Nortel, Followap Enhance IMS Services for Real-Time, Uninterrupted Communications Across Wireless, Wireline Networks
Toronto (ots/PRNewswire)
- Presence Technology to Deliver Advanced Collaboration and Multimedia Communication Services
TORONTO, September 7 /PRNewswire/ --
Nortel(x) (NYSE/TSX: NT) has selected Followap's Presence technology to power its IP multimedia subsystem (IMS) portfolio to unprecedented levels of personalization, mobility and security in communications.
IMS is designed to deliver uninterrupted, seamless communications regardless of network, making it possible for interactive services such as instant messaging (IM), VoIP, push-to-talk and multimedia gaming to follow users in real-time as they roam across wireless, wireline or cable networks . Presence technology is an essential component of IMS that enables networks to be intuitive, allowing users to specify their availability and willingness to communicate via the network and device of their choice.
Presence technology enriches communications by providing real-time information about the status of subscribers. This information can include a range of details from whether a device is on or off, through to more advanced information about users' availability such as indicating whether they are driving or in a meeting. Presence can provide visibility on how best to communicate with other subscribers whether by text, voice or IM. Presence-enabled applications will allow subscribers to enjoy services such as multi-player gaming, location services and chat room dating. For example , gamers will be able to receive real-time status updates on whether their contacts want to play/chat and who is available online.
"IMS has enjoyed significant momentum across the industry as service providers look to this new standard and architecture as a means of enhancing their ability to become more service-agile by developing an array of new and innovative combinational services," said Tom Valovic, director of VOIP Infrastructure at IDC. "Leveraging new combinations of capability to advance mobile IM and presence such as that exemplified by Nortel's partnership with Followap is the kind of approach that can help service providers develop the necessary building blocks to improve communications and drive fixed/mobile convergence."
"Nortel is committed to delivering an open, standards-based IMS solution, which is essential for service provider success," said Sita Lowman, business leader, IMS, Nortel. "Followap's impressive presence technology for personalized, mobile and secure multimedia communications together with Nortel's IMS core technology and SIP application expertise is a powerful combination for positioning service providers to deliver a more personalized and enjoyable communications experience to subscribers, no matter where they are or what device they may be using."
Followap's Presence Platform (iFollow PSP), incorporating Followap's Presence Server and Group List Management Server (XDMS/GLMS), will power presence enabled IMS-based applications, allowing operators to presence- enable their existing services and design future services.
Dotan Volach, CEO at Followap said, "Presence is the personal enablement communication choice of the future and is a key component needed to seamlessly orchestrate integrated communications. Followap is pleased to be working with Nortel, one of the industry's leading providers of carrier VoIP/IMS technology, to deliver flexible, next-generation mobile services."
The iFollow PSP collects and broadcasts in real-time subscribers' availability and willingness to communicate to other subscribers and services. Such status information is displayed and updated immediately through the device's address book using Followap's XDMS/GLMS. The iFollow Presence Platform (PSP) will be integrated into Nortel's IMS Core solution, which is responsible for authenticating users and setting up IMS sessions using Session Initiation Protocol (SIP). Once a session has been set up and user availability communicated through the iFollow PSP, data transfer will be handled by the appropriate media server or application.
The iFollow Presence Platform is standards-based, supporting OMA, IETF, 3GPP and OSA/Parlay standards. Using iFollow PSP, operators can quickly generate significant incremental revenues by incorporating meaningful presence information into existing and new value added services. iFollow PSP powers fixed-mobile converged (FMC) networks across mobile and fixed, public and private, voice and data networks.
For more information on this announcement, please listen to the Nortel/Followap podcast at www.nortel.com/podcast.
Nortel's IMS solution is access-aware and supports 3GPP (IMS), 3GPP2 ( MMD), Packet Cable 2.0 and TISPAN standards. Nortel ranked number one in the global markets for service provider softswitches and gateways for the first half of 2006, according to Synergy Research Group. Nortel is currently engaged in IMS trials with leading operators in wireline, cable, CDMA and GSM/UMTS markets. Nortel is sponsoring GMI 2006, the world's first massive 'real network' trial of multi-vendor interoperability of the IMS service framework. For more information about this event, see www.gmi2006.com.
TORONTO, September 7 /PRNewswire/ --
About Followap
TORONTO, September 7 /PRNewswire/ --
Followap is the leading provider of Presence and Instant Messaging solutions to the telecommunications industry. Pioneering this field, Followap's customer base consists today of about 20 network operators, most of them tier-one operators, with a combined user base of over 200 million users. Followap's products enable operators to establish advanced, interoperable presence-enhanced services, whilst also creating the infrastructure for next-generation networks. Followap supports and contributes to industry standardization efforts in forums including OMA, IETF, 3GPP and the GSM Association. For additional information please visit Followap's web site at www.followap.com.
TORONTO, September 7 /PRNewswire/ --
About Nortel
TORONTO, September 7 /PRNewswire/ --
Nortel is a recognized leader in delivering communications capabilities that enhance the human experience, ignite and power global commerce, and secure and protect the world's most critical information. Our next- generation technologies, for both service providers and enterprises, span access and core networks, support multimedia and business-critical applications, and help eliminate today's barriers to efficiency, speed and performance by simplifying networks and connecting people with information. Nortel does business in more than 150 countries. For more information, visit Nortel on the Web at www.nortel.com. For the latest Nortel news, visit www.nortel.com/news.
