IMS stands for IP Multimedia Subsystem.
IMS is a telecommunications architecture framework defined by 3GPP for delivering IP-based multimedia services, primarily voice and video calls over mobile and fixed networks. It uses SIP as its signaling protocol.
IMS and WebRTC
IMS is relevant to WebRTC in the context of telecom carrier services:
- VoLTE/VoWiFi: Voice over LTE and WiFi calling use IMS infrastructure. Some carriers are exploring WebRTC as a client alternative to native VoLTE apps
- Rich Communication Services (RCS): The next generation of SMS/MMS runs on IMS and may incorporate WebRTC for video
- WebRTC gateways: Telecom operators deploy WebRTC-to-IMS gateways to allow web users to connect to their IMS core for voice and video services
IMS is primarily relevant to telecommunications operators and enterprise telephony deployments rather than typical WebRTC application developers.
