T-Com: Unlicensed Mobile Access A Reality!
Some interesting news from the Mobile Technology Weblog entitled “T-Mobile Germany Announces T-One GSM+WiFi”. The blog mentioned that Nokia in partnership with Deutche Telekom Group Germany are launching this service to allow users of WiFi and GSM-enabled handsets to use either a WiFi hotspot or the regular GSM cloud.
In the Nokia Press Release, it states:
Deutsche Telekom Group announced T-One, an integrated dual-mode telephony solution combining the benefits of fixed line and mobile communications, which is being piloted on Nokia N80 and Nokia E60 devices. T-One will offer customers a simple and convenient way to access both fixed line and mobile data services on the aforementioned Nokia devices. Using the WLAN enabled Nokia N80 and Nokia E60 devices, customers will be able to use the same data and voice services from home or on the go through a T-Com HotSpot.
Which leads me to ask a few questions.
1. Will this solution work with other Unlicensed Mobile Access (UMA) products such as those by Performance Technologies, Netrake and Kineto Wireless? Or will the implementation be closed Nokia and roaming limited to Nokia WiFi hotspots?
2. Will the celco pass its cost savings (if any) to the consumer? What will the tariffs for calls made using WiFi/SIP versus GSM voice?
3. Of course, finally, will celcos promote this solution knowing that by bringing WiFi into the handset users can install instant messaging applications and simply use the IP transit to their favorite IM providers? Will this be the final blow to their bread and butter SMS revenues (90% profit business) and reduce the celco to a bandwidth provider?
More to come …
April 22nd, 2006 at 3:15 am
[…] Now wonder companies like T-Mobile Germany are rushing to get UMA networks out. They would probably like to get this technology in the mainstream before customer’s start subscribing to VoIP-based services like Skype. […]