Free Launches Fixed-Mobile Convergence Powered by Thomson's SoftSwitch Solutions
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Europe's largest primary line VoIP operator uses Thomson's Cirpack SoftSwitch
to offer seamless Wireless VoIP to its 2 million subscribers
Paris, October 9, 2006 - Thomson (Euronext 18453; NYSE; TMS) today announced that Iliad (Euronext ILD) is upgrading its Thomson's Cirpack voice switches to offer an innovative fixed-mobile service to the 2 million subscribers of its Free.fr Triple Play service. Using these new technologies, Free is creating a virtual mobile telephony infrastructure enabling users to travel anywhere in the World with their fixed line.
Thanks to the new Cirpack Mobile VoIP components developed by Thomson, Free can offer seamless roaming of users' fixed line service to whichever WiFi hotspot they are connected to, even when using GSM phones managed by another operator. Free subscribers can literally take their fixed line with them and choose whether incoming calls should be redirected to their dual mode WiFi/GSM phones. Outbound calls placed via WiFi enjoy the same pricing scheme as those placed from home, offering greatly reduced costs over standard mobile services.
Thomson's Cirpack Mobile VoIP components are software options to the Cirpack softswitches already in place to manage Free's primary line VoIP service. They enable secured and transparent access to the Cirpack VoIP softswitches from anywhere in the world. In another innovative twist, the solution is also turning Free's national network of WiFi Freebox modems into a virtual mobile infrastructure for their subscribers.
Michael Boukobza, Free's Chief Executive Officer commented: "We have been using Thomson's Cirpack voice switching platform since 2001 and we have always been impressed by its ability to evolve and match our business model changes. Thomson is now delivering the ideal software options enabling Free to launch a mass market Fixed-Mobile Convergence service."
Jacques Dunogu, Senior Executive Vice President, Systems Division, Thomson : "Every equipment manufacturer is talking about IP Multimedia Subsystems (IMS), but very few are actually showing how to use these technologies to offer innovative services. Free is now launching one of the largest Fixed-Mobile Convergence service in Europe. Once again, Free is transforming their services to drive ARPU upwards whilst offering unique user experiences. We're proud to have been associated with the Free success story since the launch of their services in 2001."
About Free, a subsidiary of Iliad
The Iliad Group is a major player in the Internet and telecommunications markets in France through its subsidiaries Free (the leading alternative broadband operator with 1,905,000 broadband subscribers as of 30/06/2006), OneTel and Iliad Telecom (fixed telephony operators) and Kertel (prepaid phone cards), as well as IFW (WiMax). The Iliad Group was established in 1991 and currently has more than 1,400 employees. The Iliad Group is listed on the Euronext Paris Eurolist under the mnemonic code ILD. Further details may be found on our website www.iliad.fr
About Thomson - World leader in digital video technologies
Thomson (Euronext Paris: 18453; NYSE: TMS) provides technology, services, and systems & equipment to help its Media & Entertainment clients - content creators, content distributors and users of its technology - realize their business goals and optimize their performance in a rapidly changing technology environment. The Group is the preferred partner to the Media & Entertainment Industries through its Technicolor, Grass Valley, RCA, and Thomson brands. For more information: www.thomson.net.
Thomson's VoIP and IPTV service delivery platforms enable telecom operators to deploy broadband telephony, IPTV, IP Centrex, Triple Play and Fixed-Mobile Convergence services quickly and easily, with a seamless migration path to IMS/TISPAN architecture. Thomson's CIRPACK softswitches have already been used to deploy over 4 million VoIP lines and are currently world leaders on the Voice over Broadband residential market, delivering primary line telephony services on a large scale. Thomson's SmartVision IPTV platforms offer rich video services over fixed and mobile networks. Both are closely integrated with Thomson's wide range of digital set-top boxes, phones, broadband modems and gateways for the easy delivery of unique user experiences. With over 100 telco, broadcaster and internet service provider customers in 30 countries, Thomson's network intelligence solutions are at the heart of next generation networks worldwide. For more information, please visit www.cirpack.com and www.thomson.net.
Joanna Pays
International PR Manager
Tel: +33 1 41 44 38 18
joanna.pays@thomson.net
THOMSON
Network Intelligence Solutions/NGN
www.cirpack.com
www.thomson.net
