MaCS consortium interconnects Next Generation Networks

The MaCS consortium demonstrates for the first time a pan-European multimedia call based on interconnected Next Generation Network Platforms. This call is a significant industry milestone in the maturity of the NGN and IMS technology for fixed networks.
 
The consortium works intensively on the so-called "Next Generation Networks" (NGN), using the standardized IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) architecture as defined by 3GPP for mobile networks and being adapted by ETSI TISPAN to also cover fixed networks. This provides the launching pad for the MaCS project team to specify and develop the next generation fixed telephony service that will be multimedia (voice, image and/or text) and enriched with innovative services such as videotelephony, personal environment, presence-information, reachability-settings, and address-book functions, with a consequently high quality, simplicity and unmatched user experience. In the next step of the MaCS project, the development of the already interconnected NGN platforms will be continued with the emphasis on the end-to-end integration and interoperability testing of the developed service.
 
The cooperation between the involved companies takes place in the framework of CELTIC MaCS Project. CELTIC is a 5 years European EUREKA research program, which on a private basis initiates and runs research projects in the field of telecommunications.
 
MaCS involved partners
France Télécom R&D, France/ Nokia, Finland & France
Deutsche Telekom, Germany/ IPtel, Germany
Telefónica I+D, Spain/ Ericsson Spain
Philips, France/ Sagem, France
Universidad de Valladolid, Spain
 
About MaCS project
The goal of the Multimedia Communication Service (MaCS) project is to specify, develop and test the new generation of broadband telephony services for the residential market. By integrating different IMS platforms (France Telecom & Nokia in France, Deutsche Telekom & IPtel in Germany, Telefónica & Ericsson in Spain), terminals (both PC-based Operator soft phones and multimedia terminals from Sagem & Philips) and services enablers (Network Address Book server, Presence server, .), MaCS intends to assess the maturity of both the IMS technology and the European Industry to answer the real needs of residential customers asking for more simplicity and closer emotional interactivity in their interpersonal communications.
 
Glossary
MaCS: Multimedia Communication Services Project
CELTIC: Cooperation for a sustained European Leadership in Telecommunications. (http://www.celtic-initiative.org)
EUREKA : Pan-European Network for market oriented Industry research and development (http://www.eureka.be)
ETSI: European Telecommunications Standards Institute (http://www.etsi.org)
IMS: IMS is a promising technology developed by ETSI both for mobile and fixed IP networks. IMS provides multi-access multi-service platforms enabling telecom operators to develop true convergent services, to integrate multimedia services with fixed and mobile telephony, to regain control on IP service usage, as well as to improve opex and capex with common components for fixed and mobile.
3GPP: 3rd Generation Partnership Project is a collaboration agreement to produce Technical Specifications and Reports for 3rd Generation Mobile Systems. (http://www.3gpp.org)
TISPAN : The Telecoms & Internet converged Services & Protocols for Advanced Networks committee is the ETSI core competence center for fixed networks and migration from current to future networks (http://portal.etsi.org/tispan)
 
Multimedia Communication Service (MaCS)
CELTIC Initiative Projects
http://projects.celtic-initiative.org/MaCS