Interoperability & Testing

Setting the standard

Interoperability and Testing (IOT) is an important aspect of the licensing and accreditation process in the Rich Communication Services (RCS) programme. It allows the company undertaking the IOT process to apply for a license to use the service mark joyn™ created for Rich Communication Services. The presence of the joyn icon indicates to a user that a mobile device, stand-alone app or operator service offering is compliant with the RCS specification and has met the test criteria for network and device. Simply put, it means that a user can insert a SIM into any accredited mobile device and joyn-supported network and it will just work.

Self-accreditation

The IOT process has been designed as a self-accreditation process. The legal basis for this is covered by the License Agreement, signed by GSMA and the licensee. The license agreement is a promise to only use the service mark when the device / platform has successfully completed the accreditation minimum requirements, as applicable to certain device categories (mobile devices, PCs, tablets, etc.).

There are four types of licensee defined by GSMA in the accreditation process:

• Operators – Companies providing RCS services to users
• RCS client manufacturers – Companies producing independent software for end-user devices or embedded solutions from Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) supporting provisioning of the RCS services in the operator’s network or as downloadable clients for use on Smartphones.
• Marketing – For organisations with products or services that would not be appropriate to accredit using the standard procedure who are allowed to use the  brand in accordance with a specific set of logo usage guidelines
• Hosted Solutions – An RCS service offering based on infrastructure components, typically an IMS core and RCS service nodes, independent of any access network. A further type of licensee defined by the GSMA and included in the accreditation process. This type of licensee is recognised as important in aiding time to market for new RCS deployments, reducing initial cost outlays and accelerating knowledge sharing: e.g. technical interconnection between operators.

NB: You must be a member of the GSMA or have signed a non-member participation agreement (valid only for 3 months) to access the IOT and accreditation information details in the Infocentre.