Founded in 1999, initially a subsidiary of TTPcom, the Cambridge, UK based protocol stack systems house, ip.access originally developed a GSM 2G femtocell solution. This has given them considerable experience of the types of problems encountered in managing this application. Their 2G GSM solution includes a full IP-based BSC and OMC-R management system, and has between 20-30 commercial deployments around the world. They also have a complete subsystem solution for 3G.

ip.access launched the Oyster 3G at 3GSM in February 2007 as a standalone product. Unlike some other femtocell vendors, they offer a complete subsystem including OMC-R and device management.

They have proven interworking with the Nokia femtocell gateway, but prefer to provide the complete solution. Cisco incorporated and re-branded the ip.access femtocell for AT&T 3G Micocell, where they provide some of the core network capability and have integrated the solution into AT&T's network.

ip.access offer both GSM and UMTS 3G products, but do not operate in the CDMA market.

Both product sets comply with the TR-069 remote device management standard.

Announced selection of picoChip modem on 25 September 2006. Incorporates OpenClovis open-source middleware in the product.

ip.access claim to have identified and solved some of the technical issues in operating 3G femtocells, and have applied for patents for some of these techniques.

These include:

• Reusable scrambling codes to address the limit of neighbour femtocells
• Disposable Authentication Vectors for increased security
• Seamless hand-in and hand-out
• Dynamic Power Management to reduce interference with the macrocellular network

Their 3G product includes a 2G GSM receiver for clock recovery purposes. Since the 2G GSM signal can typically penetrate in-building (unlike 3G signals at higher frequencies), it is often easier to detect and recover an accurate clock reference from 2G. The device will scan the neighbourhood for both 3G and 2G radio signals to determine the optimal frequency, power level and scrambling codes to use, in addition to clock recovery.

The 3G unit operates at a power level of up to 7dB, compared with 23dB for the 2G unit.

Demonstrated direct IP breakout from the femtocell in June 2008. This is "3G Home Routing " feature avoids all data traffic being routed back to the mobile operator's network, and also enables femtozone services where the user's device can operate differently and enable additional services when at home in the coverage area of the femtocell. This has been promoted under the context of the "Connected Home", which would use smarter mobile devices (or at least equipped with additional software applications) to achieve a wide range of additional services.Watch a video of their demo on YouTube

Andy Tiller, VP Marketing, provided an interview to ThinkFemtocell with insight to the future roadmap.

ip.access femtocell partners

Various press announcements include:

Tatara Systems, who provide services based around the SIP/IMS technology architecture.

Mavenir Systems who's Intelligent Convergence System provides additional and specific services based around femtozones, including location, presence and home zone features.

Cisco Systems made a strategic investment in ip.access in January 2008 and have embedded ip.access femtocell technology into their consumer products, specifically those provided to AT&T for the 3G Microcell.

ip.access was 47% owned by Motorola Ventures Inc, which bought it from TTP parent company in 2006. Some background to the business is documented here. Other investors also include Scottish Equity Partners, Rothschild Gestion, Intel Capital, Amadeus Capital Partners and ADC. Since then Cisco also took an undisclosed stake in the business in January 2008 - Cisco owns Linksys and Scientific Atlanta which make home hub and set top boxes respectively, mainly for the home market. Qualcomm also made an undisclosed investment in May 2008.

ip.access website