel-Lucent’s radio access network, which includes base stations and radio network controllers.
http://www.cingular.com
http://www.alcatel-lucent.com
- In October 2005, Cingular Wireless and Lucent announced that Cingular had awarded Lucent a four-year agreement to provide a IMS-based (IP Multimedia Subsystem) solution that enables Cingular to rapidly develop and launch a broad range of new personalized voice, video, data and multimedia services, such as video share. Alcatel-Lucent’s IMS-based architecture has been deployed in the Cingular network.
In October and November 2005, respectively, AT&T (then SBC Communications) and BellSouth also have announced agreements for Lucent’s IMS-based solution. Cingular and BellSouth have since merged with AT&T.