Europe : BroadSoft announced that Ericsson and BroadSoft have signed a global OEM agreement to integrate components of BroadSoft's BroadWorks(R) technology into Ericsson's IMS based Engine Multimedia 2.0 (EMM 2.0) solution. This integration will enable service providers for the first time to use the same platform to offer a uniform package of advanced managed communications services across wireline and wireless networks based on the Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) architecture.

Ericsson will market the EMM 2.0 platform with integrated BroadWorks technology as part of its Softswitch offering, which is based on the 3GPP architecture. With this solution, Ericsson's customers will be able to deliver multimedia services, including hosted PBX, IP Centrex, residential broadband and collaborative conferencing services, transparently across different networks. The integration of the BroadWorks media and application servers into EMM 2.0 is based on the Session Initiation Protocol (SIP.) It
follows the architecture developed for 3GPP that will be used in next generation fixed and mobile networks to provide multimedia services regardless of location.

"Today's announcement marks a major step forward in the evolution of uniform multimedia service delivery to fixed and mobile 3GPP networks," said Deborah Workman, vice president of market research at Dittberner Associates, Inc. Ericsson is uniquely qualified to provide this converged offering given their leadership position in wireline and wireless networks."

"By working with Ericsson, we're helping operators to keep their core technologies and investments in place, while enhancing their ability to offer hosted multi-media services across multiple networks based on the 3GPP architecture," said Michael Tessler, CEO and president at BroadSoft. "This announcement further confirms BroadWorks commitment to working with industry leaders to successfully penetrate new market segments."