IMS Benefits

As you will already notice, I have given an introduction to IMS in a previous blog post.
This is to stress on the business benefits. We all know technology, if it does not
facilitate any kind of benefits will not be very useful.

So IMS basically means the integration of internet technologies and cellular technologies.
But we all know , that even today it is integrated! Many of us access internet services through
the mobile. Surfing webpages, chatting, checking mail... the list of appealing services offered in the internet goes on. What the mobile offers is ubiquitous access.

Then WHY do we need IMS ? If ubiquitous access to internet services are already there ?

There are three main reasons for IMS existence.

1 - Quality of service

IMS offers a predictable , enjoyable experience. The skype call we take today undergo so many
ups and downs in quality. But using IMS, this quality will be predictable and consistent.

2 – Specific charging mechanisms

Currently the operators charge based on the number of bytes transferred, it is not recognized by the operator what service the user is using. With IMS, the operator will be able to recognize whether the user is having a video call , instant message etc.
The operator will be able to charge more specifically.
Eg : In a video call , the operator might charge based on the duration.
In an instant message exhange, the operator could charge based on the number of messages.

3 - Integration of services

IMS offers standardized interfaces and functionalities. This offers a high level of flexibility and operators don’t have to be locked into one vendor. For example, if the operator already has voice message recording solution and a third party comes up with a text to speech capability, the operator would be able to integrate them and offer a new service for the blind users.

This flexibility allows an operator to offer better services.The business benefits are also immense due to these three main reasons.

- The users will be able to enjoy more services because the operator is not locked
into one vendor.
-Users can enjoy better quality in services.
-As IMS , has a layered architecture, as the market trends change, it will be able to change irrespective of the lower layers.

I hope this post makes it clear as to why IMS is still important even though
internet services are already available through the cellular world.