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Killer App 2.0 for mobile broadband? VoIP.

Internet access was essential for driving awareness to mobile broadband. Now, voice services over the mobile Internet are poised to define the next wave of adoption.

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Performing a task efficiently or enabling new functionality is fundamental to emerging communications technology. Compelling applications are driving the adoption of mobile technology as they have for desktop computing. An application determined to be core to the success of a service or hardware platform is commonly referred to as a "killer app". For cell phones, the killer application has been a high-quality voice phone service without restriction to location. The first attraction to mobile broadband was open Internet access becoming available anytime and anywhere. That was Mobile Broadband Killer App 1.0. As adoption of mobile broadband continues to rise, what applications will lead to continued growth?

VoIP use on a mobile broadband device is both an opportunity and a concern for the global telecommunications market. Proponents are looking for ways to lower customer costs associated with voice and data services. VoIP operates as an application over an Internet-connected device. Opponents fear a competitive service that impacts their core revenues from voice minutes. Newer mobile operators, such as Hutchison 3G UK (known as "3"), that don't have the legacy cell phone baggage of their competitors saw the opportunity to deliver voice using VoIP. The operator offers mobile phones that use the Skype voice application over a 3G connection.


The South Korean government is considering permitting voice communication over broadband wireless networks. Officials have expressed concern that the WiMAX-powered WiBro service has not exceeded subscriber adoption goals due to a lack of "killer application". VoIP could be the catalyst that permits consumers to converge mobile voice and data needs into a single handheld device instead of carrying a cell phone along with a separate data-centric unit. A researcher with Korea's Information Society Development (KISDI) mentioned that lowering mobile phone call rates is being studied along with the concept of issuing voice numbers for WiBro subscribers. WiBro operators KT and SK Telecom could find themselves mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs) as soon as this year if the proposal gains government approval. A final report with recommendations from KISDI is expected by October.

While voice phone service on a mobile device is borrowed from the success of the cellular phone, it provides new opportunity to combine the frequency of voice and data communications into a single platform, which cannot be accomplished on existing data-constrained cellular networks. First generation mobile broadband systems that offer data services on-the-go are evolving to provide greater functionality, making VoIP the second killer application for mobile broadband.

By Jeff Orr

ORR Technology, LLC

 

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Friday, August 01, 2008 in Applications  | Permalink |  Comments (0)


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