How Does Fixed Mobile Convergence Impact You?

We’re all familiar with the modern buzzwords in the IT, and specifically IP communications industries. With examples like Unified Communications (UC), Unified Messaging, Cloud Telephony, etc, the bounds and definitions of such terms can be a bit, well, cloudy. Today, we’re looking at Fixed Mobile Convergence, and what it means to the enterprise communications markets. As with many other industry buzzwords and terms, its definition is very similar to the phrase itself. FMC focuses on the integration (or convergence) between fixed and wireless telecom networks. Basically, the overall goal and focus is to allow one device to easily and simultaneously operate and connect to both types of networks, while maintaining seamless communications. There is inherently significant value in FMC-based solutions and technologies available to end-users and service providers alike. From the end-user perspective, a theme of total convergence, interoperability, and simplicity is conveyed, allowing for access to multiple methods of communication from a single device or alias. We are all unfortunately familiar with the incessant growing of “communications creep” that has infiltrated our lives. We all have multiple points-of-contact, including home, office, and cellular phones, multiple voicemail and email boxes, SMS aliases, etc. FMC’s application towards end-users aims to simply this increasingly complex world. With one advanced and feature-laden device, FMS aims to ‘melt away’ the complexities of many networks, devices, and implementations. There are benefits for service providers as well. Imagine the number of value added services that will be offered once FMC takes hold. We’ll undoubtedly see the vendor-bias and proprietary methods towards implementation come to the forefront, however. Overall, there are many methods, solutions, and questions that the ideas behind FMC have generated. For some more reading materials, please check out these links of interest below: “Fixed mobile convergence – some considerations.” Azfar Aslam of Lucent Technologies NS UK, University College London. “A one-phone-fits-all world.” Stuart Kennedy of Australian IT.