ims vendor profile

IMS Incumbent Vendor Profile: Ericsson

Summary

With its enviable successes in both wireless and wireline networking segments, Ericsson has reinvented itself

as the quintessential IMS vendor. As of October 2007, the Stockholm-based vendor had announced 12

different service provider references that had launched IMS-based services, and the company has announced

several IMS deals beyond this set. Its margins, however, have been shrinking for two years, and the pressure

to convert its IMS wins into profit will be strong.

ProductsFull line-up

Softswitches, pre-paid charge platforms, application servers, media gateways, session border controllers.

StrategyEricsson is leveraging opportunities among legacy customers in wireless and wireline network segments to

migrate to IMS.

It is focusing marketing and positioning on systems and services instead of individual products.

It is establishing thought leadership by embracing IMS as part of a corporate all-IP vision.

Strengths Despite a history as a legacy vendor, it has avoided negative associations burdening other equipment giants.

Ericsson has established a reputation for success in both fixed and mobile networks.

Continued sales and customer growth that is distributed broadly across Asia, the Americas and Europe gives

Ericsson a breadth of resources as well as stability.

Vulnerabilities

In February 2008, Ericsson announced plans to cut 4,000 jobs, which may adversely affect operations.

Sales to operators in developing markets makes Ericsson susceptible to exchange-rate fluctuations and other

economic burdens.

Recent IMS sales

Vodafone, Telenor, Beijing Netcom, Telekomunikacja Polska, Swisscom, Softbank Mobile, CYTA, SPT, FarEasTone,

O2 Ireland, Telefonica (Spain), Commander (Australia), Sprint Nextel, TDC, TIM, Sonaecom, Elion, KPN, Virgin

Media, Meditel, Telenor

IMS Incumbent Vendor Profile: Ericsson Ecosystem

Applications OBSS

Control Registers

Interworking

Access

Terminals

RedBack NetworksIP edge router

Tandberg TVIPTV

LHS GroupBilling

EntrisphereGPON

Netwisepresence and availability management

Marconi• Optical transmission equipment • Broadband access and fixed wireless access • Softswitching

Mobeon ABMessaging platform

Drutt CorpSDP

BroadsoftCentrex

Summit TechGame API

Ericsson IMS Ecosystem – SDS (Service Development Studio)Source: Ericsson, 2008

• Eclipse 3.2.2 IDE

• Wizards and templates for client and server service development and test

• Device client creation, test and deployment support• IMS Client Framework supporting (pre) JSR 281 API’s

• Symbian v9 / UIQ 3 phones (e.g. SonyEricsson M600, P990...)

• Windows 2000/XP PCs

• Server application creation, test and deployment support• JSR 116 compliant SIP-AS’s

• SDS SIP-AS as trial execution AS

• Communication services support• IMS Core services (Registration, Authentication etc.)

• Presence and groups, PGM emulator (OMA Presence & XDM v1 std)

• Push-to-Talk, PTT-AS emulator (OMA PoC v1 standard),

• IMS Messaging emulator, deferred delivery and SMS interworking

• Combinational Services, any IP (PS) with a CS call (GSMA video/image-share, games etc)

• Voice over IP, peer-to-peer (initially for broadband connected PCs)

• Audio and Video Recorder / Player

SDS Summary 1/2


• Support for SIP/HTTP Servlets & Java Runtime Environment

• JSR 116 (SSA 1.0) compliant -> JSR 289 (SSA 1.1)

• Design Environment, Eclipse IDE (Eclipse 3.2 + JDK 1.5)

• Communication Services Support for:

IMS Core services

Presence and groups Emulator

Push-to-Talk Emulator

IMS Messaging Emulator

• Multitude of Wizards and Templates

• Visual network display and control

• Automatic Test Framework, Test agent

• Visual Traffic Flow tool

• IMS Client Platform (ICP)

• Device Emulator

SDS Summary 2/2

Ericsson IMS EcosystemSource: Ericsson, 2008

IMS Incumbent Vendor Profile: Alcatel-Lucent

Summary

While Alcatel took a major competitor out of play by acquiring Lucent Technologies in 2006, It also took on a

gargantuan challenge in consolidating and rationalizing the two organizations from top to bottom. Recent losses at

Alcatel-Lucent (-$5.12bn net for the year following the merger), coupled with a weak outlook for its 2008 fiscal year,

point to bigger problems than the threats posed by the IMS standards, but the vendor's ability to address the IMS

paradigm will be instrumental to its long-term success.

