Ims -- Engadget Mobile

ims posts

T-Mobile steps forward with LTE voice standard, faces uphill battle

by Chris Ziegler posted Jul 8th 2009 @ 5:59PM

It's still a shockingly open question exactly how the world's carriers plan on transporting voice over LTE -- which is something everyone who loves 4G should be freaking out about, considering that it threatens launch schedules and interoperability among unlocked handsets. A vibrant array of possible solutions are currently on the table, including everything from SIP-based IMS (which is already approved by the 3GPP, helpfully) to the controversial thought of leaving legacy GSM and UMTS networks live for the sole purpose of running voice. T-Mobile International is putting its bets on VoLGA -- Voice Over LTE via Generic Access -- by participating in the VoLGA Forum, which has just published the second version of its specifications and aims for 3GPP consideration later this year. The technology routes circuit-switched (that is, old-school) voice over data packets, but the problem is that there are a bunch of companies proposing the same thing in slightly different ways; Nokia Siemens Networks, for example, is working on its own proprietary standard that'll go head-to-head with VoLGA. Currently, T-Mobile's the only major network actively participating in VoLGA's development, though it apparently has the support of every major infrastructure vendor except Nokia Siemens. Whether it's VoLGA or something else, let's hope everyone gets on the same page on the double before everyone gets too entrenched in incompatible technologies that make roaming difficult and handset variety lame.

Emotive's Push Ringer overrides ringtones, pranksters overjoyed

by Darren Murph posted Apr 20th 2007 @ 11:17PM

Forget personalized ringtones and ringbacks, the next tween obsession has arrived in the form of Push Ringer, which "enables a caller to push an outgoing ringtone to the receiving phone -- allowing the caller, not the called person -- to set the tone." We're assuming you're either elated or sighing mightily after reading that, but there's 7.7 million reasons why you wish you would've implemented it first. A group of deep-pocketed investors have sunk $7.7 million into Emotive Communications' flagship idea, which temporarily overrides the phone's preset ringer, and moreover, allows the recipient of the surprise sound-byte to "instantly buy a copy" if they so desire. Notably, this very service has already taken the VoIP world over, as Skype users are probably more familiar with the RingJacker concept. Now, who's down for inventing the Push Ringer Reverser to send a "you got punk'd" clip back at the egotistical sender?

[Via The Raw Feed]

Samsung's SPH-8100 WinMo Pocket PC with Mobile WiMax, IMS, and DMB

by Thomas Ricker posted Nov 8th 2006 @ 7:53AM

It's not the dual-mode WiMax / GSM handset we're waiting for, but Samsung's SPH-M8100 Mobile WiMAX slider should force an optical interrupt nevertheless. Like the SPH-P9000 introduced yesterday, this device is part of Sammy's Mobile WiMAX MITs lineup only this time in a dedicated IMS lovin' handset. Come on, you remember IMS right? It's the IP Multimedia Subsystem we saw under global trial back in February which even Cingular has been known to dabble around with. IMS support means this not-a-cellphone handset will not only provide access to content over high-speed Mobile WiMAX (WiBro as it's known in Korea), but it'll also feature such SIP-based services as VoIP calls, video conferencing, and "Push-to-All" which we assume is just the push-to-talk, walkie-talkie service as it's known 'round here. The handset runs Windows Mobile 5.0 PocketPC and features a 2.8-inch 65k color, 240x320 touch-screen TFT display, MMCmicro expansion, and 2 megapixel camera with another 0.3 megapixel shooter up front for video conferences. It also features T-DMB mobile TV with both the antenna and stylus tucked neatly away in the case. Oh, and this handset will pull double-duty as a Mobile WiMAX modem for your laptop too. Now pardon us, we have to get back to banging our rocks together, there's mammoth for dinner tonight! Lots more pics after the break.

Continue reading Samsung's SPH-8100 WinMo Pocket PC with Mobile WiMax, IMS, and DMB

Cingular to offer video sharing while talking

by Donald Melanson posted Jul 3rd 2006 @ 5:40PM

Cingular's announced that it plans to launch a new service "within the next year" that'll let users share videos while talking on their cellphone, something that you may remember was being tested earlier this year. Assuming Cingular hasn't gone on a completely different route, the service will make use of what's known as the IP Multimedia Subsystem (or IMS), which is a UMTS implementation of (SIP). It's nifty to be sure, but we're guessing Cingular will have to make the service really affordable for most people to be able to justify adding yet another expense to their monthly bill.

[Thanks, Mack S]

Cingular: we're kinda okay with VoIP, we guess

by Chris Ziegler posted Jun 30th 2006 @ 7:09PM

Cingular is going to let you roll VoIP over its 3G network, but they don't have to like it. That's the message Cingular CTO Kristin Rinne effectively gave this week, saying that they don't explicitly have a problem with folks running VoIP through their UMTS pipeline, but they'd rather have QoS and billing systems in place (naturally) beforehand. Since they don't, and data is data, let the Skypeing begin on that all-you-can-eat HSDPA plan of yours -- just don't be surprised if they suddenly try to nickel-and-dime you once their IMS implementation gets going.

[Via The Wireless Report]