Question: What does fixed-mobile convergence give users who still need two or three devices, several contact numbers or names, a couple of different mailboxes and at least three network providers — even if those providers are under one corporate umbrella?

Answer: The same logistical headache they've had for a decade with, perhaps, slight relief provided by the advent of the single bill.

The concept of convergence is brilliant, its promise welcome. But the transition can be painful. NewStep Networks has a signaling-layer software suite designed to ease that pain and take the stress out of multi-technology communications. It's called Converged Call Management (CCM), and it operates at the signaling layer to facilitate integration between SS7 networks, IP/SIP networks and IP PBX implementations.

NewStep, spun out of Bell Canada in 2003, is offering what it calls Any Call, Any Network call management. In late June, the company introduced CCM as a means of allowing fixed and mobile operators to more easily deploy converged services to both their IP and TDM subscribers.

“We can keep a leg in both worlds and still allow both types of service providers to deliver advanced services,” said Kevin McCracken, director of product management for NewStep Networks.

The technology is patented, not just patent-pending, and includes the four modules necessary to converged call management.

The first is Mobile Call Handoff. It automatically switches calls between cellular and Wi-Fi services as dual-mode handsets move in and out of coverage areas. And it automatically recovers calls from lost Wi-Fi connections.

Next is Mobile Call Pickup. It allows subscribers to easily transfer incoming and active calls from ordinary cell phones to desktop IP phones.

The Automatic Call Reconnect module holds and recovers active calls as subscribers pass through cellular dead spots to improve quality of experience for cellular subscribers. Finally, the Mobile Call Director module supports enterprise directory-based call initiation, screening and disposition with mobile and desktop user interfaces. This provides users with a consistent look and feel for services across mobile and fixed networks and allows network operators to have the same consistent view.

“Having the ability to bridge networks is good, but you need these capabilities to deliver the services on top of that,” McCracken said.

The system has its own integrated session-based billing, which supports detailed call reports while callers move between networks. The modules that comprise the CCM are built on NewStep's Converged Services Node (CSN) platform, which is designed to insulates applications from existing network technology so that future services can easily transition to an IP multimedia subsystem infrastructure.

“The CSN doesn't touch the bearer path, so it's easy to get up and running,” McCracken said.