Reflecting the telecommunications industry's push to build next-generation networks for a converged marketplace, IP Multimedia Subsystems (IMS) technologies will play a key role on the expanded TelecomNEXT exhibit floor. The floor will feature cutting-edge IMS exhibits and a not-to-be-missed IMS vendor "Shoot-Out" hosted by research firm IDC showcasing some of the leading equipment suppliers in the industry.

TelecomNEXT, the only place where the business and technology of communications and entertainment meet, replaces SUPERCOMM as USTelecom's annual industry show, and will be held in Las Vegas, March 19-23, 2006.

"Network convergence is a top priority for the telecom industry and TelecomNEXT is the only venue that reflects today's converged marketplace," said John Abel, Senior Vice President - Membership, Marketing and Business Development for USTelecom.

Several leaders offering IMS technologies will showcase their latest IMS products on the TelecomNEXT exhibit floor:

• In Booth 1517, Cisco will demonstrate IMS-enabled Fixed Mobile Convergence, featuring seamless location, roaming and hand-off of voice calls between WiFi and cellular networks using a dual mode handset.
• In Booth 1749, Nortel will host live demonstrations of its complete IMS solution. Nortel's open, standards-based IMS solution is being trialed globally by operators across wireless, wireline and cable markets to enable rapid development and delivery of differentiated IMS SIP-enabled services.
• On Tuesday, March 21, at 1:30 pm, in the TelecomNEXT Exhibit Floor Theater, IDC will host an IMS vendor "Shoot-Out" with a side-by-side display of competing IMS products from Lucent (Booth 2521), Alcatel (Booth 905), Siemens (Booth 1025) and Motorola (Booth 1227). The Shoot-Out is designed to help service providers select the best solutions for implementing IMS technology.

Conference attendees can also learn what's in store for the future of IMS with TelecomNEXT technology papers and conference programming. Several papers will discuss how IMS affects IPTV and quad-play, soft switching, NGN services, SKIM functions, network architecture, and the importance of industry standards. The industry strategy for deploying IMS will also be addressed at two ATIS TechThink Conference sessions, a session by IDC on "Communications for the Next Generation," and in a discussion on "US/EU Cooperation on Standards Making" led by the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI).

TelecomNEXT keynotes include John Chambers, President & CEO, Cisco Systems; Mike Quigley, President and COO, Alcatel; John Meyer, President, Lucent World Wide Services, Lucent Technologies; and Harald Braun, President, Carrier Networks Division, Siemens. Other luminaries on the agenda include: Duane Ackerman, Chairman & CEO, BellSouth; Glenn Britt, President & CEO, Time Warner Cable; Scott Ford, President & CEO, Alltel; Dan Hesse, President & CEO designee, EMBARQ; Robert Iger, President & CEO, The Walt Disney Company; Scott Kriens, President & CEO, Juniper Networks; Paul Lacouture, President, Network Services, Verizon; Kevin Martin, Chairman, Federal Communications Commission; Walter McCormick, President & CEO, USTelecom; Susan Miller, President & CEO, ATIS; Pieter Poll, Chief Technology Officer, Qwest; Chris Rice, Executive VP, Network Planning & Engineering, AT&T; Ivan Seidenberg, Chairman & CEO, Verizon; Stan Sigman, President & CEO, Cingular; Bill Smith, Chief Technology Officer, BellSouth; Norio Wada, President & CEO, Nippon Telegraph and Telephone; Mark Wegleitner, Senior Vice President and CTO, Verizon; and Ed Whitacre, Chairman & CEO, AT&T.

TelecomNEXT will be held at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, March 19-23, 2006. For more information on TelecomNEXT, go to www.telecom-next.com.

SUPERCOMM is a registered trademark of the Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA) and the United States Telecom Association (USTelecom). The final SUPERCOMM was held in 2005.