TORONTO, September 7 /PRNewswire/ --
Certain statements in this press release may contain words such as " could", "expects", "may", "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates ", "targets", "envisions", "seeks" and other similar language and are considered forward-looking statements or information under applicable securities legislation. These statements are based on Nortel's current expectations, estimates, forecasts and projections about the operating environment, economies and markets in which Nortel operates. These statements are subject to important assumptions, risks and uncertainties, which are difficult to predict and the actual outcome may be materially different. Further, actual results or events could differ materially from those contemplated in forward-looking statements as a result of the following (i) risks and uncertainties relating to Nortel's restatements and related matters including: Nortel's most recent restatement and two previous restatements of its financial statements and related events; the negative impact on Nortel and NNL of their most recent restatement and delay in filing their financial statements and related periodic reports; legal judgments, fines, penalties or settlements, or any substantial regulatory fines or other penalties or sanctions, related to the ongoing regulatory and criminal investigations of Nortel in the U.S. and Canada; any significant pending civil litigation actions not encompassed by Nortel's proposed class action settlement; any substantial cash payment and /or significant dilution of Nortel's existing equity positions resulting from the finalization and approval of its proposed class action settlement, or if such proposed class action settlement is not finalized, any larger settlements or awards of damages in respect of such class actions; any unsuccessful remediation of Nortel's material weaknesses in internal control over financial reporting resulting in an inability to report Nortel's results of operations and financial condition accurately and in a timely manner; the time required to implement Nortel's remedial measures; Nortel's inability to access, in its current form, its shelf registration filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), and Nortel's below investment grade credit rating and any further adverse effect on its credit rating due to Nortel's restatements of its financial statements; any adverse affect on Nortel's business and market price of its publicly traded securities arising from continuing negative publicity related to Nortel's restatements; Nortel's potential inability to attract or retain the personnel necessary to achieve its business objectives; any breach by Nortel of the continued listing requirements of the NYSE or TSX causing the NYSE and/or the TSX to commence suspension or delisting procedures; (ii) risks and uncertainties relating to Nortel's business including: yearly and quarterly fluctuations of Nortel's operating results; reduced demand and pricing pressures for its products due to global economic conditions, significant competition, competitive pricing practice, cautious capital spending by customers, increased industry consolidation, rapidly changing technologies, evolving industry standards, frequent new product introductions and short product life cycles, and other trends and industry characteristics affecting the telecommunications industry; the sufficiency of recently announced restructuring actions, including the potential for higher actual costs to be incurred in connection with these restructuring actions compared to the estimated costs of such actions and the ability to achieve the targeted cost savings and reductions of Nortel's unfunded pension liability deficit; any material and adverse affects on Nortel's performance if its expectations regarding market demand for particular products prove to be wrong or because of certain barriers in its efforts to expand internationally; any reduction in Nortel's operating results and any related volatility in the market price of its publicly traded securities arising from any decline in its gross margin, or fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates; any negative developments associated with Nortel's supply contract and contract manufacturing agreements including as a result of using a sole supplier for key optical networking solutions components, and any defects or errors in Nortel's current or planned products; any negative impact to Nortel of its failure to achieve its business transformation objectives; additional valuation allowances for all or a portion of its deferred tax assets; Nortel's failure to protect its intellectual property rights, or any adverse judgments or settlements arising out of disputes regarding intellectual property; changes in regulation of the Internet and/or other aspects of the industry; Nortel's failure to successfully operate or integrate its strategic acquisitions, or failure to consummate or succeed with its strategic alliances; any negative effect of Nortel's failure to evolve adequately its financial and managerial control and reporting systems and processes, manage and grow its business, or create an effective risk management strategy; and (iii) risks and uncertainties relating to Nortel's liquidity, financing arrangements and capital including: the impact of Nortel's most recent restatement and two previous restatements of its financial statements; any inability of Nortel to manage cash flow fluctuations to fund working capital requirements or achieve its business objectives in a timely manner or obtain additional sources of funding; high levels of debt, limitations on Nortel capitalizing on business opportunities because of credit facility covenants, or on obtaining additional secured debt pursuant to the provisions of indentures governing certain of Nortel's public debt issues and the provisions of its credit facilities; any increase of restricted cash requirements for Nortel if it is unable to secure alternative support for obligations arising from certain normal course business activities, or any inability of Nortel's subsidiaries to provide it with sufficient funding; any negative effect to Nortel of the need to make larger defined benefit plans contributions in the future or exposure to customer credit risks or inability of customers to fulfill payment obligations under customer financing arrangements; any negative impact on Nortel's ability to make future acquisitions, raise capital, issue debt and retain employees arising from stock price volatility and further declines in the market price of Nortel's publicly traded securities, or any future share consolidation resulting in a lower total market capitalization or adverse effect on the liquidity of Nortel's common shares. For additional information with respect to certain of these and other factors, see Nortel's Annual Report on Form 10-K/A, Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and other securities filings with the SEC. Unless otherwise required by applicable securities laws, Nortel disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
TORONTO, September 7 /PRNewswire/ --
(x) Nortel, the Nortel logo and the Globemark are trademarks of Nortel Networks.
Contact:
For further information: Jamie Moody, +1-(972)-684-7167,
moodyjam@nortel.com; Ben Roome, +44-1628-433113, benroome@nortel.com;
Kath Rosier, +44-800-032-0275, Kath.Rosier@followap.com