(WIN) is a concept being developed by the Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA) Standards Committee TR45.2. The charter of this committee is to drive intelligent network (IN) capabilities, based on interim standard (IS)-41, into wireless networks. IS-41 is a standard currently being embraced by wireless providers because it facilitates roaming. Basing WIN standards on this protocol enables a graceful evolution to an IN without making current network infrastructure obsolete.

Today's wireless subscribers are much more sophisticated telecommunications users than they were five years ago. No longer satisfied with just completing a clear call, today's subscribers demand innovative ways to use the wireless phone. They want multiple services that allow them to handle or select incoming calls in a variety of ways.
Enhanced services are very important to wireless customers. They have come to expect, for instance, services such as caller ID and voice messaging bundled in the package when they buy and activate a cellular or personal communications service (PCS) phone. Whether prepaid, voice/data messaging, Internet surfing, or location-sensitive billing, enhanced services will become an important differentiator in an already crowded, competitive service-provider market.

Enhanced services will also entice potentially new subscribers to sign up for service and will drive up airtime through increased usage of PCS or cellular services. As the wireless market becomes increasingly competitive, rapid deployment of enhanced services becomes critical to a successful wireless strategy.
Intelligent network (IN) solutions have revolutionized wireline networks. Rapid creation and deployment of services has become the hallmark of a wireline network based on IN concepts. Wireless intelligent network (WIN) will bring those same successful strategies into the wireless networks.