Fredrik Ljungblom, Strategic Marketing, and Mohssine Chabraoui, Strategic Solution Manager, both say that Ericsson has a key role as a prime integrator when implementing the IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS).
 

Chabraoui explains that as they see it, IMS is at the center of the emerging multimedia landscape where telecoms, internet and media all come together.
 

“IMS also provides the opportunity to streamline processes, organizations and tools. It is a core part of an all-IP network and a vehicle for easing and simplifying transformation,” he says.
 

Ljungblom adds that having Ericsson as a prime integrator offers several benefits, especially when dealing with something as new and complex as IMS.
 

“When Ericsson works with an operator as a prime integrator we take on accountability for the business outcome of a complete solution, rather than only meeting technical criteria, which allows the operator to increase their business while managing their costs,” he says.
 

“With us assisting in managing risk in new ventures, the operators can focus on their customers.

“We view our work together as prime integrator as more of a partnership. We’re invested in the operator’s future – a future where IMS is a key enabler.”
 

Ericsson has already brought these IMS benefits to several operators, including Vodafone Ireland, TDC Denmark and Sprint Nextel. Chabraoui says that extensive knowledge and experience is gained every day from the 100 ongoing IMS deployments.
 

Highlighting one of the cases, Chabraoui says: “We have worked with Sprint for several years and have now become a trusted technology advisor. Since 2005, when they merged with Nextel, we have continuously worked with them and their partners to develop and transform technology assets into a merged network.
 

“What we do together is to design, plan and specify additional requirements for both new consumer services, as well as enhancements to the IMS core.”
 

Chabraoui adds that, while Ericsson has achieved success, it has not always been easy. “IMS provides a number of challenges, especially when an operator has a very heterogeneous network and IT support environment,” he says. “In this case, we have to go back before we can go forward.
 

“On the other hand, that has led to one of our greatest strengths. We are able to share and offer the operators our technical leadership, and the skills and knowledge that we have built up from our challenges with others.”
 

Ljungblom adds: “We are the largest telecom services provider, measured both in market share and in number of services professionals. For example, we’re managing networks with more than 200 million subscribers and delivering annually more than 1000 systems-integration projects.  This experience and knowledge we share when deploying IMS and supporting operators who are transforming their business.”
 

Chabraoui and Ljungblom both believe that more prime-integration work is on the horizon with IMS. Ljungblom says: “For deploying IMS and transforming operators’ business, the role of a prime integrator will become even more important. In the emerging multimedia landscape, the consumer is coming more in focus, bringing new business models with more players involved who add their specific value.”
 

He adds, “Operators, vendors and service providers need to come together to be successful in the emerging multimedia marketplace, but we’re not there yet. We’re at the beginning of a very exciting journey.”