At the UMTS Congress in Monte Carlo, nine global leaders in wireless communications - AT&T Wireless Services, Inc., British Telecommunications Plc, Rogers Cantel Inc., Ericsson, Lucent Technologies, Nokia Corporation, Nortel Networks Inc., Telenor AS, and Telecom Italia Mobile - announced the formation of a new focus group to promote an Internet Protocol (IP) based wireless system for third generation (3G) mobile communications technology. 

The newly initiated focus group will go by the name 3G.IP. The nine companies have committed to support the development of next-generation wireless services such as voice, high speed data and Internet access, imaging and video conferencing on an all IP based network architecture using a common core network based on evolved General Packet Radio System (GPRS).

The combined efforts of the 3G.IP member companies - which represent some of the largest telecommunication network operators and manufacturers- will help bring advanced third generation wireless communications to consumers more quickly, and will help ensure compatibility among different carriers' 3G wireless communications systems - enabling customers to roam internationally with their 3G handsets or other wireless devices. 

The common work of the world's largest wireless equipment suppliers will also bring important economies of scale for the production of next-generation infrastructure and handsets.

The 3G.IP group plans to set the direction and requirements for the work towards the development of an IP based system for 3G mobile communications technology using W-CDMA and EDGE broadband air interfaces, which are ideally suited to support IP enabled voice and high-speed data transmission for global 3G services. These air interfaces, or "radio access techniques" that determine how a signal is sent from the hand-held device to the base station, will enable operators to provide next generation IP services while efficiently using the radio spectrum. 

As part of their common vision, the parties will be proposing corresponding standards for multi media handsets that will operate with these access technologies.

Underlying these air interface options is a common core network that allows efficient handling of the multimedia IP based services envisioned for the next millennium. The companies' plans for a common evolved GPRS core network standard, which will fully support advanced IP voice telephony, data and multimedia applications and foresees an evolution from existing circuit switched network topologies, to a network completely based on IP technologies enhanced for wireless and mobile communication. 

The combination of a common network, harmonized air interfaces and multi-mode terminals will give customers seamless access to 3G IP services around the world, while satisfying the varied needs of each carrier.

The 3G.IP member companies will cooperate closely and share information in the development of standards for advanced communications systems that will meet or exceed all of the requirements for 3G services established by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) and regulatory bodies.

The focus group expects that standardization activities related to an all IP based architecture for third generation systems should continue rapidly in the appropriate standard and specification development bodies, and the Group will fully support these standards development processes.

AT&T Wireless Services, Inc. operates the largest digital wireless network in North America providing wireless voice and data communication services using Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) technology. At the end 1998, AT&T Wireless Services, Inc. had over 9.7 million wireless customers in the U.S. and more than one million customers in its overseas ventures. AT&T Wireless Services, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of AT&T Corp., the world's leader in telecommunications services and technology.