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May 01, 2007
IMS and Public Safety
One of my deep-background types (The "Don't quote me, but this is what I think") suggested that IMS might find its way into public safety applications.
IMS, for instance, should/will/does handle roaming between different networks, be they wired or wireless or multi-wireless; such as with dual-mode cellular/Wi-Fi phones and forthcoming cellular/WiMAX phones.
Public safety people like to run their own networks for security and cost reasons. For example, the National Capital Region (i.e. DC and the surrounding counties) is implementing a 700 MHz wireless broadband network using EVDO Rev A with some tweaks.
If a police officer is in "hot pursuit" of a suspect up the BW parkway and runs out of 700 MHz coverage, you want/need the capability to fall back/onto an existing 3G network, say Sprint's EVDO Rev A network...THEREFORE, you need something to manage the roaming/switch between the networks.
Throw in different permutations such as WiMAX, muni Wi-Fi networks, cellular and you see how it gets to be a little tricky switching calls around unless you have an IMS component or components overseeing everything.
At least, that's the theory.
My source thought that this might be of interest to carriers, but then again carriers prefer to build and own the networks themselves rather than "play well" with someone else's (public safety) network.
Posted by dmohney at May 1, 2007 01:08 PM