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Dec. 21, 2008

Late Friday, CTIA’s Wireless Internet Caucus released its completed document for mobile service interoperability of multimedia messaging and said all major U.S. carriers are in agreement of the new specifications.

The document explains how to achieve mobile group messaging and presence updates in the wireless segment.

The new specs were developed by EMAT (the Enhanced Messaging Action Team), one of 8 groups within the caucus.

Wireless carriers are expected to launch the new interoperability standard beginning in the third quarter of next year, CTIA officials said.

The new document process began in the early summer, when mobile service carriers filed comments in response to an official request for information.

Important aspects of the new specifications are:

1) Develop an “Inter-carrier Mobile Enhanced Messaging Recommendation.” This specific recommendation will articulate the value to wireless carriers & subscribers of a next-generation “enhanced messaging” system available across the whole industry's ecosystem.

2) Key commercial & technical questions will be identified & addressed in the recommendation. The recommendation will include high level plans for the continuation of work necessary to completely define the desired experience. Additional work will be subject to the approval of the executive committee.

3) Each of the wireless carriers represented on the action team will be expected to fully support the recommendation made by this action team. Such support may involve the assignment of additional resources (such as technical resources) to carry the effort forward should executive approval be obtained.

4) This effort will examine the lessons learned from comparable models in SMS & MMS in order to facilitate the accelerated adoption of solutions.

While other organizations & efforts exist to develop technology standards from presence, IP messaging & other potentially applicable technical areas, this Action Team is focused on gaining CTIA executive approval to dive deeply into the complete definition (technical & commercial) of a mobile enhanced messaging service.

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Source: The CTIA.