When I think of enterprise-wide deployments of VoIP, especially IP-PBX systems, I think of lots and lots of wired IP endpoints, with a small variety of wireless handsets deployed over the organization's wireless network. Still, it seems as though the major "endpoint focus" of organizations is towards wired terminals. Sure, we have SpectraLink (now Polycom), Cisco's wireless 802.11-compliant phones, etc. But, what the market has yet to see is a true "dual-mode" cellphone + VoIP endpoint combination.
There are lots of technologies in play at the wireless level. Beyond 802.11, we're at the mercy of the cellular network which may or may not serve the higher-bandwidth capabilities that IP-based telephony provides. Yet, the cellular networks are making strides. When I consider that I'm writing this article while on I-77 somewhere east of Charlotte, NC, I've come to appreciate the EVDO and 3G technologies that allow me to maintain IP-based connectivity even while away from a metropolitan area. What must be considered, however, is how to tune the cellular network to provide quality transport for VoIP calls.
Analyzing this from another perspective, is a "dual-mode" device that allows for cellular voice connectivity and IP-based telephony features really needed? Are we as consumers happy enough with the "twinning" capabilities of modern switches? Do we really need to dial extension-to-extension from anywhere where we have cellular connectivity? These questions must all be answered and affirmed before we'll see significant investment in such a blend of technologies.
Provided that the hardware and software requirements, along with the overall network and infrastructure requirements are quite large for such a deployment and investment, it comes down to a few key questions when considering the convergence market from this angle. Will this technology impact most present-day cellular users? Or, will it only benefit 5% of users as it caters to those who demand such features?
To conclude, it's important to remember this: 10 years ago, RIM and the Blackberry product catered to a very small niche market. Now, the technology and consumer demand has exploded. Will "true" wireless VoIP do the same?
Nickasch has been very involved in IT since he was just 13. His current and previous consulting experience includes systems architecture, virtualization, and converged networks for the financial, education, and healthcare industries. Matthew currently attends the University of Wisconsin-Platteville, where he also works as a network management assistant. While his interests include directory services and routing protocols, Nickasch's focus is on converged networks and voice over IP.
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Mobile VoIP
Personally, I would doubt that cell phone companies see any threat from VoIP whether mobile or otherwise. It's easy to carried away with the hype surrounding VoIP phone systems. Business customers in particular put a high premium on a robust service and will willingly pay for the certainty of achieving a connection. It's also clearly apparent that mobile phone company's are onto "content." If mobile VoIP does become a threat in the future then revenue from content delivery may be used to subsidize "free" mobile calls.
Best of Both Worlds
During the period of the next ten years while the VoIP side of FMC goes from being ten ways to do something to two or three, there will be the need for transitional technology to facilitate and/or increase the cost effectiveness of whatever your FMC looks like today while being adaptable to future requirements. Cellular Gateways is an excellent example of transitional technology. It is PBX agnostic and, once Verizon and Sprint get their act together, carrier agnostic. Until then, advantage at&t and T-Mobile, a fact that has not escaped them. For the end user, reductions in paid pooled minutes of 30% or more while enhancing emergency response/disaster recovery plans along with increased productivity and enhanced customer interaction. The saturated cellular industry gets an untapped source of new line activations and a reduction of churn rate (they now have equipment residing one level deeper in the client’s telecom network). Finally, the phone system vendor gets a new sale to an existing client or to a new client. Fred Palacios Director of Sales ITS Telecom