The Next Generation Mobile Networks (NGMN) alliance, a group of global mobile operators that banded together last year to push for a common vision for networks and technologies beyond 3G, said it reached a landmark agreement on IPR practices. NGMN said it made an agreement with global technology providers that will provide transparency and predictability when it comes to IPR costs.
"NGMN has reached an unprecedented agreement with global technology providers to receive notifications of proposed IPR terms for next generation technologies. This chosen approach will create an environment of increased investment and innovation, thus accelerating adoption of mobile broadband services," said Hamid Akhavan, chairman of the NGMN and CEO of T-Mobile International.
The NGMN's approach is geared toward revealing indicative cumulative IPR costs up front, providing an early opportunity for technology customers to consider the IPR cost of next generation technologies in their decision-making process.
The agreement appears to have teeth as the forum also added a number of infrastructure giants. Alcatel-Lucent, Cisco, Ericsson, Intel, Motorola, Nokia, Nokia Siemens Networks, Nortel, Qualcomm and Texas Instruments have joined the alliance.
For more about the NGMN's IPR plan:
- read this release
- take a look at this piece from telecoms.com (sub. req.)