The IP Multimedia Subsystem, known to the public as IMS, realises the vision of mobile internet and contemporary VoIP based Fixed-Mobile-Convergence telephony service. Much like the internet, IMS offers a wide range of media-rich applications. The key benefits include well managed Quality of Service (QoS), ease of integrating new end-to-end data services and dedicated billing mechanisms.

IMS proves to be best for integration of packet-switched data services into hand-held phones, which is a key feature available from 3GPP Release 5 onwards. Comneon has set out to offer a future-proof IMS Device Framework for the client side, which is remarkably ramping up in mass volumes.

IMS is neither an application nor a service in itself, but it is a Device Framework that significantly eases setting up new applications on the terminal which all make use of the same IMS core and enabling protocol functions.

Comneon’s Early Role in IMS Clients
Ever since the acquisition of the Siemens IMS Device Framework in 2004, Comneon has steadily been enhancing its IMS Device Framework offering to ensure that it is fully compliant with 3GPP Release 6. Not so surprisingly, Comneon has maintained a strong track record in IMS for mobile terminals. The Comneon IMS Device Framework – derived as a result of significant participation in the 3GPP and OMA standards process – is now the leading “truly layered IMS architecture” for mobile phones.

IMS seamlessly combines different elements and functionalities. For flexible, cost-efficient and future-proof deployments as well as promising revenue opportunities,
Comneon's IMS Device Framework is scaled to support a wide range of possible applications including, but not limited to:

• Video and Image Sharing (GSMA)
• Voice-over-IP (VoIP)
• OMA Instant Messaging including MSRP and SMS over IP
• OMA Presence, Group and List Management and Push-to-Talk (PoC)
• Next Generation Network services, such as Voice Call Continuity (VCC), I-WLAN and IMS emergency call
• Video Telephony and Video Streaming

Advantages
Being independent of the transport bearer, such as 2G, 3G, WLAN or xDSL, IMS simplifies the creation of Fixed-Mobile-Convergence services. The Voice Call Continuity feature offers a seamless handover and excellent user experience.

The robust aspect of Comneon’s IMS Device Framework is that it significantly reduces the additional cost incurred on the integration of more than one application into the system. Furthermore, reduced time-to-market mitigates the overall business risk.
• The Comneon IMS Device Framework has exhibited superior quality IOT performance against the IMS network equipment, when tested at all major OMA / GSMA test events till date.
• Comneon’s IMS solution is designed in such a way that it meets all prerequisites specified by leading operators as well as OMTP requirements.
• The Comneon IMS Device Framework exhibits complete functionality on a variety of platforms. It has already been ported to Windows Mobile, Linux, BREW and several native operating system implementations.
• Comneon’s IMS solution is absolutely scaleable, allowing all sorts of customized IMS deployments on the  handset side. It offers built-in synergies by reusing the underlying protocols such as SIP and RTR/RTCP.
• Comneon’s IMS Device Framework can easily be adapted to all customer needs. It is delivered with a comprehensive toolkit and a test client running on a PC along with a test server.
• The development roadmap of the Comneon IMS Device Framework incorporates all requirements for the future IMS systems, including the integration of IMS into Next Generation Networks enabling Fixed Mobile Convergence and JSR 281 compliance required by the Java community.

Customer Benefits
• The IMS Device Framework deals with all standardized handset/network components. Hence,
applications can be deployed almost instantaneously. Newly created services are independent of lengthy standardisation processes.
• Integration and bundling of new applications coupled with much simpler custom-tailoring serves as a major source of attraction to the new customers and obviates unnecessary complexity.
• The inherent transparency of services supports new billing schemes. Operators can offer premium applications instead of providing a commodity, i.e. data.
• Quality of service (QoS) can be managed based on the need of an application and the business model agreed upon.

With Comneon's IMS Device Framework now shipping, handset manufacturers can improve their time-to-market for devices supporting IP multimedia communications in the lead up to 3GPP Release 6 network deployments. However, the Comneon IMS solution is also compatible with 3GPP Release 5 and IETF signaling. It complements GPRS and 3G device platforms by enabling multimedia
applications to use the packet data capabilities of the networks.