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CHICAGO--Alcatel today said it has integrated Unlicensed Mobile Access (UMA) control functionality directly into its Spatial Wireless softswitch and server line. The vendor also announced T-Mobile USA has deployed the solution in its new next-generation core.

The UMA add-on obviates the need for a separate management element in the network. Before developing its own solution, Alcatel worked in partnership with Kineto Wireless to bring mobile/Wi-Fi convergence to its carrier customers, but now Alcatel can offer and all-in-one solution, said Martine Lapierre, chief technology officer of Alcatel’s Mobile Communications Group.

T-Mobile has integrated the UMA controller directly into its new Spatial core, one of Alcatel’s major customer wins since acquiring the softswitch vendor last year. Unlike other U.S. carriers, T-Mobile USA has not actively pursued a 3G strategy, choosing instead to invest heavily in its Wi-Fi hot spot footprint. With UMA, T-Mobile can offload voice traffic onto Wi-Fi networks at customers’ homes or offices over its nationwide network of hot spots.

The UMA controller handles security, simulation and conversion for all UMA traffic headed to the network from the IP network, either via a Wi-Fi access point or a Bluetooth connection. It also tracks users as they pass from one network to the other. Unlike other voice traffic traversing the IP network, UMA doesn’t convert a conversation into VoIP packets. Instead it keeps the original GSM transmission intact and uses the IP network for transport, basically simulating a GSM call over a data network.