For Immediate Release
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Contact: John Bernhards
Director of Public Relations
Phone: 202/434-8850
E-mail: jbernhards@atis.org
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For Immediate Release
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ATIS' International Forum for ANSI-41 Standards Technology (IFAST) Announces Formal Liaison with GSM Global Roaming Forum
January 30, 2002, Washington, D.C. -- The ATIS-sponsored International Forum for ANSI-41 Standards Technology (IFAST) today announced a formal liaison with the GSM Global Roaming Forum (GGRF) to develop technical requirements and standards which would extend the availability of international roaming capabilities for mobile customers.
Currently, wireless networks are based on multiple technologies. Wireless carriers utilize international Inter-standard roaming which allows customers to roam on different wireless networks that utilize different standards. These standards include the ANSI-41 family of standards (Analog, NAMPS, CDMA, TDMA) and the Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) standard.
"This liaison represents an important first step toward reaching seamless international roaming between ANSI-41 and GSM networks," said Fred Gaechter, IFAST Chairman. "The IFAST anticipates working closely with the GGRF to meet the increased roaming demand of wireless customers."
The IFAST is an open, international and technical forum with the voluntary participation of wireless carriers, network service providers, and infrastructure vendors. It provides intersystem operations implementing the Advanced Mobile Phone Service (AMPS) family of standards, and facilitates interoperation of wireless systems around the world using the ANSI-41 interworking protocol.
The GSM Global Roaming Forum provides a collaborative and non-competitive opportunity for the discussion and development of technical requirements and commercial standards for roaming between GSM and other wireless technologies. In addition to its GSM-CDMA work, the GGRF has also fostered the development of GSM-TDMA and GSM-iDEN interoperability.
Enrique Hervas, from Telefonica Moviles (Spain), will serve as the IFAST liaison representative with GGRF.
About ATIS
The Alliance for Telecommunications Industry Solutions (ATIS) is a member company organization that is the leader for standards and operating procedures for the telecommunications industry. More than 1,500 experts from over 400 telecommunications companies participate in ATIS' 19 committees, forums, and Incubator Solutions programs, where work focus includes network interconnection standards, number portability, improved data transmission, wireless communications, Internet telephony, toll-free access, and order and billing issues. For more information, visit the ATIS web site www.atis.org.
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