The IMS Report Market Forecast 2009-2014

• Publication date: May 2009

Report Details Virtually every major telecom industry player must now be dealing with IMS. News of planned IMS-compatible products and services are arriving with regularity. Are you one of those players? If you are testing IMS, then you must understand what strategies to adopt to implement and profit from this technology now to safeguard medium to long term growth in subscribers and usage. Despite investment const...

Report Details



Virtually every major telecom industry player must now be dealing with IMS. News of planned IMS-compatible products and services are arriving with regularity. Are you one of those players? If you are testing IMS, then you must understand what strategies to adopt to implement and profit from this technology now to safeguard medium to long term growth in subscribers and usage.

Despite investment constraints forced upon them by the 2008-2009 global economic slowdown, operators are still looking beyond 3G in the quest to sustain their growth in the medium to long term and reduce competitive threats. Although some projects have been postponed due to the adverse financial climate, a great number of planned deployments are still being pursued by operators, as IMS represents a key platform for future service provisioning and a long term investment beyond 2012, future-proofing operators from risk in increased service sophistication and capacity requirements.

IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) is an open and standardised architecture for mobile and fixed services. But is this really true - is the standard truly open to all? It is used by operators to offer network-controlled multimedia services by combining voice and data in a single packet switched network. The author believes that IMS is one of the key drivers of convergence, but with network-client framework suppliers not reaching agreement then issues will still linger. IMS is gaining increased momentum and will have a fundamental impact on your operation. Virtually all major vendors have IMS strategies in place - competition in this area is ever strengthening.

This updated version of the IMS 2009 report provides a critical insight into the different aspects of IMS strategy adopted by various operators across the globe. The report also seeks to dispel the hype and confusion surrounding IMS. We aim to describe the technology itself, its readiness for deployment and its compatibility with existing infrastructure.

Operators in Western Europe are embracing IMS, despite ongoing economic pressures in the global market, due to the considerable measure of cost and revenue leakage control enabled by such platforms. The technology also holds huge potential to increase operator ARPU and reduce churn - will you and your organisation be successful proponents of IMS, as well as the future technology roadmap of LTE and 4G.



The brand new report answers key questions, such as:



• Where do the greatest opportunities lie for operators and vendors?

• How can both fixed and mobile operators benefit and profit from IMS?

• What new types of services and applications will IMS enable?

• How will demand for IMS equipment vary by region?

By reading this report you will get a detailed perspective on IMS: the technology itself, key players, issues, forecasts and critical success factors that will make IMS a reality.



This report will tell you:



• When fully-fledged IMS handsets will be available? - lack of IMS-capable handsets still an massive concern.

• What the total revenue potential from 3G and HSPA is with IMS? - Standards must be set on how to integrate IMS and non-IMS handsets

• How would the above questions apply when LTE, WiMax and UMB are added to the equation?

• What issues your company will need to start looking at in the short-term future?

• How using this technology can increase revenues and reduce customer churn? - an agreed standard must be developed to allow manufacture.

Key concerns such as these still exist. If IMS is to offer unique benefits then questions must be answered today.



The report aims to provide:



• An IMS framework for operators that will aid them in formulating IMS strategies, this framework will also allow operators to take an holistic view across their value chain, across departments and units service delivery and infrastructure plan to reduce long-term unit cost;

• Vendors in the IMS arena;

• Cost-benefit analysis for IMS;

• Forecasts covering how and when fixed and mobile operators will begin rolling out IMS-standard services that will generate revenue while making use of existing investments;

• Impact of IMS on the telecoms landscape;

• Key benefits of IMS to both operators and end-users; and

• Challenges and obstacles in implementing IMS.

IMS truly merges the internet with the cellular world to provide ubiquitous access to internet technologies and to provide consumers with appealing services. However if IMS features on your future technology plans, you need to get a handle on this subject now.

The report provides forecasts for revenue generation from these services and describes the key drivers to successful future of IMS services, applications and handsets. By buying this report, you will be ideally placed to profit from IMS development.

