The Unlicensed Mobile Access group is shuttering its doors after getting its specifications included in the Third Generation Partnership Project’s Release 6.
“It has always been the intent of the UMA participating companies to transition our efforts into a formal, global standards organization,” wrote Kineto Wireless in a statement. The company was the driving force behind the UMA organization. “With the adoption of UMA into the 3GPP (TS43.318), the effort started by 14 wireless operators and vendors will carry on in a global specification for cellular/Wi-Fi convergence, making it a true standard for convergence.”
Kineto said UMA member companies will wrap up their remaining activities over the next several months and then work within the 3GPP on future UMA technology.
Alcatel Corp., AT&T Wireless Services Inc., BT plc, Cingular Wireless L.L.C., L.M. Ericsson, Motorola Inc., Nokia Corp., Nortel Networks Ltd., MmO2, Rogers Wireless Inc., Siemens AG, Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications L.P. and T-Mobile USA Inc. were members of the UMA organization. Last year, the group released specifications for roaming and hand-offs between cellular and Wi-Fi networks.
Under the UMA approach, a dual-mode handset roaming into an unlicensed wireless network like Wi-Fi will first contact a UMA Network Controller over the broadband IP access network to be authenticated and authorized. If approved, the device can then access the user’s GSM voice and GPRS data services through the unlicensed wireless network. The technology promises seamless roaming and handover between the networks.
Kineto and the UMA are not the only ones working on roaming between wide area wireless networks and other technologies. Azaire Networks, NetMotion Wireless, Lucent Technologies Inc., Calypso Wireless Inc., Green Packet Inc. and others are offering similar technologies. Indeed, BridgePort Networks is promoting its own association, the MobileIGNITE alliance, to create a standard for roaming between GSM and Wi-Fi networks. Members of the association include IBM Corp., International Mobile Communications Inc., Pctel and VeriSign.
