ARRIS and UTStarcom have sealed a deal to co-develop a platform that will enable cable operators to add the mobile/wireless component of the coveted "quadruple play" services bundle.

The resulting Fixed Mobile Convergence (FMC) platform will allow cable customers with dual-model handsets to roam between cellular and Wi-Fi connections, the companies said.

Under the deal, ARRIS will license FMC software and hardware from UTStarcom for an initial period of three years. After that, ARRIS will have the right to exercise an option to retain rights to UTStarcom's FMC system, which is based on the IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) standard. UTStarcom's "Continuity" system includes an FMC Feature Server and a dual-mode WiFi/GSM handset.

UTStarcom said it will retain the exclusive rights to market those products to to the telco sector.

In addition to the Continuity software, ARRIS' FMC solution will be comprised of its Mobility Application Server (MAS), a device that controls the communication between a cable operator's telephony operations and the cellular operator's network. Depending on operator equipment plans, the platform might also feature ARRIS' TM552 wireless telephony modem and its Cadant C4 cable modem termination system.

ARRIS said its FMC platform is scheduled to begin shipping in the second half of 2006, adding that "early customer testing" is already underway.

"This new capability allows ARRIS to further equip the cable industry with another tool in providing end users with the ultimate converged services portfolio," said ARRIS New Business Ventures President Bryant Isaacs.