Companies Listed




3GPP2

3UK

Accenture

Acme Packet

Airvana

AIS(Thailand)

Alcatel Lucent

Apertio

Aricent

ArmenTel

AT&T

Audio Codes

BEA

Bejing Netcom

Belgacom

Bell Canada

Bell South

Blue Sclice

Bouygues Telecom

Brazil Telecom

Bridgeport Networks

Broadsoft

BT

Cable & Wireless

Camiant

Celtius

China Telecom (China)

China Unicom

Chunghwa Telecom

Cisco

Clarent

CNC

Colibria

Com Hem Commander

Comneon

Connect2 Media

Convedia

crio

CYTA

Digital Nanning

ECI Telecom

Ecrio

Eircom

Elion

Elisa(Finland)

EMOBILE

Ericsson

ETSI

Exit games

FarEasTone

France Telecom

Fujian Telecoms

Fujitsu

Genband

Globe (Philippines)

Google

GSMA

Hello Soft

Hitachi

Hot Telecom

Hotsip

HP

Huawei

IBM

Intel

IP Unity Glenayre

Iperia

ITU

Jersey Telecom

jNetX

Juniper Networks

KDDI

Kineto Wireless

Korea Telecom

KPN

KT

KTF

LG

LG Electronics

Longboard

Lucent

Manx Telecom

Mavenir

MegaFon(Russia)

Metaswitch

Microsoft

Mitsubishi

Mobicom Austria

Motorola

Movial

MSF

MSV

NEC

NetCentrex

Neuf Telecom

Neustar

Nexos

NMS

Nokia

Nokia Siemens Networks

Nortel

NTl

NTT DoCoMo

NWT3GPP

O2

O2, Ireland

Oi

OMA

OpenCloud

Optimus

Oracle

Orange

Panasonic

PCCN

PCCW

Philips

Phone Systems and Networks

Qualphone

Quanta Computers

RadiSys

Radvision Convedia

Redknee

Samsung

Sanyo

Saunalahti

SBC

Seven

SFR

Sharp

Siemens

Singtel (Singapore)

SK Telecom

Softbank Mobile

Sonia Technologies

Sonus Networks

Sony-Ericsson

Spectel

Sprint Nextel

SPT

Starcom

Swisscom

Sylantro Systems

Symbian

T-2 (Slovenia)

Tatara Systems

TDC

Tekelec

Telcel

Telcordia

Tele Greenland

Telecom Italia

Telefonica

Telekomunikacja Polska

Telemar

Telenor

TeliaSonera (Sweden/Finland)

Telkom

Telkomsel(Indonesia)

Terraplay

TerreStar Networks

Thomson

Thou Telecom

Tilgin

TIM, Italy

Time Warner Cable

TISPAN

TMN (Portugal)

T-Mobile

Toshiba

Turkcell

Tusmobil (Slovenia)

Ubicode

Ubiquity Software

Ulticom

UT Starcom

Verisign

Verizon (USA)

Verizon Wireless

Virgin Media

Vivatel(Bulgaria)

Vivo

Vodafone Germany

Vodafone Ireland

Vodafone Portugal

Vonage

Wanadoo

Warid Telecoms

Wataniya(Kuwait)

Wateen Telecoms

Xten Networks

Zain(Saudi Arabia)

ZTE

Telecommunication Services Industry in Europe

Table of Contents

Executive Summary

E1 Steadily IMS is gaining ground
E2 IMS is offering a variety of benefits and opportunities for early adopters
E3 Challenges and Issues with IMS
E4 Development of IMS Handsets
E5 IMS Business Model
E6 IMS' Impact on the Telecom Value Chain
E7 Conclusions and Key Findings

1 Introduction

1.1 IMS Defined
Figure 1: IMS a Layered Architecture
1.1.1 IMS: Envisaged by 3GPP
1.1.2 IMS is Access Agnostic
1.2 Business Case for IMS
1.2.1 Short and Long Term Business Objectives
1.2.1.1 Convergence
1.2.1.2 Need for Differentiation
1.2.1.3 Success of the Internet
1.2.1.4 IP Telephony
1.2.1.5 Telecom Market evolution
Figure 2: Telecom Market Evolution
1.2.1.6 Why IMS is Critical for the Operators' Growth Strategy?
Figure 3: IMS Business Case
1.3 Aim of the Report
1.3.1 Holistic Framework for formulating IMS strategies
Figure 4: IMS Framework
1.4 Report Structure
1.5 Report Scope
1.6 Methodology

