How To Be RCE-e Compliant Without An IMS Core

Messaging is “a good chunk of the ARPU” when it comes to an operator’s revenue streams, says Steve Zitnik, executive vice president and CTO at Fla.-based Interop Technologies, a provider of core wireless solutions for messaging, mobile device management, and connectivity gateways.

So today, the company unveiled its Rich Communication Suite (RCS) solution, which it says allows operators to offer better messaging without having to deploy a full IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) architecture. The Interop solution reportedly complies with an enhanced version of RCS known as RCS-e, which the company says allows subscribers to send instant and group messages, and to exchange files in real time.

Using RCS-e and its enhanced address book, Interop says subscribers can initiate communication from within the address book (including instant messaging and group messaging), and they can share photos or videos.

“Interop’s RCS solution provides full RCS-e compliance – not ‘RCS-like’ features – while completely supporting legacy messaging technologies that subscribers currently use,” Zitnik notes.  “This approach enables operators to compete with over-the-top players today, and seamlessly implement an IMS core if and when they choose to do so.”

Zitnik also views the RCS solution, expected to go commercial in 1Q12, as “a transitional strategy while you are getting your IMS strategy in place.”