ProductsAlcatel-Lucent 1390 Generic User Profile Server, Alcatel-Lucent 1430 Unified Home Subscriber Service for IM-HSS, Alcatel-Lucent 5020 Call Session Controller, Alcatel-Lucent 5350 IMS Application Server, Alcatel-Lucent 5430 Session Resource Broker

StrategyAlcatel-Lucent is leveraging decades-long supply relationships with former PTTs and

other legacy service providers

It is applying IMS as a vehicle for product and resource consolidation, preserving and updating best-of-breed platforms and technologies, while moving customers off older, obsolete and costly-to-maintain products.

It is moving organizations away from older, geographically based centers of competence in ways

that encourage global collaboration for innovation and customer support.

It is leveraging IMS standards to engage more aggressively with new markets, such as cable TV service providers.

Strengths Its $27.5bn in revenue, giving it a sizeable resource base.

A high degree of vertical integration.

Ready access to favorable financing, which it can extend to its clients.

Vulnerabilities

Supporting its tremendous installed base in the networks of strategic customers is a burden on resources and

hinders agility.

IMS standards threaten tightly coupled systems and product families.

Legacy status may limit ability to market IMS offerings.

Recent IMS salesAT&T (former SBC, Cingular, BellSouth), TerreStar Networks, Verizon Wireless, Sprint, Telefonica, Phone Systems and Network, KPN, Manx Telecom, Jersey Telecom, TDC, Chunghwa Telecom, NWT

IMS Incumbent Vendor Profile: Cisco Systems

Summary

Though Cisco has effectively positioned itself as a leader in the provision of next-generation network systems

, its hesitancy to commit to IMS fuels claims that it has thrived on proprietary interfaces and protocols. We

expect the vendor to reaffirm its commitment to the IMS standard in the future in order to better position itself

among its telco customers.

Products XR 12000 Series Session Border Controller, BTS 10200 Softswitch, MGX 8880 Media Gateways

StrategyCisco is leveraging installed base through migration strategies that protect existing infrastructures while

strategically deploying newer IMS-compliant products and revising network architectures.

Cisco is focusing on opportunities to bridge legacy data technologies and non-IMS NGN infrastructures with

IMS-compliant service and control-plane systems.

Cisco is engaging directly with service providers to develop NGN architectures that incorporate but may extend

beyond IMS.

StrengthsCisco continues to show solid growth in revenue and orders, with sales diversified among a range of

geographies and customer segments.

Its comprehensive product line makes Cisco extremely competitive in bids for turnkey systems.

Cisco benefits from its reputation as a pioneer in VoIP, yet is unencumbered by the “legacy baggage” status of

many telephony equipment vendors.

Vulnerabilities

Cisco still suffers from the perception that its understanding of enterprise networks far exceeds its

understanding of service provider networks.

Rapid, acquisition-based growth often leads to channel conflicts, due to lags in consolidation and

rationalization processes.

Recent IMS sales Bharti Airtel, China Telecom, Time Warner Cable

IMS Incumbent Vendor Profile: Cisco Systems

IMS Incumbent Vendor Profile: Nokia Siemens Networks

Summary

IMS offers Nokia Siemens Networks the rare opportunity to apply the best of both constituent companies to

a burgeoning vision of service provider empowerment, although the company has yet to announce either a

defining supply agreement or even a string of smaller successes. NSN’s messaging is effective, but its

execution on the IMS promise will be the key to its success.

Products CFX-5000 (CSCF), CMS-8200 (HSS), and application servers for a variety of services, such as VoIP and PoC

StrategyNSN is leveraging opportunities among legacy customers in both wireless and wireline network segments to migrate

to IMS.