2 Understanding IMS

2.1 Next Generation Networks (NGN)
2.2 Mobile IP
2.2.1 All IP Networks
2.2.2 Transition from Circuit to Packet Switched Networks
Figure 5: Transition from Circuit to Packet Data
2.2.2.1 Stage One: 2G (Circuit based)
2.2.2.2 Stage Two: 2.5G (CS augmented with PS enablers)
2.2.2.3 Stage three: 3G and beyond (mostly PS-based networks, some CS)
Figure 6: Stages in Transition from Circuit Switched to Packet Switched Networks (2009)
Figure 7: Present and Future Networks
2.2.2.4 IMS: An All IP Networks/Next Generation Network
Figure 8: Traditional GSM Networks (Stovepipe Approach)
Figure 9: Horizontal Layered Architecture in IMS
2.3 IMS Architecture
2.3.1 Core Elements of IMS network
Figure 10: IMS Architecture
2.3.2 Enhanced Service Delivery with IMS
2.3.3 Flexibility in IMS
2.3.3.1 Gateway or the Transport & Endpoint Layer
2.3.3.2 The Session Control Layer
2.3.3.3 The Application Server Layer
2.4 Media Gateways
2.4.1 Home Subscriber Services
2.4.2 Summary of IMS Network Architecture
Table 1: IMS Complete Service Delivery Proposition
2.5 IMS Handset Architecture
Figure 11: High Level IMS Client Architecture
2.6 Key Features of IMS Technology
Table 2: Features Offered by IMS (R5)
2.7 Protocols Used in IMS
2.7.1 Session Initiated Protocol (SIP)
Figure 12: SIP Components
2.7.1.1 SIP's Routing Decisions
2.7.1.2 Problems posed by SIP
2.7.1.2.1 QoS
2.7.1.2.2 Fraud/Privacy
2.7.2 Session Description Protocol
2.7.3 RTP (Real Time Protocol)
2.7.4 Diameter
2.7.5 H.248 Megaco
2.8 Fixed to Mobile Convergence (FMC)
2.8.1 Convergence Trends in the Telecoms Market
Chart 1: Broadband Customer Growth (2009-2015)
2.8.1.1 Fixed Network Operators and their Interest in IMS
2.8.2 What is FMC?
2.8.2.1 What FMC will offer?
2.8.2.2 Market Demands for FMC
Table 3: Key FMC Deployments So Far (2009)
2.8.2.3 Fixed Line Operators Interested in Wireless Solutions
2.8.2.4 IMS and Fixed-Network VoIP Service Providers
2.8.2.5 IMS and Cable Service Providers
2.9 Making IMS Foolproof
2.9.1 Interoperability
2.9.2 Interoperability of SIP and SS7 Signalling
2.9.3 Compatibility
2.9.4 QoS Issues
2.9.5 Service Assurance and Risk Management
2.9.6 Security
2.9.7 IPv4 to IPv6 Conversion
2.10 Fundamental Technology Threats to IMS
2.10.1 Business Issues
2.10.2 Interoperability with Legacy Networks
2.10.3 IMS Client Issues
2.10.3.1 Are there any alternatives to IMS Handsets?
2.10.4 Web 2.0 and IMS
2.10.5 IMS and SDP
2.10.5.1 Interplay Between SDP, IMS and Web 2.0
2.10.6 IMS must support non-SIP Applications
2.11 Standards and Regulations
2.11.1 3GPP: Establishing IMS Requirements and Architecture
2.11.1.1 How 3GPP Works
2.11.1.2 Release 99
2.11.1.3 Release 4
2.11.2.3 Release 5
2.11.1.4 Release 6
2.11.1.5 Release 7
2.11.1.5 Release 8
2.11.1.6 Availability of IMS Equipment based on 3GPP Releases
2.11.2 3GPP2: Working Closely with 3GPP on IMS Architecture
2 11.2.1 Collaboration between 3GPP and 3GPP2
2.11.3 TISPAN
2 11.4 The Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF)
2 11.5 Consortia, Coalitions and Associations
2.11.5.1 SIP Forum
2.11.5.2 SIP Centre
2.11.5.3 Fixed-to-Mobile Convergence Alliance (FMCA)
2.11.5.4 NGN IMS Forum
2.11.5.5 OMA
2.11.5.6 GSMA's RCS Initiative
Table 4: RCS Members
2.11.6 Cable Labs
2.11.6.1 PacketCable 1.0 and 1.5
2.11.6.2 PacketCable 2.0
2.12 Regulatory Issues
2.12.1 Regulation and Interconnection of Data Networks
2.12.2 Other Regulatory Issues

