| Home |
| About Us |
| Latest News |
| Features |
| R-100 Index |
| Newsdesk |
| Free Email Alerts |
| - - - - - - - |
| Wireless Business Review |
| - - - - - - - |
| Double trouble? |
|
|
| Thursday, 04 October 2007 | |
|
Dual-mode UMA may not float FMC boat says Analysys…
Most network operators in the future will need to offer services over both fixed and mobile access networks. However, a narrow focus on dual-mode services based on Unlicensed Mobile Access (UMA) could distract operators from achieving market breakthroughs with alternative fixed–mobile convergence (FMC) approaches, according to a new report, ‘How to Succeed with Fixed–Mobile Convergence’, published by Analysys. Analysys notes that a number of operators have already launched dual-mode UMA services, and on Friday 28 September 2007 TeliaSonera launched its Home Free service in “Many people regard FMC as being dual-mode handset services that use WLAN for voice communication in the home and workplace, while using cellular services elsewhere,” comments report co-author, Dr Alastair Brydon. “Early take-up of such services has been disappointing. For example, nearly two years after its launch, there were only 40,000 BT Fusion customers, representing just 0.2% of the number of BT fixed telephony customers. There may be much better alternatives than dual-mode handsets if operators want to deliver successful FMC services.” Key findings of the Analysys analysis include: · device convergence – where operators offer dual-mode mobile devices that can access both fixed and mobile network services – is only one form of FMC. Early consumer UMA services lack simplicity, face strong competition and fail to target receptive market segments. BT is not alone in experiencing disappointing take-up. Deutsche Telekom launched its T-One UMA-based service in · a number of developments to UMA-based voice services – such as an improved range of handsets during 2007 – will enhance their attractiveness. However, these advances will be countered by improvements in cellular-only services, which will become more affordable, for example · operators must not overlook the more significant opportunities presented by market convergence. This involves operators combining the marketing of fixed and mobile services – for example, with bundled pricing, special promotion and/or utilising common distribution channels – without necessarily delivering the services to a single device or using a common integrated network. “Innovative converged marketing of fixed and mobile services can result in propositions that are much more appealing to end users than completely separate services,” adds co-author Dr Mark Heath. “Marketing convergence can also avoid non-integrated operators being disadvantaged compared to integrated operators by their more limited opportunities with device and network convergence.” But not all industry rune readers reckon UMA-based FMC is a bust. In its recent research brief – ‘Unlicensed Mobile Access (UMA): Vendor Ecosystem, Operator Deployment Activity, and Subscriber Forecasts’ - ABI Research states that not that long ago, many market-watchers thought that UMA had run its course as a means of bridging cellular and Wi-Fi networks. However, says the company, because of the delays in the growth and development of viable competing solutions (Session Initiation Protocol or Voice Call Continuity), the opposite is true: UMA services, devices, and subscribers are still growing, and subscriber numbers should reach 65 million by 2012. “Until recently, proponents of competing fixed-mobile convergence solutions frequently cited the fact that UMA was only usable with 2G or enhanced 2G cellular services,” offers ABI principal analyst Philip Solis. “But recently, the UMA client software has received an upgrade that will allow it to work with 3G handsets and services, offering another mobile broadband FMC option that will be viable for some time to come.” ABI also points that operators like the idea of UMA because it relieves 3G network congestion, and that the Orange/France Telecom Unique service had shifted over 250,000 UMA handsets by mid-year. John Williamson |
| < Prev | Next > |
|---|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|