'VoIP Over Wi-Fi will Pose an Added Headache to Mobile Operators' Roaming Revenues,' says visiongain Report.SAN FRANCISCO San Francisco (săn frănsĭs`kō), city (1990 pop. 723,959), coextensive with San Francisco co., W Calif., on the tip of a peninsula between the Pacific Ocean and San Francisco Bay, which are connected by the strait known as the Golden & LONDON London, city, Canada London, city (1991 pop. 303,165), SE Ont., Canada, on the Thames River. The site was chosen in 1792 by Governor Simcoe to be the capital of Upper Canada, but York was made capital instead. London was settled in 1826. -- Mobile operators must convert the threat Wi-Fi (WIreless-FIdelity) A logo from the Wi-Fi Alliance that certifies network devices comply with the IEEE 802.11 wireless Ethernet standards. In the early 2000s, Wi-Fi/802.11 became widely used (initially 802.11b, then 802. and VoIP poses to roaming The ability to use a communications device such as a cellphone or PDA and be able to move from one cell or access point to another without losing the connection. revenues into an opportunity by incorporating the technologies into their strategies. This is one finding of the latest study, "Mobile roaming 2006-2011: Increasing usage and revenue to counter regulatory burdens," published by industry analyst firm visiongain. By adding Wi-Fi capabilities to their offerings, mobile operators will be able to capture a growing market currently targeted at mobile roaming subscribers. The study also found that the threat of EU regulations will continue to drive roaming prices down in the EU. This trend is likely to occur globally as operators seek to increase roaming usage as a boost to declining voice revenues. Visiongain believes that price reductions by operators will succeed in driving usage, allowing operators to tap into the 95% of subscribers who currently do not use roaming services whilst abroad. VoIP through Wi-Fi will become an increasingly attractive alternative to mobile voice calls whilst roaming due to the disparity dis·par·i·ty n. pl. dis·par·i·ties 1. The condition or fact of being unequal, as in age, rank, or degree; difference: "narrow the economic disparities among regions and industries" in price. Visiongain found that a typical voice call whilst roaming over Wi-Fi costs $0.02 per minute, compared with a typical cost of $1.25 per minute through mobile. The increase in Wi-Fi hotspots world-wide is creating more opportunity for travellers to utilise VoIP services, therefore threatening mobile roaming revenues. In addition, visiongain believes that Nokia's entry into the Wi-Fi market with its converged GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications) A digital cellular phone technology based on TDMA that is the predominant system in Europe, but also used worldwide. Developed in the 1980s, GSM was first deployed in seven European countries in 1992. / Wi-Fi handset The part of the telephone that contains the speaker and the microphone. On a desktop phone, the part you hold in your hand is the handset. On a cellphone, the entire phone is the handset. See multihandset cordless and headset. , the 6136, is significant because it legitimises the technology's entry into the mobile handset market. Several companies are already using the price difference between VoIP and mobile as a marketable Marketable are securities that can be easily converted into cash. Such securities will generally have highly liquid markets allowing the security to be sold at a reasonable price very quickly. advantage between the two technologies. For example, RebTel specifically targets the high price of mobile roaming voice calls with its international calling options. "Roaming provides a significant proportion of operator revenues - up to 17%," comments the report's lead report author and visiongain analyst Adam Walkden. "To protect these revenues, it is important that operators take the threat of VoIP seriously. The difference in cost of a roaming call through mobile and VoIP is significant enough to attract the attention of frequent business travellers Business Traveller is a CNN International monthly television program hosted by Richard Quest.
2. of roaming revenues. Unless operators react to this threat, either by embracing VoIP or reducing call charges significantly, roaming revenues will decline." However, operators should use VoIP as an opportunity to increase roaming revenues. "The introduction of handsets such as the Nokia 6136 puts the power back with the operators," continues Walkden. "If they can incorporate VoIP into their existing strategies, they will increase revenues and retain the custom of the important frequent business travellers segment." The report examines the current mobile roaming market, and provides forecasts through to 2011 for roaming subscribers and data and voice revenues, amongst others. The study analyses the roaming strategies of major operators and provides price comparisons for these operators. The report also looks at roaming solutions for mobile operators, and how they can help operators introduce differentiated and value-added roaming services. Notes for Editors If you are interested in a more detailed overview of this report, including charts and images, please send an email to sara.peerun@visiongain.com or phone Sara on +44 (0) 20 8767 6711. About visiongain Visiongain is one of the fastest growing and most innovative independent media companies in Europe. Based in London, UK, visiongain produces a host of business-2-business conferences, newsletters, management reports and e-zines focusing on the Telecoms, Pharmaceutical and Defence sectors. Visiongain publishes reports produced by its in-house In-house In the context of general equities, keeping an activity within the firm. For example, rather than go to the marketplace and sell a security for a client to anyone, an attempt is made to find a buyer to complete the transaction with the firm. analysts, who are qualified experts in their field. Visiongain has firmly established itself as the first port-of-call for the business professional, who needs independent, high quality, original material to rely and depend on. For more information on visiongain, please visit the website: www.visiongainintelligence.com |
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