Qualcomm and Teleepoch Enter Into a 3G CDMA Subscriber Unit License Agreement, October 6, 2007

MTN chooses Cambridge Broadband Networks for multi-service wireless network in Rwanda, October 6, 2007

Brazilian government to publish 3G bidding rules soon, October 6, 2007

KTF 3G service suffers from technical problems, October 6, 2007

Argentina’s Personal lunches 3G service in Rosario, October 6, 2007

Russia has it's first 3G network, October 6, 2007

AT&T could drop Alcatel-Lucent as 3G mobile network supplier, October 6, 2007

Enea Extends License Agreement with ZTE for 3G Handsets, October 2, 2007

LG to unveil premium handsets in Brazil, October 2, 2007

KTF 3G subscribers doubled in less than 3 months, October 2, 2007

3G policy in India will be non-uniform, October 2, 2007

- previous news

IMS service handover between 3G and WLAN

July 26, 2005

Ericsson and BB Mobile, a Softbank Group company, 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 3G 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 Back, Ericsson Vice President for WCDMA Radio Networks, is very proud that Ericsson, together with BB Mobile, was the first to demonstrate this handover capability. "I believe that this technology will provide more convenient communication services for consumers, as well as creating opportunities for new revenues for both fixed and mobile operators," he says.

For the demonstration, BB Mobile/Softbank supplied WiFi expertise through its commercial WLAN network. Ericsson provided the 1.7GHz WCDMA radio network, circuit-switched and packet-switched core networks, and the IMS network. The demonstration was held on July 22, at BB Mobile's test site in Saitama Prefecture, Japan.