WIMS 2.0: Converging IMS and Web 2.0. Designing REST APIs for the Exposure of Session-Based IMS Capabilities

This paper presents the WIMS 2.0 initiative, a study on the strategies, technologies and service platforms to be used by telecom operators to achieve the convergence with innovative Web 2.0 services in All-IP networks. After analysing the current situation in the world of IP services, a business model change is recommended through the adoption of a user-centric and open-garden philosophy. IMS is identified as the base platform to construct the convergence and the business model change. The study follows a two-sided approach to achieve the convergence: the open exposure of IMS capabilities towards Web 2.0 services and the use of Web 2.0 services to enrich operators´ services. Following this approach, a reference model for the new service architecture, the WIMS 2.0 Services Platform, is also proposed. Focusing on the exposure of IMS capabilities as the main topic, the study recommends that IMS capabilities should be exposed through open Web APIs following a RESTful approach. In this regard, and in contrast to other existing RPC approaches, this paper proposes a design for the exposition of session-based IMS capabilities through REST APIs, more concretely, based on the AtomPub protocol.