The focus for the demonstration was to show end-user characteristics for an IP-based multimedia telephony session over HSPA.

Anders Norrga, Ericsson's marketing manager for IMS Multimedia Telephony, says: "Because it is IP-based, this new standard is a feature-rich technology. What we want to do with the demonstration is show operators that we can evolve their telephony networks into multimedia networks based on IMS architecture. This is one solution based on IMS that can deliver both fixed and mobile IP telephony."

With Ericsson's IMS multimedia telephony solution, operators can evolve their mobile softswitches or AXE or TSS for fixed networks into one telephony solution supporting a multimedia experience over both mobile and fixed networks.

Standardization bodies 3GPP, on the mobile side, and ETSI TISPAN, on the fixed side, have worked together to develop the converged industry-wide standard 3GPP/ETSI TISPAN IMS Multimedia Telephony. With Ericsson leading the way, the new standard technology will help operators move into the future while retaining use of legacy systems.

Norrga says: "This is a convergence technology that offers operators seamless mobile and fixed access, a common core system for mobile and fixed networks, and multimedia telephony."