3. Identifying the IMS strategy, Desired Outcomes, Benefits and Challenges

3.1 IMS Strategy
Figure 13: Operator Strategies to Deploy IMS
3.1.1 Deciding the Right Strategy
3.1.1.1 Network Infrastructure
3.1.1.1.1 Legacy Systems
3.1.1.1.2 2G Networks
Figure 14: Migration Options for Network Operators
3.1.1.1.3 Need for Training
3.1.1.1.4 Customer Care
3.1.1.1.5 Fixed Network Operators
3.1.1.1.6 Cable Operators
3.1.1.2 Standards based Approach
3.1.1.3 Growth
3.1.1.4 Differentiation
3.1.1.5 Customer Requirements
3.1.1.6 Time to Market
3.1.1.7 Other Questions
Table 5: Critical Questions that must be considered by Operators
3.1.2 Responding to Internal and External Environmental Pressures
Table 6: Benchmarking Guidelines for IMS Proposition
Table 7: Forming a IMS Strategy
3.2 Benefits of IMS
3.2.1 Capability to Launch New Services Faster
3.2.2 Range of Applications can be launched
3.2.3 Ability to Offer Converged Services to Customers
3.2.4 Powerful User Devices
3.2.5 Open Service Creation
3.2.6 Enhanced End User Proposition
3.2.6.1 Integrated Rich Media
3.2.6.2 Single Public Identity
3.2.6.3 Personalised Communications
3.2.6.4 Roaming
3.2.6.5 Cost Effective Solutions
3.2.6.6 Enhancement over Internet offering
3.2.7 Summary of Key Benefits
3.3 Desired Outcomes
3.3.1 Identify which Customer Segments to Target
3.3.1.2 How Operators can Target the Business Segment
3.3.1.3 Needs of Business Customers
3.3.1.4 ARPU Growth from Small and Medium Sized Companies
3.3.2 Mass Market for IMS
Table 8: Practical Benefits of IMS to Customers
3.4 Challenges Facing Mobile Operators
3.4.1 Evolving to an all IP Network
3.4.2 Finding the Right Business Model
3.4.3 Status of standards
3.4.4 Equipment availability
3.4.5 Service maturity
3.4.6 Increasing Operator Competition
3.4.7 Availability of Handsets
3.4.8 Intervening Networks
3.5 Challenges to Fixed Line Operators
3.6 How Vendors are selling IMS
3.7 Summary

4. Approach to IMS Deployment

4.1 End-to-end Deployment
4.2 Phased out Deployment
4.2.1 What Constitutes Part Deployments?
4.2.2 Deploying a part of IMS Solution
4.2.3 Problems with Part Deployment
4.3 Single Vendor Approach
4.4 Multiple Vendor Approach
4.5 Hosted IMS Solutions
4.5.1 Service Delivery Platform Approach
4.6 Deploying other Core Technology Components as a step towards IMS
4.6.1 IP-based Softswitch
4.6.1.1 Benefits of Softswitch Technology
4.6.2 Using GAN as a stepping stone to FMC
4.7 Steps to IMS Deployment
4.7.1 Migration Strategies
4.8 How to Approach Convergence in Networks
4.8.1 IMS with LTE
4.8.1.1 What is LTE?
4.8.2 Unlicensed Mobile Access (UMA) or Generic Access Networks (GAN)
4.8.3 Packet Core FMC Solution
4.9 The Right Choice

