On April 3 and 4, MWIF and the Operator Harmonization Group (OHG) hosted an IP core network workshop for 3GPP and 3GPP2. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss potential areas of core network harmonization in light of mobile operator business requirements. The meeting was a success, as approximately 115 people attended, representing 47 different companies and organizations. There were 13 MWIF members present and equal representation from 3GPP and 3GPP2. MWIF provided three presentations by John Waclawsky (Cisco), Parviz Yegani (Cisco), and Rich Robinson (Sprint). MWIF President Dean Sirovica (Vodafone) and OHG President Mike Walker (Vodafone) provided opening statements. Stephen Hays (Ericsson) from 3GPP co-chaired the meeting with Mark Lipford (Sprint PCS) from 3GPP2. Throughout the two-day meeting, presentations were given from various companies addressing the potential areas and need for harmonization. It was decided that the groups would focus their harmonization efforts on those areas where synergies already exist between the two architectures. This includes OSA/PARLAY-based service APIs and the IP Multimedia Subsystems (IMS). The meeting concluded with the distribution of a document titled Recommendations from April 3-4, 2002 IP CN Harmonization Workshop. This document outlines initial areas where 3GPP and 3GPP2 should harmonize. Each 3G group will review the document for ratification by their groups by June 2002. One of MWIF’s strategic goals for 2002 is to bring the core network standards of 3GPP and 3GPP2 closer together. This meeting is a great example of our success. Mobile Wireless Internet Forum
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