Standardization of a new multimedia telephony service, that will replace circuit-switched telephony, is currently being finalized in the standardization body 3GPP, based on specifications from ETSI/TISPAN. The objective is to build a fixed and mobile converged IMS VoIP service with multimedia support. Multimedia telephony can combine the quality, interoperability, reliability, efficiency, regulatory, and supplementary services of traditional telephony with rich, flexible media capabilities from Internet community-based services.

The interest in mobile VoIP is increasing among operators, as it offers opportunities for higher ARPU through richer community communication, lower OPEX by offering all mobile services from one common packet-switched platform, fixed-mobile converged services, etc.

Important questions that will be covered in this session include the following:

• Can we replace existing fixed and mobile circuit-switched voice with an enhanced mass-market multimedia telephony service?
• Are there differences to the existing IMS standardization?
• How will operators migrate to this service, and which use cases are foreseen?

Eric Ericsson Head of Multi Media Telephony, Business Unit Network Ericsson

Mr. Ericsson is responsible for Ericsson's IP telephony solutions both for fixed and mobile broadband. He has been part of the team, from Ericsson, initiating the 3GPP work item for IMS multimedia telephony. Mr. Ericsson has more than 20 years of experience from the IT and communications industry. He joined the Ericsson group in 1998. During this time Mr. Ericsson has been holding a number of executive management positions, including head of the Ericsson IP PBX product management.

Jorma Heinonen Director, Business Development Movial Corporation

Mr. Heinonen is a board member of Digital Route, a Swedish company providing mediation systems to telecom network and service providers worldwide, and a board member of Movial, a Finnish company developing IP communication software for network equipment manufacturers, device manufacturers, and operators worldwide. He has also served in executive positions at Netseal, Jertec, and Digital and was a key member of the executive team of Comptel Corporation, taking the company public in 1999. Mr. Heinonen is an active and established ICT professional with more than 25 years of industry experience.

Kim Liu Vice President, Network Solutions Ericcson

Mr. Liu is actively involved in marketing full-service network solutions to Chinese operators. He has more than 20 years of experience in the telecommunications industry and joined Ericsson Group in 1992. Mr. Liu has a master's degree in electrical engineering from the Eindhoven University of Technology in the Netherlands.

Alberto Ciarniello Vice President, Technology Innovation, Business Innovation, and Technical Solutions Telecom Italia

Mr. Ciarniello is involved in the road mapping, business evaluation, and development of new technologies. Previously he was with Telecom Italia Mobile in charge of planning innovative technologies, evaluating network plans for international development initiatives, and supervising network plans of affiliate companies. Mr. Ciarniello has been chairman of the European Radio Messaging System MoU and has a mobile technology and network planning background.