CounterPath announces that with their next release of the Messaging Convergence Gateway 2.0, the forthcoming hosted solution will give wireline operators the ability to extend their VoIP and messaging services over the top of mobile networks.

Though debuting in early 2011, several of CounterPath's partners are already poised to bring this solution to market. The solution will be the industry's first platform to provide single-number reachability for voice, Instant Messaging, and SMS across an operator's existing wireline VoIP network and on feature phones, smartphones or tablets from any mobile operator.

Juniper Research recently reported that the number of mobile VoIP minutes carried annually on 3G and 4G networks will rise from 15 billion minutes in 2010 to 470.6 billion minutes by 2015. This, coupled with CTIA-The Wireless Association's report that American SMS usage has increased from 14.4 million messages sent per month to 152.7 billion over the past 10 years, places CounterPath at an advantageous position to capture a large market portion and immediately create new revenue sources.

CounterPath's wireline mobility services solution will give Internet Service Providers and wireline operators a cost-effective way to provide SMS services to their VoIP subscribers as well as number of benefits, including:

• One-Number Accessibility - A user's wireline VoIP number now becomes the fastest, most convenient way to reach that person via voice or text message, regardless of location or which device that person is using. This access-agnostic design minimizes phone tag, making business users more productive and responsive.
• Single-Number Communications - In addition to handling inbound communications, wireline mobility services lets users initiate conversations with their contacts using their new "single" number. Users can initiate voice, Instant Messaging, and SMS conversations using their feature phone, smartphone or SIP-enabled applications on their PC. By giving their customers the option of a single number as their voice and text identity, ITSPs and wireline operators now can extend their value proposition across both the fixed and mobile domains, enhancing their competitive position and revenue potential.
• Wireline SMS - Mobile workers and other business users now can use their main number to receive and send SMS messages, making them more accessible to customers - such as younger demographics - who prefer texting over e-mailing or calling. For example, a health club's members now can simply send a text message to the main number to have the receptionist reserve a machine.
• Fixed-Mobile Convergence Savings and Convenience - When consumers are using their smartphone or PC at home or in a Wi-Fi hotspot, calls to their wireline VoIP number ring their VoIP client, minimizing phone tag. They also don't use up their monthly bucket of minutes and SMS messages.
• Network-Agnostic Flexibility - Wireline mobility services works with any mobile phone on any wireless network. This industry-exclusive feature gives consumers and business users more flexibility to switch devices and operators to get the best deal or new device, all without disrupting their reachability. No client software is required on the handset, allowing it to work even with entry-level feature phones and any mobile operating system.
• Fast, CapEx-Free Implementation - ITSPs and wireline VoIP operators can quickly and cost-effectively add wireline mobility services into their existing offerings because it integrates easily with their existing network equipment, eliminating the need for expensive forklift upgrades. Operators also can roll out service quickly because they don't need to first establish a relationship with a mobile operator. Their customers enjoy the same fast, cost-free implementation because they don't have to replace their PC, wired deskphone or mobile phone to begin using the new features that wireline mobility services enables.

The wireline mobility services solution also leverages CounterPath's intellectual property portfolio, which includes patents that enable single-number identities and seamless service delivery across disparate fixed, mobile, legacy and IMS networks.