IMS Service Handover Between 3G and WLAN

Ericsson and Japan's BB Mobile have demonstrated the first seamless handover of circuit-switched voice and IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) based video services between 3G mobile and wireless local area networks (WLAN).

The live demonstration was carried out over Softbank BB's commercial WLAN network and BB Mobile's WCDMA 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 B

Posted to the site on 27th July 2005