Starhome, a provider of roaming services and converged solutions, is part of a consortium that has completed integration of an "extended home" remote control platform.
As part of the Celtic EnComPAs2 (Enabling Community Communications – Platforms and Applications phase 2) project, Starhome is developing a concept for mobile services for the "extended home." This environment includes the home, the car and other remote sites acting as a virtual home environment, enabling remote access to home content such as videos, photos, music and other media.
Celtic is a European R&D programme that initiates and runs privately and publicly funded Information and Communication Technology (ICT)/telecommunications R&D projects. EnComPAs2 is being led by Telefonica I+D. Consortium members include Acciona Infraestructuras and Ikerlan from Spain, and TNO ICT from the Netherlands.
The Starhome concept is said to link mobile networks and home networks for the first time, enabling mobile operators to provide value added services for the home. The implementation combines the Next Generation Network architecture, which consists of IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS), and a home residential gateway. Starhome is providing the IMS connectivity for the project, including mobile services such as smart call routing between GSM/UMTS and Wi-Fi, depending on the user location.
Shai Ophir, Starhome's Technology Specialist, believes that Starhome's concept has the potential to revolutionise the convergence market. "Completing integration was an important step for Starhome and our consortium partners in the development of this cutting-edge technology. This project has the potential to significantly enhance the mobile landscape by both improving the home service environment and extending its reach.
"One exciting prototype being developed by Starhome for this project will converge voice and messaging between car and mobile. The mobile network will capture an SMS being sent to a mobile subscriber who is driving, for example, and will convert the message into a voice call in order to increase driving safety," said Ophir.