Cicero Networks, a leading provider of rich communications solutions for fixed mobile convergence and Symbian Limited, the market-leader in open operating systems for mobile phones, today announced a proof-of-concept for voice mobility across multiple networks on FreeWay—Symbian’s IP communications architecture on Symbian OS™.

Cicero, an active member of the Symbian Partner Network, and Symbian have collaborated to enable Voice Call Continuity (VCC) using the FreeWay communications architecture and CiceroVCC engine. The solution provides seamless in-call handover to enable roaming between circuit switched networks and all-IP based IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) networks including Long Term Evolution (LTE) and WiMAX.

As users move through mobile networks today, calls move seamlessly between cells and the user is unaware that this is happening. As all-IP networks are deployed in the future, mobile phones will need to move seamlessly not only between cells but also between network technologies, and VCC is the technology that will allow them to do this. With VCC, users will remain unaware of network switching during phone calls allowing operators to deploy all-IP networks in a staged manner, by having calls switch seamlessly between all-IP networks and traditional circuit switched (CS) networks.

“As mobile service providers deploy next generation IP-based voice networks, being able to support the old and new is critical”, said Jonathan Webb, Principal Product Manager, Symbian. “Our collaboration with Cicero demonstrates FreeWay’s flexibility in enabling voice mobility across multiple network technologies. This is an important step in future network service delivery development.”

"The combination of Symbian FreeWay and CiceroVCC provides handset manufacturers with an easy route to making Symbian mobile phones VCC compliant.” said Ross Brennan, CEO Cicero Networks. “Cicero recognises that native voice bearer mobility is a critical requirement for future service delivery”.

Designed to enhance the FreeWay communications architecture, this proof-of-concept highlights both the flexibility and performance capability of Symbian FreeWay for bearer mobility services. 

Voice Call Continuity on Symbian FreeWay will be demonstrated at the Symbian stand (#32) at the Smartphone Show in Earls Court, London on 21-22 October, 2008.
http://www.smartphoneshow.com/

NOTES TO EDITORS
About FreeWay
FreeWay is the new and unrivalled IP networking architecture in Symbian OS, providing broadband speeds in your pocket. FreeWay guarantees users smooth switching between connection types and networks so that they can remain mobile at all times. A key feature of FreeWay is its compatibility with existing applications such as web browsers, allowing these to take advantage of the benefits of FreeWay without any additional development. On mobile broadband networks, FreeWay delivers the capability for super fast download speeds, high quality audio/video streaming and crystal-clear VoIP calls. FreeWay supplies high bandwidth that is suitable for Super3G/LTE, WiMax and beyond - ensuring performance high enough to allow users to download an MP3 file in seconds.

About Symbian Limited
Symbian is a software licensing company that develops and licenses Symbian OS™, the market-leading open operating system for mobile phones. Symbian licenses Symbian OS to the world's leading handset manufacturers and has built close co-operative business relationships with leading companies across the mobile industry. During Q2 2008, 19.6 million Symbian mobile phones were sold worldwide to over 250 major network operators, bringing the total number of units shipped up to 30 June 2008 to 226 million. Symbian has its headquarters in London, with offices in Cambridge, United Kingdom, China, India, Japan, Korea and United States. For more information, please visit www.symbian.com

For further information, please contact:
Cicero Networks
Gina Costigan
Tel: +353 1 6636510
Email: [email protected]

Symbian Limited
Karen Hamblen
Tel: +44 77 6699 0229
Email: [email protected]