... The integrated and critical analysis of the results from 40 case studies and relevant academic literature review on middleware platforms, technical documents elaborated by MMTPs, industry-related news, and market research reports and analysis (Agboma and Liotta, 2009;Alcatel, 2006;Ballon and Van Bossuyt, 2006;Bellavista et al., 2009;Benali et al., 2004;Bonnin et al., 2009;Capp and Farley, 2005;Chan and Chuang, 2003; Chen et al., Figure 2 The list of companies studied 2003; Das et al., 2000;Decker and Bulander, 2009;Devoteam, 2007;Ericsson, 2005Ericsson, , 2008Fleury et al., 2009;Karlich et al., 2004;Koutsopoulou et al., 2004Koutsopoulou et al., , 2007Gupta et al., 2009;Hashim et al., 2008;Laakko and Hiltunen, 2005;Le Maistre, 2010;Leavitt, 2003;Manasseh and Sengupta, 2010;Misra et al., 2008;Moerdijk and Klostermann, 2003;Nagar and Lim, 2008;Pailer et al., 2003;Pavlovski and Staes-Polet, 2005;Sun and Leu, 2009;Sur et al., 2006;Yang et al., 2010;Zahariadis et al., 2002;Zhang, 2007) made it possible to build an MCSDP functional architecture comprising seven modules with 48 functionalities or sub-modules. In addition, three cross-module macro-functions were present. ...