LAS VEGAS--NewStep Networks today announced a partnership with embedded software platform maker D2 Technologies as well as new social network capabilities for its Converged Services Node. Both announcements are aimed at extending the reach of NewStep’s fixed-mobile convergence solutions for service providers.

The partnership with D2 Technologies will enable the pair to offer a jointly developed software platform that includes Google Android-based mobile terminals, running D2’s mCUE embedded mobile unified communications software interoperating with NewStep’s services node for FMC and Unified Communications applications.

“If we look at what has slowed down deployment of FMC, it has been the lack of availability of handsets,” said Shannon Bell, vice president of marketing for NewStep. “Late last year we spent time opening an interoperability lab, and opening our server to all kinds of different device manufacturers.”

D2’s software platform is embedded in multiple handsets, and that plus the Google Android development will make more FMC clients available, Bell said.

From a technology perspective, NewStep is working to bring the iPhone into the fold as an FMC device. “We have previewed that,” Bell said. “We have built an application around enterprise convergence. There are rules around distribution and how it is going to be distributed, certificates for development and things like that that are still being worked out. But from a technology perspective, we have tested the application and it works.”

Adding social networking is important, Bell said, because NewStep expects service providers to offer fixed-mobile convergence over a number of platforms and social networking sites are liable to be one of those.

“One of the things that has happened in the FMC market is that the ability to move a call between a cell and WiFi is a cool trick but it is not that compelling a business benefit to drive deployment,” Bell said. “What is going to happen with convergence is that we are offering it up into app layer enabling applications to use FMC opens up more compelling features. If I can add a NewStep call button to my Facebook profile, it enables my friends, colleagues, work group, whatever I have on Facebook to click to call me. Then it launches a call via my converged service, my single number, and it uses presence information to determine how best to reach me.”