Multimedia Group Communication: Push-To-Talk Over Cellular, Presence and List Management Concepts and Applications

Group communication technologies enable users to form different types of mobile groups and to interact in real time with the participants of these groups.

This book provides an in-depth overview of Multimedia Group Communications in the mobile domain.  It specifies multimedia group communication concepts, introduces a range of applications, and proposes an evolution path. The concepts cover the "walkie-talkie" voice over IP service, XML list management, and Presence awareness technologies. The applications section embraces session control for closed professional groups and for open consumer groups. The evolution path includes exciting developments such as ‘infotainment’ and communication with non-human group members. 

Key Features:

• Easy to understand explanation of the Push to Talk over Cellular (PoC) service, as specified by the Open Mobile Alliance (OMA)
• Provides technical description of XML Document Management and SIMPLE Presence services
• Gives examples on how to deploy group communication services over 3GPP IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) and between IMS domains
• Describes innovative use cases for multimedia group communication through integration with value-added services and through the next generation of OMA enablers

Multimedia Group Communications is the first exploration to the field of one-to-many connectivity paradigm. It provides essential information on group communication for engineers, programmers and business managers working in the mobile arena, and will also be useful to business development planners and technically aware users.

Andrew Rebeiro-Hargrave PhD, Nokia Networks, Finland.  As Nokia Networks Multimedia Interoperability Manager, he is responsible for Interoperability testing of Nokia Push to talk, XDM and Presence enablers at OMA TestFests.  He has been working with Nokia Push to talk (PoC R&D) as Product Competence Transfer Manager since 2001. In addition to technical work, he has published journal articles in the field of geographical modelling and teaches Geocomputation as a guest lecturer at the Helsinki University.

David Viamonte, Vodafone, will enhance the contents and contribute the operator perspective. In addition, to his telecommunication background, David has experience at Vodafone Global, Düsseldorf in selecting Push to talk technologies.