Deutsche Telekom launched joyn services in Romania and Slovakia on Monday using U.S. company Jibe Mobile's IP cloud network, in a bid to compete against over-the-top (OTT) video and messaging services.
The operator's subsidiaries Cosmote Romania and Slovak Telekom launched an application for iOS and Android smartphones that offers one-touch access to video calls, SMS, instant messaging, and group messaging services. The joyn service was developed by Jibe, and will be delivered over the company's IP Communication Cloud.
Joyn is the consumer-facing brand of the GSM Association's (GSMA) Rich Communications Services (RCS) platform, which aims to help operators deliver non-core services including instant messaging, chat, live video, and file sharing.
Kobus Smit, head of voice and messaging at Deutsche Telekom and GSMA RCE Chair, said extending "these rich carrier-driven communication services to our national companies" is "yet another win for joyn and our customers throughout Europe."
Jibe co-founder and CEO, Amir Sarhangi, said the services are a match for the best offered by over-the-top (OTT) players, and that his company's cloud-based technology is enabling operators to quickly "transition to a globally connected IP mobile network able to deliver the most innovative and engaging communication services."
Sarhangi added that the company's services "are enabling carriers to quickly launch rich communication services over LTE and Wi-Fi," and extend their global reach through "Jibe's public and private cloud."
Deutsche Telekom is among a number of European operators that are increasingly seeking ways to compete with OTT players.
Earlier this month, UK mobile operator EE revealed plans to launch voice and SMS over Wi-Fi services by end-2014 and voice over LTE (VoLTE) in 2015. Domestic rival 3 UK followed suit last week, detailing plans to launch similar Wi-Fi services in August.
Ovum chief research officer, Mark Newman, last week told delegates at the LTE World Summit in Amsterdam that operators should play to their core strengths as connectivity providers, and seek partnerships for non-core services including OTT, healthcare, and connected car applications.
For more:
- see Jibe Mobile's press release
- see the GSMA's explanation of RCS
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