It is leveraging IMS as a key component of Nokia Siemens’ all-IP vision.

It is focusing marketing and positioning on systems and services instead of individual products.

Strengths A vast reference customer list, including wireline, wireless and enterprise network operators.

Broad geographical presence in Asia, the Americas and Europe.

VulnerabilitiesOngoing consolidation may adversely affect operations.

Active product line rationalization may lead to channel conflicts.

Recent IMS salesVodafone Group, TIM, Telkomsel, E-Plus, China Mobile, MegaFon, CSL, Time Warner Cable, TeliaSonera, and

Com Hem


Applications

Push to talk

Videosharing

Confer-encing

ConsumerVoIP

BusinessVoIP Messaging Presence

Multi-media

Video-telephony

Legacy servicese.g. IN prepaid

OBSS

Charging O&M Provisioning

CSCF PCS

IMS

Control

Fixed NGN

MGWFixed

Softswitch

Registers

ENUM HSS

xSP

PSTN

PLMN

InterworkingAccess

POTS/ISDN Broadband

TerminalsFixed/Cable Multiradio

POTSPhone

ISDNPhone

SIPPhone

PCClient

SIP SIP

Cable 2G/3G Other Access

TV

Mobile Platform

MobilePhone

PDA

Rel-4

MGWMSC-S

PaCo

SGSN ISNHLR

Common Subscriber Repository


3rd Party Developers

Company Application Titles Application Type

SIP Phone Gizmo SIP VoIP and IM

Fring FringVoIP and IM, connects also to Skype,

Gtalk, MSN

Movial MIM Multimedia instant messaging

Movial Movial Connect Mobile Rich mobile application/service suite

Arcsoft Push to show Push to show

Noumena

Subsonic racing, Jewel Impulse, MVR Pool, Power Darts, Black Jack, The Five, Treasure Mine, Mad Macs

Several P2P game titles

mBounce MoMo friends Networking application

N2N mBit client File sharing application

Futurice Photos to friendsAlbum sharing application (+blogging)

And More

IMS Incumbent Vendor Profile: Nortel

Summary

While Nortel’s current market positioning efforts capture the spirit of IMS, the vendor’s track record of actual business

in this segment remains limited. As with all the legacy players, Nortel finds itself struggling with decreased demand.

In this light, IMS may offer an opportunity to help the stalwart vendor reinvent itself in 2008 or early 2009.

Products

Applications Server (AS) 5200, Application Server (AS) 2000, Wireless Mobility Gateway 6000 (for VCC feature),

Versatile Service Engine, Call Session Controller (CSC) 1000, Home Subscriber Server (HSS) 1000, Media Gateway

Controller (MGC) 2000, Media Gateway Controller-Packet MSC, Converged Media Gateway 15000, Policy Controller

(PC), PES (PSTN Emulation Server), MRF, Service Capability Manager 1000 as well as enablers provided by

strategic partners for Presence, GLMS or charging capability

Strategy Nortel is using IMS as vehicle for asserting its deep industry experience and dedication to industry standards

It is taking an active role in industry interoperability events such as those of the MultiService Forum to demonstrate

commitment to IMS, standard interfaces and open architectures.

Promote inter-vendor collaboration through its Open IMS developer program initiative.

Strengths The emphasis on standard interfaces and open collaboration, which is well-suited to the values embodied in IMS.

Broad base of customers in the wireless, wireline and enterprise networking segments.

Vulnerabilities

Few IMS contracts announced to date, despite high-profile development and collaboration initiatives.

Nortel is implementing a business transformation plan — essentially a program to cut 2,900 jobs over 2007 and

2008 — that may affect operations adversely.

