MVNOs To Promote Wi-Fi Roaming Phones

“Alcatel today announced that it is offering its solution for Unlicensed Mobile Access (UMA), which provides access to GSM and GPRS mobile services over Bluetooth and Wi-Fi (802.11) unlicensed spectrum technologies.” It has been argued that operators are not going to support a device that dumps its customers on to a cheaper competing network whenever it can, but this story points out a way it might happen: “Mobile operators using Alcatel’s UMA solution will be able to capture a share of fixed line revenues while lowering their subscribers churn and to accelerating the early introduction of new mobile data services”. The idea is that as more people move towards only having a mobile phone they’ll simply use it at home via a personal wireless connection to their landline or broadband connection…
MVNOs in particular will be keen to differentiate themselves with these handsets, in particular because their focus will be on selling content rather than bandwidth. Nokia has sold a UMA solution to Finland’s biggest MVNO Saunalahti on this basis…”By investing in converged platforms for our network, we aim to redefine the telecommunications landscape in Finland. New converged fixed and mobile broadband services will bring exciting prospects for our customers in future,” said Panu Lehti, COO, Saunalahti.
Related stories:
3G Operators Will Vie For The Best MVNO Partners
4G Impact on Wireless Infrastructures

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