Back in 2010 when we produced this video, iPhones were insanely popular, Android devices were just coming online and readying global dominance, Microsoft had not yet purchased Skype, and Facebook was just getting Messenger off the ground. We were imagining a time when apps and services would find common ground, allowing some form of interconnectivity between all communication platforms. To some extent, some may ask why the need if certain apps and services are globally ubiquitous? True, but many popular services have achieved this level of accessibility because there existed a common denominator, an ability to fallback through a central service - carrier voice and texting. By all means, we are not claiming OTT services have been detrimental to global connectivity, on the contrary, they have introduced incredible innovation within the telecom industry. 5G opens up new channels of distribution one of which being Private Wireless Networks (PWN) where new and exciting mobile services will emerge (especially within the cloud MEC domain). This growing list of new services can potentially spread like wildfire, further risking an ever growing number of non-interoperable communication platforms - isolated islands. More than ever, IMS remains a leading candidate for platforms to find common ground in 5G. Cloud native IMS/RCS when available through virtualized deployments (think OpenRan), or through innovative MEC and private wireless networks initiatives, provides opportunites for developing new services which can operate both independantly as an OTT offering, or for such services to interoperate through carrier standards if and when the need arises. A world without barriers in communication. |