IMS is the Internet Protocol (IP) Multimedia Subsystem defining a generic architecture for offering Voice over IP and multimedia services. IMS was first specified by the Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP/3GPP2) and is now being embraced by other standards bodies, including ETSI/TISPAN and Cable Labs. Multiple access types are supported, including 3G mobile, wireline broadband access with WLAN endpoints.

IMS-based services will enable all-IP person-to-person and person-to-content communications in a variety of modes − including voice, text, pictures and video, or any combination of these − in a highly personalized way.

Ericsson IMS Solution is a complete end-to-end offering for fixed and mobile operators, ranging from standardized services such as IMS Multimedia Telephony (including IP Telephony and IP Centrex), IMS Push to Talk, IMS Messaging, Combinational Services (simultaneous CS speech and PS applications for media sharing etc), to user devices, application servers, service creation tools, integration and deployment services. The solution also supports operator-specific innovations on existing IMS investments. 
Read more about Ericsson's IMS offerings
 
Operators are introducing IMS solutions to achieve OPEX and CAPEX savings by delivering services over a common IMS core network infrastructure for all services and accesses, while preserving the control mechanisms to meet user expectations for quality of service, reliability and security.
 
Ericsson recognizes that the success of IMS depends on the availability of enabled devices. Ericsson is one of initiators and leader in the standardization of Java APIs for IMS-enabled mobile devices. The JSR 281 is the first step, and will be available in most JavaME devices from 2009. Additionally, Ericsson offers IMS Client Platform solutions for today’s Open OS platform and JavaME devices.

Ultimately, more and more services will be delivered using the IMS capabilities. IMS enables Operators, Independent Software Providers and Java developers in general to achieve faster and more cost-effective development of new revenue-generating services for fixed, mobile and IPTV users. IMS technology provides the following benefits:

• IMS offers operators the possibility to consolidate networks and it ensures secure connectivity between end points.      
• IMS is an enabler for Service Providers to introduce new, enriched multimedia services, in cooperation with Independent Software Vendors (ISVs), and IMS System Integrators such as Ericsson
  

Ericsson has signed 50 IMS system contracts for commercial launch. All based on the IMS standard. 22 of these contracts have been deployed and are running live commercial traffic. All IMS contracts include a CSCF and HSS and may include one or more of the following applications: IP Telephony, IP Centrex, Messaging, Push to Talk, weShare, Presence and Group management.

They are distributed over Americas, Europe, Asia-Pacific and Africa and include fixed network implementations, GSM/GPRS, WCDMA/HSPA and Wimax.

IMS Studio is Ericsson's customer project offering for tailored IMS service creation, service user/market trials, system integration and commercial deployment of developed IMS services. By engaging with Ericson, ISV’s can get exposure to potential customers and get a first opportunity to engage in the IMS application business. Ericsson helps to match operators’ IMS services needs with innovations and offerings from ISVs.

Ericsson believes in an open business environment where IMS serves as a platform for business growth and multi-application offerings. Therefore Ericsson will continue to drive standardization work and align IMS development with the relevant standard releases, to ensure that IMS will support true convergent networks and be a platform for an emerging IMS Ecosystem.

In order to explore all the opportunities of IMS, Ericsson is offering support to third-party application developers − including documentation and reference materials, consultative support (end-user and market-trend reports, IMS training), development and testing tools, and final validation.
Ericsson also provides ISVs and other application developers with the Service Development Studio (SDS), a toolset based on Eclipse Integrated Development Environment (IDE), for the development and testing of new IMS-based applications.

SDS enables IMS client-server services to be developed and tested completely in a personal computer environment, and provides an emulated end-to-end test environment. Both the client side (mobile and PCs) and the server side of the service can be developed, debugged and tested using SDS. SDS can also be used as a cost-effective entry-level service execution environment connected with a remote authentic IMS networks lab environment.