MultiService Forum Announces GMI 2006 Goals

Yesterday, the MultiService Forum (MSF) held a press conference to outline the test frameworks for GMI 2006, its bi-annual global test event to be held in October 2006. Hosted by five of the world’s largest carriers (BT, KT, NTT, Verizon, and Vodafone as well as a state-of-the-art test facility at the University of New Hampshire) the event will comprise a large-scale, real network trial of the MSF IMS-compatible (IP Multimedia System) Release 3 architecture.

The GMI 2006 event is designed to bring together dozens of carriers and vendors to test the interoperability of IMS-based infrastructure components in a real-world setting. According to the MSF, GMI 2006 will provide a test-bed for the full spectrum of hardware, processes and services needed to assemble an effective next-generation delivery platform.

The MSF hopes to demonstrate multi-vendor interoperability geared towards achieving Fixed Mobile Convergence supporting IMS.

In summary, the goals of GMI 2006 are as follows:

• To move IMS convergence from theoretical to practical;
• To address key interoperability issues before network implementation;
• Provide an industry framework for service interoperability; and
• Provide a global framework that sets the stage for worldwide adoption of IMS architectures.

For more information, interested parties can check out the MultiService Forum site.