Muni Wi-Fi, new business models threaten cellular carriers. Is the party almost over for cellular carriers? Clayton Christensen, Scott Anthony and Alex Slawsby seem to think so in this article in Forbes (click here). Voice over Wi-Fi, citywide wireless networks and new business models are threatening the carriers. http://clearfly.net [MuniWireless.com]
9:59:19 AM    

Nothing truly ground-breaking in this article on muni-voip, but I could not help but notice that "Kenya and Macedonia are currently operating multi-city or national wireless mesh broadband networks". I hope the San Francisco board of supervisors can soon travel to Macedonia for a crash course on how to get things done.

Also interesting: "Municipal networks are running in cities as diverse as Cittagong, Bangladesh; Moscow, Russia; and Taipei, Taiwan. The Beijing public security bureau is deploying a network in preparation for the 2008 Olympics, with an emphasis on video surveillance. U.S. cities where the technology is in use include Anaheim, Mountain View, and Pasadena, Calif.; Chandler, Gilbert, and Tempe, Ariz.; Philadelphia, Pa.; and Corpus Christi, Texas.". 

4:43:59 PM    

Nokia Simplifies Dual-Mode Phones (PC World). PC World - Seamless network hopping gets closer with software that makes Wi-Fi and cellular phones easier to use. [Yahoo! News: Wireless and Mobile Technology]

"In addition to automatically choosing the proper network, the software also helps Telio provision the service, said Jouni Malinen, director of Nokia's emerging business unit. Once a customer signs up for Telio's service, the customer receives a message on the phone that automatically changes the phone's settings to enable the service. Without the Nokia Service Suite, customers would have to manage multiple potentially complicated configuration changes to enable the service, Malinen said."

 

10:45:02 AM    

T-Mobile Launches Converged Cell/Wi-Fi Voice [Wi-Fi Networking News]

This is the first meaningful UMA launch in the US (though it's only a limited pilot in Seattle, with no release dates announced). The most salient aspects of the plan:

- $20 / month for unlimited minutes over wifi. Subscriber must have a $40 minimum voice plan an can combine offering with T-Mobile's $30/mo GPRS data service

- it requires a t-mobile router at home. "The requirement of a specific router relates to the low-power mode of handsets that needs a particular protocol embedded in the router to work—WMM Power Save. Few routers have this right now, but it’s really a protocol-level feature, not a hardware change. However, it does require Wi-Fi Alliance certification if you want to use the label on the product, and thus adds cost at that level.

9:51:52 AM    

No Longer Just Talk: FMC Is Happening

 

UMA (Unlicensed Mobile Access, a carrier-based implementation of Fixed-Mobile Convergence) is no longer a technology looking for an application; unlike a number of new technologies, UMA applications are already being commercialized on a relatively mass scale. A few sample deployments:

 

France: France is arguably the world’s most competitive fixed mobile convergence market. Spurred by acute competitive pressures, Orange and Neuf Cegetel have started pushing UMA- and SIP-based offerings in a marketplace that has consistently been at the forefront of new convergent technologies. For Orange, UMA is one of the first steps in its vision to generate 5–10 percent of revenue from converged services by 2008.

 

Sweden: TeliaSonera has announced the launch an FMC service enabled by UMA technology in November 2006. Called “Home Free,” the service promotes the concept of fixed-line termination, with the promise of a 20 percent savings on phone bills.

 

While this is not in the realm of savings that some fixed VoIP services have been able to provide, the single handset concept may be compelling enough for subscribers wishing to combine the benefits of fixed and mobile services. TeliaSonera also hinted at the availability of low-cost calling via participating public WiFi hotspots, although no specifics have been provided at this time.

 

USA: T-Mobile USA is the most likely candidate to UMA in the US market. For one, it has pushed bundled plans, free voice, and unlimited calling more than any other player in the market. It does not have 3G spectrum; even if it acquires some WCDMA spectrum (which appears likely), the network will take some time to build. UMA would help with those issues, and would provide a means of connecting its cellular and hotspot businesses while providing a unique a differentiated offering which only Cingular would be in a position to potentially match. T-Mobile has been testing UMA with Samsung’s T709 handset, and may launch by early Q107.

 

Source: Pyramid Research

12:24:54 AM    

Are there real savings in VoWiFi?

According to several sources, between 50 and 75% of mobile calls are made at home, the office, a public place or some other indoor location. Considering the current rates of 802.11 penetration in the home, office, restaurant etc, this would imply that somewhere between 20% and 25 % of calls are made within range of an 802.11 access point today. Considering the average cost of a cellular minute vs. the average cost of a VoIP call terminating off-net, we estimate that a hybrid W-Fi / Cellular solution would save operators approximately 15% in costs today. Part of the issue is that Wi-Fi penetration in the home and small business, in spite of the astronomic growth of the last 4 years, is still relatively low (between 10% and 15%). We expect the savings to quickly increase as penetration of Wi-Fi in private and public locations continues to grow at double digit rates.

9:11:24 PM    

Business VoWiFi Service Launches in UK [Wi-Fi Planet Wireless News]
9:50:17 PM    

Wireless Broadband Called Long-Term Winner Over 3G: Study (TechWeb). TechWeb - Technologies such as WiMAX perform better at higher data speeds, making them a better choice in the long-term, a new study says. [Yahoo! News: Technology - Internet]
8:49:16 AM    

Skype software coming to Wi-Fi/cell phones. Skype Technologies' VoIP (voice over Internet Protocol) software will now come installed on mobile handsets from Carrier Devices' i-mate brand that are equipped with Wi-Fi as well as cellular capability. [InfoWorld: Top News]
9:56:38 AM    

Wi-Fi phones don't add up to much

here's a note of skepticism (or realism, one should say) on the advent of Wi-Fi-enabled cellphones:

"But it could take at least until 2009 before the cost of Wi-Fi phones drops enough for a mass market breakthrough, according to Infonetics."

8:30:48 PM    

Wifi-beats-3G redux

Apparently the controversy is not over. Someone still believes that wi-fi belongs in cell phones, enough to develop a $8 chip for handsets. And, surprisingly, mobile network operators are buying into it. "Mobile-network operators, Collier said, were at first wary about working with his company to spread Wi-Fi. However, the company is now getting requests for quotations from major cell-phone vendors, which are engaged in a delicate dance with mobile-network operators over who owns the customer. "

5:11:07 PM