Très chaud sur les talons (so to speak) of the French launches of Orange’s Unik (click) and Iliad/Free’s (click) fixed-mobile convergence (FMC) services, Canadian vendor Nortel has announced that Neuf Cegetel is using its IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS)-ready solution to deliver the TWIN GSM/Wi-Fi FMC service. This is billed both as France’s ‘…first affordable…’ and ‘…first true converged fixed-mobile telephony…’ service, giving savings of between 10% and 30% on regular mobile phone spending, with a broadband Internet connection of up to 11Mbits/s thrown into the bargain.

“The future of communications will depend on multiple network types - both wireless and wireline - working together on a converged/unified network to provide anywhere, anytime access a communication experience,” avers Lee Doyle, group vice president, Network Infrastructure, IDC. “Service providers that deliver fixed/mobile convergence services are better able to retain customers and reduce customer churn by allowing users to stay connected, regardless of device or location. It will also help increase enterprises productivity and customer service.”

In other FMC news, T-Mobile in the USA has reportedly launched a test of its anticipated HotSpot@Home Unlicensed Mobile Access/Generic Access Network (UMA/GAN) Wi-Fi/cellular service in Seattle, while Vodafone Italia’s customers are to be offered the chance to receive at-home calls to their fixed-line numbers on their mobile phones without having to pay Telecom Italia’s line rental. The Italian service – the snappily titled Vodafone Casa Numero Fisso for consumers and Vodafone InOffice Numero Fisso for business customers – will apparently be available early in 2007.

“We are the first company in Italy to break down the last barrier separating home and mobile phones,” says Vodafone Italia ceo Pietro Guindani. “Our offering meets the needs of customers looking for total communication services. This is what we mean by simple, useful innovation. In a highly competitive environment, innovation and customer focus are crucial, since they allow a company to expand beyond traditional market boundaries.”
John Williamson