Bangkok--Feb 24--Siemens
"Creating Leadership - Innovation, Progression, Reliability" was the heading under which the mobile arm of Siemens - Siemens mobile for short -, at the 3GSM World Congress 2004, presented innovative and high-availability mobile solutions that are already prepared for use in next generation networks. In addition to its entire range of services, Siemens also showed new trends in mobile communications in areas such as push to talk over cellular, fixed mobile convergence, media delivery, convergent online charging, base stations, and wireless modules.
IP-Multimedia Subsystem and push to talk over cellular: an ingenious combinationSiemens mobile presented the walkie-talkie function of mobile phones (push to talk over cellular, PoC) on the basis of IMS (IP-Multimedia Subsystem) in the GPRS network. IMS is the new standardized multimedia switching technology for packet-oriented networks and various access technologies, such as UMTS, EDGE, GPRS, and W-LAN. Mobile providers can thus currently offer a whole host of voice, multimedia, and data services on the basis of IP (Internet Protocol), SIP (Session Initiation Protocol), and 3GPP (3rd Generation Partnership Project) Release 5. The advantage for the user is that data and voice can be transmitted simultaneously in any given combination. For instance, during a mobile phone call, the user can simultaneously start a game from the mobile phone and discuss it with the person they are on the phone with.
Video mailbox: pure voice messages are 'out'
Additionally to video telephony and traffic cameras Siemens showed a new application: the video mailbox. On this answering machine of the future, messages can be left in the form of videos including the voice message.
MMS from the fixed network to the mobile network and back: fixed mobile convergence is already a reality With its m.traction FixedLine MMS, Siemens demonstrated how fixed and mobile networks are already converging. With this infrastructure solution for mobile networks, fixed network providers can offer their customers the option of sending MMS messages from fixed-line to fixed-line phone, but also to mobile devices. These customers can likewise receive MMS messages from the mobile network on their fixed-line telephone.
Accurate positioning: Assisted GPS for enterprise applications and personal orientation aids In Cannes, Siemens showed for the first time fleet management and tracking solutions based on Assisted GPS (A-GPS). With A-GPS, the locations of mobile phones in a mobile network can be determined with much greater precision than with previous cell ID-based systems, which have been used as orientational aids until now. This enables the network provider to offer a full range of new location-based services for private and business customers.
Comprehensive media delivery solution
At the 3GSM World Congress 2004, Siemens presented to a broad public for the first time its m.traction Media FrameWork, a comprehensive solution for offering audio and video services in mobile networks. Among other things, the Media FrameWork provides services for streaming and download. Digital rights management (DRM) is an essential component of this, not only preventing unauthorized copying of digital contents, but, through its Superdistribution feature, also allowing controlled mass distribution of premium content, such as music files. In addition, m.traction Media FrameWork can be used to administer the contents of the mobile services to create flexible charging models. The transcoding function ensures that the various file types can be read by the different types of mobile devices. For example, video files are converted to image files if they land on a device that is not video-capable.
Convergent online charging - the Siemens solution for flexible and secure charging of all kinds of services At the 3GSM World Congress 2004, Siemens demonstrated its charging solution charge@once for a variety of new applications, including push to talk over cellular, MMS for fixed and mobile networks, and various streaming and download services. Charge@once can be used for billing not only conventional telecommunications services, but also a new services based on IP (Internet Protocol) and SIP (Session Initiation Protocol). Billing can be based on various criteria, such as content, time, volume, or even user-specific criteria. The charging solution from Siemens also enables the operator to check credit limits both for prepaid and postpaid customers in real time. For the first time, new rates and product packages, as well as bonus programs, can be set up and billed simultaneously both for prepaid and postpaid customers.
New flexible high-performance carrier unit: FlexCU
In Cannes 2004, Siemens presented for the first time the new "FlexCU" (Flexible Carrier Unit), a module comprising two GSM/EDGE transceivers (transmission and reception units) that can be used flexibly. FlexCU gives network providers two options for making their mobile networks even more efficient, namely increasing capacity and range.
Increased capacity: FlexCU can handle twice as much voice traffic as a conventional GSM transceiver. Since it needs exactly as much space as a normal carrier unit, the capacity of the Siemens base stations is doubled to up to 24 transceivers per rack. In EDGE operation, a FlexCU can even handle up to six times as much data traffic as a standard GSM transceiver.
Increased range: alternatively, FlexCU can link its two transmission and reception units for a greater level of effective transmission and reception sensitivity. The increased range enables network providers to provide mobile services with fewer base stations.
New tracking module, smallest tri-band GSM/GPRS modules and many new M2M applications At the 3GSM World Congress, Siemens showed new wireless modules and a variety of machine-to-machine, consumer, and automotive applications. For instance, the XT55 is a triband combination module for tracking applications, whose printed circuit board integrates GSM/GPRS components and GPS receiver. It is suitable primarily for tracking tasks in applications such as fleet management, vehicle location, navigation, emergency calls, or location-based services. With the GSM/GPRS mobile modules MC55 und MC56, Siemens also showed two tri-band solutions for integration in mobile phones, PDA's, and other mobile devices. Aboard the exhibition ship Corsica Victoria, visitors were able to attend a live exhibit of new GSM/GPRS applications, such as gateways, telemedicine devices, and antitheft solutions for cars. At the fair stand, Siemens itself presented an alarm system based on the Java module TC45.
The Siemens Information and Communication Mobile Group (Siemens mobile) is one of the world's leading full-line suppliers in the field of mobile communication, offering mobile phones, cordless phones, wireless modules and mobile infrastructure, as well as all radio and switching modules, consulting services and systems integration. The mobile communication arm of Siemens AG markets products and services in more than 120 countries, generating sales of € 10 billion with a workforce of some 26,900 people in fiscal 2003 (September 30). Siemens mobile is the world market leader in prepaid solutions and digital cordless phones.
More: www.siemens-mobile.com/press
For more information, please contact:
Voraparn Eua-arporn, Tanaporn Charoenrath
Information and Communication Mobile Group
Siemens Limited
Tel. 02 715 4527, 02 715 5302
Fax 02 715 4954
Email:
[email protected],
[email protected] End.
-RK-