IBM Announces Telecom Transition Solutions, Labs

IBM has announced Internet Protocol Multimedia Subsystems (IMS)

offerings to help telecommunications service providers move from legacy networks to converged next-generation networks.

IBM announced the solutions and plans for six new telecommunications labs Thursday. The company is offering business solutions based on an architecture that integrates IMS with existing service environments. They are tested and designed to meet carrier grade quality standards.

The architecture is built to reduce integration costs while leveraging an IBM framework for continuity of Service Delivery Platform. Predefined roadmaps are customized to client requirements for smooth transitions to IP-based infrastructures.

The move to IP is expected to help lower costs, boost revenue and pave the way for new business partnerships.

The company said that open computing standards allow integration of legacy and evolving components. That is expected to help providers to deliver better services, create and added value network and an easily-managed service roadmap.IMS offerings include integrated hardware and software components for a flexible, high-performance IMS-compliant service delivery platform based on Rational, Tivoli and WebSphere software. By operating the solutions on IBM's eServer BladeCenter T and CarrierGrade Linux platform, lifecycle costs are cut.

IBM is also unveiling six new Telecommunications Solutions Labs worldwide. The labs, in the United Kingdom, France, the United States and China, are home to several IMS proof of concept projects. They will showcase IBM's research capabilities, products, services and consulting.

The labs will allow clients to test technologies focused on the business processes, network transformation and applications necessary for delivering next generation services.