Internet technology based infrastructure for mobile multimedia services

The current wireless networks will not be able to cope with the expected growth in data and multimedia services in a flexible and cost-effective manner. This paper presents the wireless multimedia service opportunities. It includes a discussion on wireless multimedia services and their characterization. A practical model is given to estimate the diffusion of wireless multimedia services in the network. It discusses the benefits of using IP centric solutions for wireless, and the challenge of QoS and wireless mobility to make this IP centric solution realizable. It proposes network and service architecture solutions that combine the current wireless access standards into the core IP network. It also shows how an IP addressable terminal can be connected to this IP wireless network to make the multimedia service implementation simpler. If a convergence of the mobile and Internet technologies can be achieved, it would be a powerful force in realizing vast economies of scale and enabling a wireless lifestyle.