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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.
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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