A copyright agreement is now in place that will allow the Open Mobile Alliance (OMA) Push-to-Communicate for Public Safety (PCPS) specifications. This is based on the OMA Push-to-talk over Cellular (PoC) to be used in 3GPP specifications for mission-critical Push-To-Talk (MCPTT).

The agreement, approved by the OMA Board and now out for signature among the 3GPP SDOs, is a vital aid to the progress of the work of 3GPP’s new SA6 working group, allowing them to use PCPS 1.0 texts where needed to complete 3GPP MCPTT without having to ‘re-invent the wheel’.

In recognition of the efforts in both OMA and 3GPP to get this decision made and implemented in good time, the OMA General Manager, Seth Newberry, commented “OMA extends its thanks to all who worked so hard to forge this agreement and we wish SA6 the best of luck in developing the LTE MCPTT specification. We look forward to future collaboration with 3GPP and the first responder community the world over.”

Balazs Bertenyi, the 3GPP SA Chairman praised the way that the memberships of both bodies were able to move on this agreement. “This copyright agreement will ensure that the specifications for LTE MCPTT get done. If the stakeholders hadn’t shown the goodwill and enthusiasm that has been in evidence, we could have been facing delays in getting some of the specifications based on OMA PoC ready on time.”