Nortel Networks reported today from its research and development center in Guangzhou, China, that it has conducted a SIP-based video call handover between a live HSDPA network and a wireless mesh network, which the company claimed is a first for the Chinese wireless industry.

The demonstration was conducted in Nortel's customer lab at the R&D center in Guangzhou. Several major carriers in the region attended the demonstration, according to Nortel. In commercial use, seamless between the two types of networks would allow uninterrupted connections for applications such as downloading of large files and interactive DVD-quality video--while roaming between 3G networks and Wi-Fi, WLANs and wireless mesh networks.

"The ability to seamlessly connect HSDPA and wireless mesh mobile broadband networks helps enable operators to leverage their existing UMTS infrastructure investments while delivering an improved end-user experience,” said Robert Mao, chief executive officer of Greater China for Nortel.