IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) Solution

For Service Providers

In the new market where subscriber ownership is more than ever essential, Nortel's IMS solution enables a service-delivery environment that encourages end user-centric application development and, more importantly, creates control over subscriber usage and migration that promotes long-term service contracts. Nortel's IMS solution benefits service providers by:

• Transforming the service provider's business model from being connection-based, where the emphasis is on delivering a complete, or "vertical", service to a device, to a model that is subscriber-based, where services are delivered to a subscriber on any device or access type. This allows the service provider to compete on services, not price.
• Offering a wider range of services and reach across access and device types. This leads to a greater share of the end user's communication "wallet".
• Building on the IMS "Web-centric" service delivery model using easily deployed application services. This leads to better services that are used more often, while being faster and less expensive to deploy.
• Providing a common service architecture that runs on a single IP core. This leads to lower operating costs.
• Leveraging a purpose-built 2nd generation-based robust ATCA product as well as the already deployed Nortel Application Server 5200 and Communication Server 2000. This reduces risk and extends existing investments.

IMS delivers consumers simplicity, service availability over ANY access network, full integration of broadband applications/services and the ability to transform business. Consumers will experience personalized and enriched real-time services across network and access boundaries.

For End Users

With IMS, end users can set up voice, video, instant messaging, m-commerce transactions, online gaming and more with a click of a button -- in a single session. Also, applications have the same look and feel -- regardless of how they are connected to the network. As an example, how many "contact lists" do subscribers have today? One on their Outlook business e-mail, another on a PDA, a third on their cell phone, a fourth on home wireline phone -- maybe yet another on home computer personal e-mail? With IMS, they have a single integrated contact list for all types of communications.

IMS-enabled applications include:

• Presence-enabled business services
• Push-to services, such as push-to-talk, push-to-view, push-to-video
• Combining video and data
• Group chat
• Instant messaging
• Multiparty online gaming
• Audio/Web/videoconferencing
• Interactive voice response

IMS is about enabling operators, whether they are wireline, wireless or cable, to provide real-time interactive multimedia services, such as IMS-enabled IPTV, gaming, video conferencing and click-to-call, with a standards-based, open architecture.

A Nortel IMS solution is positioned to allow a single service provider to offer services to many segments. This is the basis of the new communications business model -- one that shifts from connection/access-centric services to subscriber-centric services, all of which can be offered regardless of device, access type or location.

GSM/UMTS IMS Solution introduces the R5 IMS core network which enables rapid application development and delivery of high-value voice, data, and video services that will drive new revenues for GSM/UMTS operators.

CDMA IMS Solution facilitates the deployment of the Multimedia Domain solution for new revenue generating multimedia applications cost effectively, allowing service providers to widen their addressable markets, differentiate themselves by bundling services innovatively to increase subscriber loyalty and Lifetime Revenue per Subscriber. In addition to an all IP Core Network, Nortel's IMS solution delivers a suite of high value applications and integration services.

Wireline IMS Solution builds on Nortel's success with the Communication Server (CS) 2000 softswitch and Application Server 5200 application server, providing an evolution path for these products and solutions into Nortel's common IMS solution.

Cable IMS Solution builds on Nortel's success with PacketCableTM and SIP deployments, providing an evolution path for these products and solutions into Nortel's common IMS solution.

Nortel offers an access-agnostic IMS solution that enables deployment of multimedia services and provides enhanced packet backbone internetworking across fixed and mobile domains. IMS architecture, platforms and services are common to GSM, UMTS, CDMA, Wireline and Cable service providers. Nortel's IMS portfolio of products include:

• Application Server (AS) 5200: Nortel's AS 5200 SIP-based media and application server enables enhanced communications regardless of location, access type or media. Functioning as an Application Server in the IMS architecture, the AS 5200 will allow carriers to offer SIP-based multimedia services, including desktop video calling, instant messaging, and point-to-multipoint application sharing to their customers.
• Versatile Service Engine: The Nortel Versatile Service Engine is a second-generation ATCA platform that meets the processing needs of innovative IMS applications, such as IPTV, interactive gaming, video conferencing, video sharing and customized greetings.
• Call Session Controller (CSC): The Nortel Call Session Controller delivers what is known in the industry as the Call Session Control Function (CSCF) and is the key element in Nortel's IMS architecture and serves as the control point to manage all IMS sessions in the network, whether they are voice, video, data, messaging, gaming, or any other service. The CSC interacts with the other nodes and gateways in the network to apply security, billing parameters, and QoS, among other functions. Nortel's CSC leverages the proven SIP session control capabilities of the AS 5200, and extends them within the standardized IMS and MMD framework.
• Home Subscriber Server (HSS): Nortel's HSS solution builds on components of today's GSM/UMTS Home Location Register (HLR). The modular design separates the HLR and User Mobility Server (UMS) database functionalities to enable a Nortel HSS deployment, the integration of third-party HLRs, or a CDMA HLR/AAA/UMS deployment.
• Media Gateway Controller (MGC): The MGC interacts with the Nortel Session Controller and Media Gateways to control sessions that cross the CMS network boundary into pre-existing networks and services. The MGC will perform signaling protocol conversion between SIP and ISUP for instance.
• Policy Controller (PC): The Nortel Policy Controller (PC) is responsible for coordinating the set up of bearers with session setup. The IMS standards has procedures to ensure that the application layer can enforce policies on the access network. In addition, application layer and bearer layer billing IDs are correlated for billing consolidation.