It seems according to LightReading, and a Heavy Reading report, that the mobile operators are having a devil of a time getting their arms around the concept of Fixed Mobile Convergence.
The problem here is not limited though only to the USA, but is a global issue. With more and more dual mode phones like the Nokia N80i (i for Internet Edition) and the E series having WiFi and SIP built in, the growing desire of users to be able to use “better quality” and less expensive WiFi connections is looming.
Next week at GadgetFest in San Diego I’ll moderate a panel that has Steve Howe of Earthlink and Steve Blumenthal of BridgePort Networks, both of whom have convergence devices to show off.
These new devices are going to be more in demand next year than this year, but the key is that they are here today, and the carriers will have to embrace the new opportunities. These new devices are geared for making it easier for people to stay in touch over IP/WiFi but yet will mimic the cell phone. In the case of BridgePort Networks it’s their MobileStick. For Earthlink it will be a new WiFi Phone that sells for a low price and which Howe promises will work on their WiFi networks.