Strategic design issues of IMS versus end‐to‐end architectures

Abstract

PurposeThe paper aims to discuss the business issues surrounding the choice between the end‐to‐end internet architecture, in particular peer‐to‐peer networks, versus managed telecommunications architectures, in particular IMS, for the migration towards a next‐generation mobile system.Design/methodology/approachThe paper organises the arguments available in the literature and technical field along four critical business design dimensions, providing a balanced overview of both sides of the argument.FindingsThe paper discriminates between weak and strong arguments on both sides, and introduces a number of recommendations towards actors that will implement IMS.Research limitations/implicationsThe arguments collected from the literature and industry are not exhaustive but selected on their relevancy for business repercussions.Originality/valueWhile most position papers on IMS or P2P are written from an opinionated perspective, this paper offers a trade‐off view of both side's advantages and disadvantages. It reframes the dispute as a number of design trade‐offs to be made on various levels.

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