Recent IMS sales(can be IMS ready AS or full IMS deployment) France Telecom, Telefonica, Verizon, MSV, Neuf Telecom,

Hot Telecom


Nortel VoIP and Multimedia Solutions

MS

TDMPeripherals

Hybrid Interworking

IP to othercarriers

SuperclassSoftswitches

MultimediaApplications

ServerMedia Server

ElementManagement

SS7Network

CS 2000Series

AS5200 MS

2000 IEMS

IWGateway

MG 15000

MTA

IAD

CMTS

MCS Client(multimedia

)

IP lines(Centrex IP)

VoBBCable

Legacy Peripheralsand remotes

TR-08, GR-303, LCM/RLCM

TDM TrunksCarrier or Enterprise

Standard Line InterfacesPOTS, xDSL, video

AccessGateway

TrunkGateway

IP PBXKey SystemH.323 Terminal

(VoIP VPN)

H.323

SIP

Border Control Point H.248

TGCP H.248H.248MGC

PSIP

NCS

SIPUnistim

IP Network

SIP

MG9000

ENET

Class 5Residential /

Business

Class 4 Long Distance

Enterprise

Carrier Hosted

UniversalSignaling

Point

CS 1500Series

CS 1500Gateway


VoIP and IMS Developer Program Open Interfaces

BCP 7200CSC 1000Call Session

Controller

AS 5200AS 2000

Enablers

Presence, XDMS, Billing

Application Servers

HSS 1000Subscriber Data

to othercarriers

PBXKey SystemH.323 Terminal

(VoIP VPN)

Enterprise

TDM TrunksCarrier or Enterprise

Class 4 Long Distance

MG 15000

Legacy Peripheralsand Remotes

TR-08, GR-303, LCM/RLCM

Standard LinePOTS, ISDN

Class 5

IPTV

MG 15000

PSTN EmulationPES 2000

MG 9000

Media Gateway ControlMGC 2000

Native IMS SIP Clients/Devices

IP-PBX

IP-PhoneLaptop Pocket

PC CellPhone

CellWiFiWiMAX

FFTPHFCDSL

MTA/IAD

Broadband Access

CS 2000

ISC

ISC

Gm

Sh

3rd Party

MCS 5200


PSTN &Cell Networks

IMS CoreCore Infrastructure

AccessTra

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GatewaysTransport

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Ap

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La

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TransitNetworks

User Equipment

NNI

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rNortel IOT - 175+ Interoperability Events and growing

http://www.nokia.com/index

http://www.audiovox.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/vox.jsp

http://www.sharpusa.com/SharpHome/1,1959,,00.html

http://www.comneon.com/CDA/homepage,2,0,,en.html?PHPSESSID=15d2b6d8d7b41eb514d8b6d93612822d

http://www.fgmicrotec.com/index.html

http://www.newport-networks.com/index.html

http://www.cedarpointcom.com/index.cfm

http://www.camiant.com/index.shtml

http://counterpath.com/index.php

http://www.followap.com/index.htm

http://www.ubiquitysoftware.com/home.php

IMS Independent Vendor Profile: Sonus Networks

Summary

IMS has become an integral component of Sonus Networks’ strategy, and the company’s success in IMS is critical to

its survival. The softswitch specialist offers many of the components of the IMS core, which may seem to bestow

competitive advantage, but by the same token pits this small player against the legacy giants previously profiled.

ProductsSoftswitches, media gateways, signaling gateways, application servers.

IMS architecture products, SMARTT; billing products under development – alliance with NeuStar

Recent IMS sales BT

IMS Independent Vendor Profile: Huawei

Summary

As Chinese service providers accelerate their network upgrade plans to accommodate the influx of mobile users

during the upcoming Olympic Games in Beijing, Huawei is a vendor to watch, and it is aggressively pushing its IMS

systems and platforms. Huawei’s positioning is familiar, although the vendor is one of a very small number that

actually use the IMS reference elements to describe their products.

Products

IMS3.0 solution. IMS components: Policy Decision Function (PDF), Home Subscriber Server (HSS), Voice Call

Continuity Application Server (VCC AS), Telephony Application Server (Telephony AS), , Network Attachment

Subsystem (NACF/CLF), Media Resource Server (MRFC/MRFP), Call Session Control Function (CSCF)

Recent IMS sales Magyar Telecom, Warid Telecom

IMS Independent Vendor Profile: Italtel

Summary

Italtel has taken the opportunity provided by IMS to reassert itself in the service provider infrastructure market. Its

public successes to date remain limited but nonetheless impressive: it has won a major contract from Arcor,

Germany’s number two fixed telephony service provider, whose owners include Vodafone, Deutsche Bahn and

Deutsche Bank.

