Mobile Inter-networking with IPv6 : Concepts, Principles and Practices

Part III

Advanced Mobility Protocols

Unified communications networks are not exactly a new idea. Even the legacy voice telephone networks have worked extensively on video telephony technology, even though it never achieved commercial success. Now with IP, unified networks with various forms of applications are increasingly becoming a reality, although much work continues to be done in commercializing applications with various business models. This is particularly the case in VoIP, which is finding its way to the Internet core, as well as access networks such as DSL and cable modem networks. Along with VoIP, video in the form of IPTV is seen as a major application.

While applications continue to mature for commercialization on the Internet, mobility is bringing the so-called quad play. Users increasingly want their applications "on the go," which means that applications such as VoIP are expected to provide the same level of convenience offered by the erstwhile circuit-switched mobile voice technology. Two developments related to access technologies are significant in this context. First, cellular data networks, most notably the CDMA EV-DO and WCDMA HSDPA networks, are being deployed to support not only data applications, but also VoIP. And second, the IEEE 802.11 networks, otherwise known as the WLANs, are being adopted by multiple market segments including business, cities, airports, ...