Airwide Solutions,  which provides next-generation mobile messaging infrastructure, has teamed with mobile instant messaging (IM) company Colibria to provide a messaging solution that seamlessly integrates SMS, MMS and mobile IM. The companies say the solution delivers on the promise of next-generation networks by helping operators quickly and cost-effectively deploy new revenue-enhancing services. 
The interoperable technologies offer mobile operators a flexible way to provide subscribers with enhanced messaging services that work across 2.5 and 3G networks, as well as IMS enabled networks. The integrated set of technologies is designed to provide subscribers with a richer messaging experience, regardless of the network or messaging technology, while offering operators significant savings in operating expenses and integration efforts. 
While the $60 billion global SMS market is still a major revenue earner, operators also want to offer new services such as mobile IM to drive additional future revenue growth, says Airwide. Mobile IM solutions like this offer subscribers enhanced SMS services with better interactivity, functionality and features. The growing demand for social networking and multimedia content on mobile networks is also driving operators to a range of messaging options based on subscriber preferences, device type, messaging recipient, message type, network and service.      
Next-generation networks break down silos of messaging, and accelerate operators ability to implement best of breed, multi-use products. With Airwides Fusion architecture, operators can separate application, delivery, storage and policy management network elements, for a higher degree of flexibility and control of independently scalable network components.
SMS services continue to drive substantial revenues for the mobile operators, says Airwide Vice President of Business Development, Kevin Wiant. Operators are looking to build on this foundation by integrating other messaging options that appeal to the diversity of subscriber preferences and handsets. With Colibria, we can provide operators an easy way to implement mobile IM services that can communicate with their SMS community. This service acceleration is possible due to the next generation messaging approach being taken by Airwide and Colibria.
Using Airwide and Colibria technologies, operators can deploy a messaging environment in which subscribers are confident that their messages will be delivered regardless of their handset or network. In particular, new mobile IM subscribers will be able to communicate with the large existing base of SMS subscribers and growing numbers of MMS users. This messaging interaction can also be extended to SIP clients on mobile and fixed phones.
The integrated Airwide/Colibria system will be available in Q3 of 2007.