Plugfest 6 will continue to address the robustness, reliability andcertification of key IMS SIP and Diameter interfaces as well as thefollowing local and visited network services including:

-- Inter and intra-domain NGN services routing-- Visited networks scenarios for Consumer and Enterprise customers-- Billing, charging and service creation/SDP for IMS and NGN-- Presence and location based services-- Interfaces operational testing (SIP-Gm, SIP-Mw, SIP-ISC, interface security profiles, Sh-Diameter and Cx-Diameter interfaces)-- Other services including SIP signaling compression and multiple profiles for public and private users-- Services including VoIP for residential and enterprise, Unified Communications, IPTV, FMC and other multimedia applications

"IMS Plugfest events accelerate cooperation among vendors and benefit ourcustomers," said Ron de Lange, executive vice president Tekelec GlobalProduct Solutions. "TekCore has been the reference CSCF for the past fivePlugfests offering us a productive environment to learn and validate ourproduct offering."

"IMS Forum Plugfests provide a hands-on environment to ensure that networkoperators have reliable, available and secure deployments of IMSarchitecture and NGN services free of costly downtime," said Adam Stein, VPMarketing, Mu Dynamics. "Mu has seen extensive advancement in bothoperator and vendor service assurance through our Plugfest testing andone-on-one collaboration with participants, many of whom have since becomeMu customers."

"Sonus continues to support Plugfest events to demonstrate our commitmentto interoperability as a key element to a successful IMS implementation,"commented John Nye, VP Corporate Marketing at Sonus Networks. "At thisevent we will be featuring the IMX, Sonus' IMS compliant Service DeliveryPlatform (SDP). The ability for carriers and operators to develop and getnew services into market quickly drives a competitive advantage for bothestablished players and newcomers to the market."

The NGN/IMS Forum also announces that the following organizations aresponsor participants of Plugfest 6: Intel, HP, Aricent, Acision, MuDaynamics, Tekelec, Sonus, Wipro, Marben Products, UNH-IOL, TMC NGNMagazine, Informa, Supercomm 2009, and Virgo Publishing.

"Incorporating critical elements of service delivery such as billing,charging and IP OSS into its industry-leading programs, including the NGNIMS Plugfest events, demonstrates the Forum's commitment to makingnext-generation services not only interoperable, but profitable as well,"said Jenny Bolton, CEO of Virgo Publishing, publisher of B/OSS, VON andxchange magazines.

"Since 2006 The IMS Forum has pioneered events that allow vendors to gatherand rapidly push forward IMS and NGN initiatives that benefit the telecomindustry," said Rich Tehrani, President of TMC. "They've set the standardfor interoperability testing among IMS solutions. TMC has been a proudsponsor of all 5 of the IMS Plugfests and looks forward to sponsoringPlugfest 6 and to covering these events in NGN Magazine -- a new print andonline publication debuting in December 2008."

"Our Multimedia and Mobility (M-Play) strategy continues to provide thebest-in-class interoperability for fixed, mobile, and cable broadbandservices," said Michael Khalilian, Chairman and President of NGN/IMS Forum."With the focus on services spanning across the consumer-enterprise divide,the IMS NGN Forum plays an active role in securing new revenue streams forall participants in these emerging markets."

Participation in NGN IMS Plugfest 6 is open to all companies. For onlineregistration and info contact the forum at: info@imsforum.org or visitwww.NGNforum.org.

About the NGN and IMS Forums™

The NGN/IMS Forum is the only global telecommunications association devotedto Next Generation Network (NGN) service delivery and interoperable IPMultimedia Subsystem (IMS) services architectures and solutions.

The Forum's mission is to accelerate the interoperability of IMS and NGNservices and to enable enterprise and residential consumers to benefitfully from the delivery of M-play™: rich multimedia, mobility and fixedservices over wireline, cable, GSM, UMTS, Wi-Fi, WiMAX, LTE and fiberbroadband networks. The Forum is the creator and organizer of the IMSPlugfests™ and NGN Plugfests™, the industry's only events focused onverification and certification of IMS and NGN service interoperabilitythrough the IMS Certified™ and NGN Certified™ programs.

Through organized Plugfests, technical working groups and other activities,Forum members develop cost-effective technical frameworks for revenuegenerating converged IP NGN solutions. The combined organizations includeover 2000 executives and technical, business development and marketingprofessionals from global and emerging equipment vendors, solutionproviders, integrators, service providers, and governmental agencies.

For additional information or to join the NGN Forum, the IMS Plugfest,and/or the NGN Plugfest, please visit www.IMSforum.org or www.NGNforum.org.

For Further Information contact:NGN/IMS Forum Media RetaliationsCathy ClarkeCNC Associates+1 (508) 833-8533pr@imsforum.org