US : The 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) has reached agreement on how to proceed with Common IMS meeting the needs of the fixed, mobile, cable and broadband wireless communities.

Expressing ETSI's support for the move Dr. Walter Weigel, ETSI Director-General, said;

"ETSI TISPAN has taken the first steps in migrating fixed IMS requirements to 3GPP in a co-operation that will prevent fragmentation of IMS standards. A Common IMS, developed in one place, is a big step forward and will bring enormous economies of scale and reductions in capital and operational costs."

At the 3GPP Plenary meeting in Busan, Korea (29th May to 7th June) it was agreed to proceed with this work with immediate effect and requirements for Common IMS will be specified by a re-chartered 'Services' group (new SA1) of the Project.

Common IMS developments will form part of 3GPP Release 8, which is expected to be functionally frozen by end 2007.

Stephen Hayes, Ericsson Inc., 3GPP TSG-SA Chair, said after the conclusion of the Busan meeting;

"Over the next few months we must stabilize the Release 8 requirements and absorb the incoming Common IMS work. 3GPP has a history of successfully meeting challenges and I have no doubt we will meet these challenges as well."

Busy times are ahead.

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