Products Softswitches, media gateways, session border controllers, application servers, charging and mediation servers

Recent IMS sales Arcor

IMS Independent Vendor Profile: Stratus Technologies

Summary

Stratus Technologies offers the IMS market several compelling assets, including its legacy expertise in SS7 and AIN,

its family of fault-tolerant servers and — as the result of a 2006 acquisition — session border controller technologies.

As with many of the vendors profiled in this section, the challenge for Stratus will be to devise and manage an

effective mix of direct and indirect sales channels.

ProductsENTICE Family of Open Packet Based Network Solutions including Application servers, signaling gateways,

session border controllers, media gateways.

Recent IMS sales Smile Content

IMS Independent Vendor Profile: Veraz Networks

Summary

Veraz Networks, which develops digital voice compression, softswitch and media gateway technologies, has scored

an IMS win with OneMax, a provider of WiMAX services in the Dominican Republic. Its strategy appears to involve

leveraging an installed base of voice compression systems it claims to have in service at over 400 service providers

in 90 countries to move up the value chain with its IMS core products.

ProductsControlSwitch User Services Core- USC-xCSCF, USC-Service Broker /SCIM, USC-MGCF & BGCF, USC-Security

Gateway , USC-HSS, USC-Application Servers, USC-SLF, USC-UE (softclient)

Recent IMS sales OneMax

IMS Independent Vendor Profile: BEA Systems

Summary

BEA Systems offers a modular Java-based SIP application server that it sells directly to service providers or in OEM

partnerships with such vendors as Ericsson and Nokia Siemens. The ISV has an ecosystem that includes server

hardware vendors such as Hewlett-Packard as well as specialized ISVs that develop specific applications enabled by

BEA’s server. BEA’s emergence in the IMS space could have an impact on the telecom industry, although its ability

to pursue opportunities alone, without partnering with larger vendors, is only now being tested.

Products Application server software.

IMS Independent Vendor Profile: Acme Packet

Summary

A pioneer in session border controllers, Acme Packet has actively promoted its vision for the role of this specialized

security technology in IMS networks, even as it has revised its SBC products to meet the market’s fast-evolving

needs. Its high-profile leadership stance and flexibility in pursuing business directly or indirectly, through partners or

OEM arrangements, make Acme’s IMS market prospects bright.

Products Session border controllers

Recent IMS sales Vodafone Czech Republic, Germany, Portugal, Iceland

IMS Independent Vendor Profile: Redknee

Summary

Redknee, a Canadian specialist in charging and billing servers, provides yet another example of a company latching

onto an opportunity created by IMS to break into the once-closed telecom infrastructure marketplace. Its win with

Taiwan-based Far EasTone Telecommunications will showcase Redknee’s technology in a fixed-mobile

convergence environment.

Products Policy Decision Rules Server, Unified Rating & Charging System

Recent IMS sales Far EasTone Telecommunications

IMS Independent Vendor Profile: Iperia

Summary

Iperia is an application server specialist that has staked its fortune on an NGN buildout, and it stands to benefit from

the broad adoption of IMS. As of year-end 2007, Iperia claimed six revenue-generating IMS implementations; it sells

through OEM arrangements with tier one vendors and system integrators.

Products Unified communications platforms, service creation platforms, application servers.

IMS Independent Vendor Profile: Radisys

Summary

The acquisition of media server specialist Convedia bumped RadiSys up one level in the value chain, from that of a

behind-the-scenes OEM developer of embedded servers, protocol stacks and middleware to a product vendor. As

such, RadiSys may face some tricky navigation: managing both direct and OEM sales may raise the hackles of

some of its OEM partners.

Products Media servers, embedded servers

ims vendor profile

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