5. Players in the IMS Market

5.1 Industry Structure
Figure 15: IMS Value Chain
5.2 Infrastructure Vendors
Figure 16: Components in IMS Architecture
Table 9: List of Tier 1 IMS Equipment Vendors
5.2.1 Ericsson
5.2.1.1 Ericsson's IMS Studio
5.2.1.2 Ericsson's take on IMS Devices
5.2.1.3 Ericsson's Key Contracts
Table 10: Ericsson's Key IMS Contracts
5.2.1.4 Ericsson's Expert Centres
5.2.2 Nokia Siemens Networks (NSN)
5.2.2.1 NSN's IMS contracts
Table 11: NSN's Commercial Reference for IMS
5.2.3 Huawei
5.2.4 Alcatel Lucent
5.2.5.2 Alcatel Lucent's IMS Customers
Table 12: Alcatel Lucent's IMS Deployments So Far (2009)
Table 13: Alcatel Lucent's Key IMS Contracts
5.2.5.3 Key Partners of Alcatel Lucent in IMS
5.2.5 Motorola
5.2.6 Nortel
Table 14: Nortel's Commercial Reference for IMS
5.2.7 ZTE
5.2.8 Tekelec
5.2.9 Radisys Convedia
5.2.10 Oracle
5.2.11 Aricent
5.2.11.1 Aricent's Handset Client
5.2.12 Nable Communications
5.2.12.1 IMS Clients
5.2.13 Blue Slice Communications
5.2.14 Celtius
5.2.15 Tatara Systems
5.2.15.1 Ericsson and Tatara
5.2.16 Intel
5.2.17 HP and Tekelec
5.2.18 Cisco
Table 15 : Cisco's Key IMS Clients
5.2.19 BroadSoft
5.2.20 Acme Packet
5.2.21 Thomson
5.2.22 Audio Codes
5.2.23 Genband
Table 16: List of Gateway Vendors
5.2.25 NEC
5.2.26 Camient
5.2.27 Radvision
Table 17: Radvision's IMS Suite
5.2.27.1 Radvision's Client
5.2.28 Starent Networks
5.2.29 Newport Network
5.2.30 Iperia
5.2.31 RedKnee
Table 18: Application Server Vendors
5.2.32 BEA Systems
5.2.33 ECI Telecom
5.2.34 Juniper Networks
5.2.35 Radcom
5.2.36 Sonus Networks
5.2.37 Comverse
5.2.38 Vendor Ranking
Table 19: Vendor Ranking in IMS Equipment Deployments and Shipments
5.2.39 Strategies for Vendors in the IMS market
5.2.40 How Vendors are selling IMS
5.3 System Integrators
Table 20: List of System Integrators
5.3.1 IBM
5.4 IMS Handset Client Vendors
Table 21: List of IMS Handset Client Vendors
5.4.1 Comneon
5.4.1.1 Comneon's IMS Clients
5.4.1.2 Comneon's Key customers
5.4.2 NMS communications
5.4.3 Nokia
5.4.4 Motorola Mobile Devices
5.4.5 Samsung
5.4.6 Ecrio
5.4.7 Quanta Computer
5.4.8 Hello Soft
5.4.9 Handset Manufacturers
5.5 IMS Application Developers
5.6 IMS Gaming Vendors
5.6.1 Connect2Media (C2M)
5.6.2 Nexos
5.6.3 Exit Games
5.7 Other Applications Developers
5.8 Summary
Table 22: Vendors offering IMS service solution

6. IMS Applications, Deployments and Development

6.1 Applications offered by IMS
Table 23: Applications Enabled by IMS
6.1.1 Push to Talk over Cellular (PoC)/(PTT)
Table 24: List of Operators offering IMS ready PTT
Table 25: List of Vendors offering IMS Compliant PTT Solutions
6.1.1.1 Variants of PoC
6.1.1.2 PoC Will Drive IMS rollouts
Chart 2: PoC Subscriber Growth (2009-2015)
6.1.2 Video Telephony
Chart 3: Mobile Video Telephony Revenues (2009-2015)
6.1.3 Multimedia Streaming
6.1.4 Mobile Instant Messaging (MIM)
Chart 4: MIM Revenue Growth (2009-2015)
6.1.5 Presence
6.1.5.1 IMS Presence Services for Interactive Games
6.1.6 IPTV
6.1.6.1 Stand Alone Solution
6.1.6.2 Deploying IMS core and IPTV as a value added service on top
6.1.6.3 Developments in IPTV arena
6.1.6.4 Market for IPTV
Chart 5: IPTV Subscriber Growth (2009-2015)
Chart 6: IPTV Revenues Growth (2009-2015)
6.1.7 VoIP
6.1.7.1 VoIP Market
Table 26: Dual Mode SIP/Wifi/UMA handsets
Chart 7: Enterprise VOIP traffic, 2008
Chart 8: Enterprise VOIP traffic, 2012
Chart 9: VOIP Subscriber Growth (2009-2015)
Chart 10: VOIP Equipment Sale Revenues (2007-2015)
6.1.8 Gaming
6.2 Application Development
6.2.1 IMS Poses Challenges and Opportunities to Application Developers
6.3 Summary
6.4 IMS Deployments
Table 27: Live IMS Networks
6.4.1 IMS Deployments so far are Piecemeal Solutions
6.4.2 Mobile Network Operators
6.4.2.1 TeliaSonera
6.4.2.2 Chunghwa Telecom
6.4.2.3 BTC Group
6.4.2.4 MegaFon
6.4.2.5 Sprint Nextel
6.4.2.5.1 Sprint and Cisco
6.4.2.6 Mobilkom Austria
6.4.2.7 Brazil Telecom
6.4.2.8 AT&T
6.4.2.9 SK Telecom
6.5 NGN Implementations
6.5.1 BT
6.5.1.1 Key Milestones
6.5.2 KPN
6.5.3 Telecom Italia
6.5.4 Telefónica
6.5.6 Telefónica España
6.5.7 Swisscom
6.5.8 Verizon
6.5.8.1 AIMS
6.5.9 Softbank Mobile Corp
6.5.10 21st Century Technologies
6.5.11 France Telecom
6.5.12 Bell Canada
6.6 Cable Operators
6.6.1 Con Hem
6.7 Summary
Table 28: IMS Contracts and Deployments (2009)

