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FORT MYERS, Fla.—Sept. 23, 2014—Interop Technologies™, a provider of core wireless solutions for advanced messaging, over-the-air handset management, policy control, and connectivity gateways, today announced the issuance of U.S. Patent No. 8,856,356 covering the deployment of Rich Communications Services (RCS) without any reliance on underlying IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) architecture. Interop Technologies was granted intellectual property rights pertaining to RCS without IMS and RCS interworking with the legacy network.

Interop's patented technology enables operators to affordably and efficiently offer standards-compliant RCS services—including network-based interworking to legacy protocols such as SMS and MMS—without the need for an IMS core network. The Interop RCS solution is compliant with both the RCS-e and Blackbird global standards.

“We are pleased that the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has officially recognized our RCS solution as a distinctly differentiated technology in the telecommunications industry,” said Steve Zitnik, Executive Vice President and Chief Technical Officer, Interop Technologies. “Very early on we identified prerequisite IMS as both a financial and technical hurdle many operators would face when deploying RCS. At the same time, we understood the need for a standards-based RCS solution that supports interworking with existing services, such as SMS and MMS. We designed a solution that is standards-based, deployable with or without IMS, and which seamlessly integrates with SMS and MMS.”

The Interop Technologies RCS patent covers an RCS-compliant infrastructure that incorporates the signaling, authorization, and session setup necessary to support RCS directly into the RCS platform. With Interop's patented RCS solution, operators can provide the full RCS experience immediately as a substitute for—or while they await deployment of—an IMS network. As an additional benefit, the RCS infrastructure provides full backwards compatibility with legacy messaging technologies (SMS and MMS), ensuring a ubiquitous user experience.

In October 2011, Interop Technologies was first in the wireless industry to announce and offer RCS without the need for an operator-owned IMS core. This solution was the first of its kind without IMS to provide full RCS compliance and seamless client integration. In 2012, Interop further enhanced the solution and was first to introduce and demonstrate full backwards compatibility and legacy interworking on a live carrier network. This advancement enabled mobile devices connected to the Interop RCS solution to exchange messages with other devices, regardless of whether those devices used RCS or SMS/MMS technology. This revolutionary solution helped to bridge the gap between legacy and next-generation messaging through network-based interworking gateways.

In October 2013, GSMA designated Interop as an accredited Hosted RCS solution provider, verifying that the technology passed rigorous tests ensuring interoperability with accredited RCS handset clients and operator networks. By selecting an accredited solution, operators introducing RCS can be assured that the solution meets GSMA standards and interoperates with accredited RCS clients and operator networks. Interop also offers private cloud (managed service) or turnkey deployments of its solution to fit any operator business model.

For further information, contact Interop Technologies.