IMS core system for the latter's migration to a cconverged IP network. Ericsson also announced the opening of its LTE technology portfolio for licensing to other vendors.

Ericsson provides converged IP solution to O2 in Germany

June 22, 2009 -- Ericsson has been selected to provide Telefónica O2 Germany with an IMS core system with an IMS-based VoIP application server. These two contracts include hardware deployment and software systems integration services.

This represents a major step forward for O2 in Germany, as it migrates its existing fixed and mobile systems into a converged IP-based Next-generation network (NGN).

Ericsson will also integrate in Germany O2's VoIP application server  using IMS, making services such as IP Centrex, business trunking or presence functionality available to all fixed and mobile users. Andrea Folgueiras CTO Telefónica O2 Germany, says: "With IMS, we can advance the conversion of our current systems into more cost-effective and higher performance multimedia networks that can make optimal use of ever-increasing bandwidths. We based our decision to have Ericsson as a partner for IMS on the good experience from our joint projects in Spain and other countries."

Carsten Ahrens, President of Ericsson Germany, says: "We are pleased to strengthen our partnership with Telefónica O2 Germany by supplying and integrating the centerpiece of their IP network transformation. IMS will drive the evolution and convergence of their telephony service and provide the foundation for delivery of their other real-time multimedia applications."

IMS offers the level of intelligence required in next-generation networks to offer all users broadband multimedia services at any location, independent of the access network they are connected to, using a wide variety of different devices. Introduction of IMS and use of a common platform also means reduced costs for network providers for new applications and network operations as a whole.

Globally, Ericsson delivers more than 1,300 consulting and systems integration projects to operators every year, in multi-vendor and multi-technology environments. Ericsson's strategy, technology, operational, competence consulting and systems integration expertise covers IP-core networks, IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS), multimedia services, service networks, telecom management and satellite communications.

About Telefónica O2 Germany

Telefónica O2 Germany GmbH & Co. OHG belongs to Telefónica Europe and is part of the Spanish telecommunication group Telefónica S.A. The Company offers its German private and business customers postpaid and prepaid mobile telecom products as well as innovative mobile data services based on the GPRS and UMTS technologies. In addition, the integrated communications provider also offers DSL fixed network telephony and high-speed internet. Telefónica Europe has more than 46 million mobile and fixed network customers in Great Britain, Ireland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Germany.

Ericsson confirms first LTE license agreements

June 23, 2009 -- Ericsson, a leading pioneer of LTE technology, confirms it has signed license agreements for LTE essential patents. Ericsson is a strong advocate for reasonable aggregated royalties and holds one of the industry's strongest LTE patent portfolio. Ericsson is now taking the lead in establishing an industry practice to promote healthy market growth. This builds on Ericsson's present global licensing program for GSM/WCDMA, now composed of more than 80 agreements and generating significant revenue.

Building on extensive experience in GSM and WCDMA, Ericsson has been driving the development of next-generation mobile technology - 4G/LTE - ever since its OFDM research in the early 1990s. Already today, at the dawn of the technology, Ericsson possesses a substantial number of standard essential patents that are key to developing 4G/LTE products.

Championing industry practice on FRAND (Fair, Reasonable and Non-Discriminatory) licensing, Ericsson makes its technology available to others. Consequently, licensing arrangements will be made according to Ericsson's proportional share of the standard IPR that relates to the relevant product category. Ericsson likewise honors the same industry practice by ensuring a maximum cumulative rate on LTE technology not exceeding a single-digit rate. This is achieved through bilateral negotiations undertaken in good-faith.

Kasim Alfalahi, Vice President and Head of IPR Licensing and Patent Portfolio at Ericsson says:  "This is an important milestone for us to demonstrate our LTE leadership. We aim to strike a balance between providing value for our customers and earning a fair return on our significant R&D investments when other parties have the opportunity to benefit from them."
 

About Ericsson

Ericsson is a world leading provider of technology and services to telecom operators. Ericsson is a leader in 2G, 3G and 4G mobile technologies, and provides support for networks with over 1 billion subscribers and has a leading position in managed services. The company's portfolio comprises of mobile and fixed network infrastructure, telecom services, software, broadband and multimedia solutions for operators, enterprises and the media industry. The Sony Ericsson and ST-Ericsson joint ventures provide consumers with feature-rich personal mobile devices. 

Information Source:    Ericsson