RFC 2194 (rfc2194) - Page 3 of 35

Review of Roaming Implementations

RFC 2194           Review of Roaming Implementations      September 1997


   shared use network
          This is an IP dialup network whose use is shared by two or
          more organizations.  Shared use networks typically implement
          distributed authentication and accounting in order to
          facilitate the relationship among the sharing parties. Since
          these facilities are also required for implementation of
          roaming, implementation of shared use is frequently a first
          step toward development of roaming capabilities.  In fact, one
          of the ways by which a provider may offer roaming service is
          to conclude shared use agreements with multiple networks.
          However, to date the ability to accomplish this has been
          hampered by lack of interoperability among shared use
          implementations.

   non-IP dialup network
          This is a dialup network providing user access to the member
          systems via protocols other than IP.  These networks may
          implement phone book synchronization facilities, in order to
          provide systems, administrators and users with a current list
          of participating systems.  Examples of non-IP dialup networks
          supporting phone book synchronization include FidoNet and
          WWIVnet.

4.  Global Reach Internet Consortium (GRIC)

   Led by a US-based Internet technology developer, AimQuest
   Corporation, ten Internet Service Providers (ISPs) from the USA,
   Australia, China, Japan, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan, and
   Thailand formed the Global Reach Internet Connection (GRIC) in May,
   1996.  The goals of GRIC were to facilitate the implementation of a
   global roaming service and to coordinate billing and settlement among
   the membership.  Commercial operation began in December of 1996, and
   GRIC has grown to over 100 major ISPs and Telcos from all over the
   world, including NETCOM, USA; KDD and Mitsubishi, Japan; iStar,
   Canada; Easynet, UK; Connect.com, Australia; Iprolink, Switzerland;
   Singapore Telecom; Chunghwa Telecom, Taiwan; and Telekom Malaysia.
   Information on GRIC is available from http://www.gric.net/.

   In implementing their roaming service, GRIC members have chosen
   software developed by AimQuest. AimQuest Corporation's roaming
   implementation comprises the following major components: the
   AimTraveler Authentication Server (AAS), the AimTraveler Routing
   Server (ARS), and the AimQuest Internet Management System (AIMS),
   software designed to facilitate the billing process. Information on
   the AimQuest roaming implementation is available from
   http://www.aimquest.com/.





Aboba, et. al.               Informational