7. Forecasts and IMS Profitability

7.1 Facts and Figures
7.1.1 Global Market Evolution to IMS
Chart 11: Share of Technologies Worldwide (2009)
7.1.1.1 3G Subscriber Growth
Chart 12: Global W-CDMA and GSM Subscriber Growth (2009-2014)
Chart 13: Global 3G Revenues (2009-2015)
Chart 14: Data revenues as a percentage of total revenues (2009-2015)
Table 29: HSDPA and WCDMA Statistics (2009)
7.1.1.2 From HSPA to HSPA+ and LTE
7.1.1.2.1 LTE Market and Opportunities
7.1.1.2.2 Why LTE?
Chart 15: LTE Subscriber Growth (2009-2015)
Chart 16: LTE Operator Revenues (2009-2015)
Chart 17: Revenues from Base Stations for LTE Networks (2009-2015)
7.1.1.2.3 LTE and IMS together in a Converged Network
7.2 IMS Deployment Time Frames
Chart 18: IMS Demand by Region (2009)
Chart 19: IMS Deployments
7.2.1 Developed Markets
7.2.1.1 US
7.2.1.2 Europe
7.2.2 Asia and other Emerging Markets
Chart 20: Softswitch Deployments in Asia
7.2.2.1 China
7.2.2.2 India
7.2.3 Deployments by Operator Type
Chart 21: IMS Deployments by Operator Types by (2015)
Chart 22: IMS Networks as a Percentage of Total Networks (2015)
7.3 Data ARPU from IMS
Chart 23: Percentage Data Revenues Generated by Different Data Applications (2015)
Chart 24: Global Data ARPU (2008-2015)
7.4 Impact on SMS Revenues via the Introduction of MIM using IMS Platforms
7.5 IMS Infrastructure Requirements
Table 30: IMS Equipments that must be deployed on incremental basis
Chart 25: IMS Control Layer Equipment Sales (2007-2014)
7.6 IMS Vendor Market share
Chart 26: Vendor Market Share (2009-2010)
Chart 27: Vendor Market Share (2015)
7.7 IMS Growth Prospects
Chart 28: IMS Revenues (2009-2015)
7.8 IMS Handsets
Table 31 : IMS Handset Enablers
Chart 29: 3G Growth Vs IMS Growth
7.8.1 SIP Enabled Handsets
Figure 17: Device Convergence
Chart 30: IMS Subscriber Growth (2007-2015)
Chart:31: IMS Handset Shipments (2008-2015)
Chart 32: SIP handset Shipments
7.9 Develop New Business Propositions
7.9.1 New Business Model
7.9.2 Long-term Benefits or Short-term Gains?
7.9.3 OpEx Savings
7.9.4 Cost of Deployment
7.10 IMS Applications
7.10.1 Time to Market with new Applications
7.11 Hosted IMS Solutions
7.12 Profitable Customer Segment
7.13 FMC Market
7.14 IMS ROI Scenarios
Figure 18: ROI from IMS Investments
Table 32: IMS SWOT Analysis

8. Recommendations and Conclusion

8.1 Threats to IMS
8.1.1 SDP
8.2 Recommendations
8.2.1 For Operators
8.2.1.1 Focus on High Revenue per Megabyte
8.2.1.2 Investment Strategies
8.2.1.3 Smooth Transition to IMS
8.2.2 For Vendors
8.2.3 For Device Manufacturers
8.2.3.1 Time to Market
8.2.3.2 Handset Development Strategy
8.2.4 Applications for the Future
8.2.5 IMS: Becoming a Reality
8.6 Conclusion