Some consumer dual-mode services are already available internationally, and at least one trial has begun in the United States. Residential dual-network services are likely to precede business services, because those handsets don’t require integration with a PBX, according to Mike Disabato, service director at the Burton Group.
Adds Allen Nogee, principal analyst at In-Stat: “Dual-mode is mostly a consumer play because there is a fear of who’s going to maintain the [business] network,” which will have both private (Wi-Fi) and public (cellular) components.
Many residences already have Wi-Fi coverage throughout the home, as well as a cellular contract, so combining Wi-Fi and cellular voice is one way for mobility-focused operators to rid residences of wired phones altogether. Consumer-based services to date are delivered using Unlicensed Mobile Access (UMA) technology, which tunnels VoIP calls through GSM cellular networks.
T-Mobile, for example, began a U.S. residential pilot of UMA-based Wi-Fi/cellular voice services in August using the Samsung T709 dual-mode handset. The carrier was mum, however, on commercial service rollout dates and any planned business services at press time.
BT in the United Kingdom offers commercially its UMA-based BT Fusion service, which operates like a traditional mobile phone but switches to landline calling rates when subscribers call landline numbers from home. BT Fusion subscribers have WLAN access via the Motorola A910 Wi-Fi/GSM handset, which isn’t expected to ship in the United States until late this year. Similarly, NTT DoCoMo has long offered dual-network services to residential users using the NEC N900IL handset.
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