What is IUFlex in UMTS

In the 3GPP Release 5 IUFlex is introduced. It provides an ability to connect RNC's to more than one MSC and/or SGSN. Major benefit would be load sharing between MSC's or SGSN's.

Features supported in 3GPP release 99, release 5, release 6, release 7, Release 8

I often forget what features are added or enhanced in the various 3GPP releases. Here is the list of supported features in the each of the 3GPP release which covers most of part of it.

Release '99

·        Bearer services

·        64 kbit/s circuit switch

·        384 kbit/s packet switched

·        Location services

·        Call services: compatible with Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM), based on Universal Subscriber Identity Module (USIM)

Release 4

·        Edge radio

·        Multimedia messaging

·        MExE (Mobile Execution Environment)

·        Improved location services

·        IP Multimedia Services (IMS)

 Release 5

·        IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS)

·        IPv6, IP transport in UTRAN

·        Improvements in GERAN, MExE, etc.

·        HSDPA

 Release 6

·        WLAN integration

·        Multimedia broadcast and multicast

·        Improvements in IMS

·        HSUPA

·        Fractional DPCH

 Release 7

·        Enhanced L2

·        64 QAM , MIMO

·        Voice over HSPA

·        CPC - continuous packet connectivity

·        FRLC - Flexible RLC

 Release 8

·        DC-HSPA

·        HSUPA 16QAM