SAN DIEGO, Calif. – An SMS message is the same to a messaging vendor regardless of the protocol, but as 4G networks continue to come online, there will be new issues of support and interoperability that carriers will have to address. Two vendors at CTIA, Sybase 365, the mobile messaging and commerce subsidiary of Sybase Inc. (NYSE: SY), and wireless messaging and device management vendor Interop Technologies are demonstrating that they are ready to take this old standard and migrate it to any next-generation network.
Interop announced today it has already enabled 4G messaging for 30 of its network operator customers. These operators, which use Interop’s hosted messaging service, are now launching 4G messaging services for IP-enabled devices. Interop supports standards for IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) and Session Initiation Protocol (SIP), as well as legacy handsets and networks.
According to the company, adding the 4G functionality enhancement didn’t require any changes in configuration or billing and didn’t call for any carrier intervention. The company said that support for additional IP protocols will be added in the coming months, and it plans to soon deploy Voice over LTE via Generic Access (VoLGA), instant messaging and rich communications suite implementations.
Sybase 365 responded today by announcing a new Advanced IP Messaging Server (AIMS) to account for the changing needs of telecom operators as 4G networks come online. The fully hosted or premise solution will support interoperability between IMS protocols and operators’ legacy messaging businesses.
By freeing operators from the technology challenges of implementation, Sybase 365 hopes to let them focus on achieving a return on investment and improved customer service, according to president Marty Beard. Sybase 365 currently delivers more than one billion messages per day for 800 operators and 3.4 billion global subscribers, but as 4G networks come online, that number could grow across a number of new devices outside of just mobile phones.
The AIMS also allows for core personalization, presence and charging services, including the ability to deliver and monetize next-generation messaging, social networking and user-generated content. On the enterprise side, Sybase 365 is offering a platform for third party developers to build around operator services. The Sybase 365 integrated mCommerce suite also includes deployment support for digital mobile wallet services, mobile airtime top-up and mobile remittance apps.