The future of communication is immersive, visual, and boundary-pushing. The old days of voice-only calls are giving way to integrated experiences where users fluidly collaborate and share data in real time. This paradigm shift is being powered by the emergence of 3GPP-defined IP Multimedia Subsystem Data Channel (IMS DC) for 4G/LTE and 5G networks. This modern technical feat will redefine our very conception of voice communications.
Where previous mobile networks were optimized for voice, IMS Data Channel capabilities, alongside voice, enable new and visually interactive communications. On this backbone, the IMS DC enables seamless sharing of documents, media, and unlimited possibilities of data interactions alongside mobile voice and video calls. The convergence of these technologies promises to revolutionize domains like business, education, healthcare, and e-commerce to name a few.
We stand today at the cusp of a new frontier in communication, one not confined to verbal cues alone. IMS DC lays the foundation for experiences wonderfully enriched by visuals, interactivity, and an uncompromising sense of presence. The innovative experiences this empowers will break boundaries and actualize ideas previously unfathomable.
The Technical Foundations of IMS DC
IMS Data Channel expands on the existing IMS core infrastructure to finally fulfill the provision of complete multimedia capabilities. The primary benefit of the IMS DC is the ability to support simultaneous delivery of voice, video, and data over the same mobile telephony connection with guaranteed delivery of service. This allows real-time interactive sessions and activities like web browsing or accessing apps while on a mobile voice call. Native phone dialers on mobile handsets are being updated with real-time interactive data capabilities alongside basic voice calling.
The all-IP nature of IMS also enables more straightforward integration with digital web-based applications. The combined effects of these critical capabilities are that mobile operators can now offer substantially richer services over IMS data channels that take advantage of LTE and 5G network speeds and performance:
- Multimedia messaging – Seamless sharing of multimedia files during calls
- Augmented reality – Immersive visual overlays to enhance call interactivity
- Language translation – Real-time voice translation during calls with foreign languages
- Interactive eCommerce – Interactive product displays, screen sharing, and payments
Several Radisys Engage Digital Applications like Engage Live Call Translator, Engage Video Assistant, and Engage VideoChime are already available to provide extra functionality alongside standard voice calls.
The Value of IMS DC
The value of IMS DC to the Communications Service Provider (CSP) in today’s telephony service landscape is multifaceted. Firstly, CSP telephony service will extend beyond traditional voice-only calls and fulfill the promise of interactive and immersive communications. Furthermore, CSPs can offer communication service bundles beyond standard 4G/LTE and 5G mobile broadband subscriptions. These can be targeted at new verticals, such as combining mobile connectivity with an IMS identity, providing a globally routable endpoint identifier (MSISDN), and IMS data channel connectivity. This evolution in telephony leads to longer calls and more frequent use of the telephony service, enhancing revenue.
For consumers, these advancements bring significant benefits. CSPs can enhance high-quality voice calls with interactive and sharing capabilities, making traditional phone calls more engaging and practical. Consumers are no longer required to pre-install specific applications from brands, as the call screen automatically loads the necessary content. Moreover, this service can be deployed globally as an interoperable service, but it also has the flexibility to be launched with operator-specific services or in specific markets.
Enterprises also stand to gain considerably from these developments. Businesses typically receive their voice services through a relationship with an operator. To stay relevant, CSPs offering the possibility of IMS DC services alongside voice calls is advantageous for both businesses and consumers. It presents an easy option for enterprises and various verticals to enable remote control of machines and provide remote support with voice and data, ensuring quality of service. Customer and sales support becomes more effective; agents can offer better product advice by sharing web content or Augmented Reality (AR) data during a call, reducing the need for callbacks. Moreover, purchase acceptance can be integrated into the call, potentially increasing sales success rates.
Future Outlook
As 5G network deployments continue to increase globally, IMS data channels will gain wider availability and potentially enable more innovative communication applications and services.
- Programmable Network APIs: IMS data channels still have limited access today, but this will change drastically as 5G devices and Telco APIs see rapid adoption over the next few years. The upgrades that 5G provides to speed, latency, and connection density will significantly expand the reach of IMS capabilities.
- Innovative Apps & Services: The combination of programmable 5G and IMS data channels creates a fertile environment for developing innovative apps and services. Possible use cases include augmented reality communications, in-call video analytics, online transactions, authorizing insurance claims, e-commerce services, and various other industry verticals. As developers tap into the potential of converged communications and programmable networks, we can see the emergence of innovative apps across mobile health, connected vehicles, industrial automation, and other industries.
- Immersive Extended Reality: One especially intriguing possibility is the ability to deliver highly immersive and interactive extended reality (XR) cloud applications to mobile devices. The high bandwidth, ultra-low latency, and edge compute resources of 5G networks can support use cases like multi-player mobile VR gaming and augmented reality calls.
The innovation potential is vast with the convergence of Programmable Networks, AI, Programmable Communications, and IMS DC. It’s paving the way for mobile operators and application developers to reshape the landscape of connectivity and communications fundamentally. Early glimpses of this future are already being demonstrated today and point to the disruptive innovations on the horizon as technology matures.
Al Balasco
Al Balasco is the Head of Media, Core and Applications Business. Prior to his current role, he was the Sr. Director of Product Management for the Media Server business. Before joining Radisys in October 2010, Al was the Director of Product Management in Avaya Inc.’s Unified Communications business unit where he was responsible for the delivery of a variety of collaboration solutions and partnerships. Prior to Avaya, Mr. Balasco was the Vice President of Product Management atSpecteland was instrumental in defining the company’s VOIP conferencing and collaboration strategy. He also served as Director of Marketing forSonexisInc. and Director of Product Management atBrooktroutSoftware. Mr. Balasco has over 25 years of product management, business development and marketing experience in the telecommunications industry and has an MBA from Northeastern University in Boston.
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