Seamless IP-based service integration across fixed/mobile and corporate/public networks

Cellular mobile and Internet technology are today´s driving forces in telecommunications. In future, as both data as well as voice communications rely increasingly on IP-based techniques and applications, IP is expected to provide the means for the integration of services across different access networks ranging from fixed/wireless LANs to fixed/mobile public networks (i.e. PSTN, GSM/GPRS, in future UMTS). In particular, seamless roaming seems to be an important requirement of mobile users, such as consultants or sales people accessing data bases or experts “at home” while they are “on the move”. We describe and assess architectures to support seamless IP-based service integration in both corporate and public network environments. We report on practical experience gained within testbeds and show the impact on the architecture of IP-based mobile networks