FMC or Fixed Mobile Convergence is a concept ready to bloom. The ultimate goal of FMC is to optimize transmission of all data, voice and video communications to end users and their applications using a single device that operates on both wired and wireless networks. The challenge is to make sure connections are not dropped between access points and that services can be uniformly delivered and billed for any access technology. FMC needs to support the integration of Bluetooth, 3G and Wifi connectivity in a single mobile handset, letting users make hands-free voice calls at less cost over Wifi networks, browse the internet and use other data applications over mobile infrastructure.
Today, we’ve got separate networks for our mobile phones and the corporate PBX. Thus, we have two phones, two contact lists, two interfaces, etc. All of these devices and none of them talk to one another. It’s enough to make a robot cry.
But help is on the way. Trying to break away from the stranglehold of mobile providers Sprint, AT&T and Verizon, handset makers Nokia and Research In Motion are introducing handsets that are “dual mode”. These phones not only work on the mobile network but through SIP technology, they can also be a wireless device that works on the corporate PBX.
As an example, when you are out and about you’ll be on the traditional mobile network. However, step foot into your office and the phone switches to become your pbx phone. Very cool for users. And HR loves it as they now have more control over corporate phone calls, important in these days of regulatory compliance, including HIPAA and Sarbanes Oxley. The bean counters are fans too as traffic gets routed over low cost pbx circuits instead of chewing up valuable cell minutes.
So, what are you waiting for? Well, a few things, actually. First, you need a robust wireless network in your office with the ability to provide voice QOS to ensure quality voice transmissions. Of course, you need a SIP dual mode phone. Lastly it requires that your PBX supports the SIP standard protocol. In a few short years, all pbx’es will be written to the SIP standard. However, today the choices are more limited.
Research In Motion has taken an early lead in this new space with their BlackBerry Mobile Voice System (BlackBerry MVS) converging office desk phones and BlackBerry smartphones.
Here’s a blurb from a recent marketing piece they did:
BlackBerry smartphone users can access enterprise desk phone options directly from the menu interface of the BlackBerry phone application, while at the same time securely authenticating to the organization’s enterprise telephony system (PBX). BlackBerry MVS also gives IT administrators the control to set voice policies on the BlackBerry smartphone, so that inbound and outbound calls use the enterprise line. This allows for all mobile calls to be logged or recorded for compliance with regulatory or corporate standards.
Single Phone Number Convenience
BlackBerry MVS offers convenience and ease-of-use so BlackBerry smartphone users can:
- Give out a single phone number that simultaneously rings their desk phone and smartphone
- Place, receive and manage enterprise calls, as well as use desk phone features such as transfer, park and extension dialing on their smartphone
- Make calls from their BlackBerry smartphone that will be identified as originating from their desk phone
- Access voicemail in one consolidated location
- Access advanced desk phone functionality easily with the intuitive, menu-driven interface
They have a compelling demo at http://www.blackberry.com/select/demos/mvs/
Two of Teledynamic’s product lines support SIP – the Interactive Intelligence Enterprise Telephony System and the 3Com VCX PBX. As you might guess, we’d be happy to show all the advantages of owning a new SIP-based phone system. Support of wireless phones is just one such appealing benefit.
Let me know your thoughts.
Randy Kremlacek
Teledynamic Communications provides free educational materials about telecommunications on an ongoing basis to our subscribers and customers. The company provides a complete range of VOIP, telecom and data solutions for business.
By Pat K on Mar 3, 2009 | Reply
When do you think Blackberry will support enterprise (not UMA) Fixed Mobile Convergence? This blog below says Blackberry should partner with Divitas Networks – they specifically make Fixed Mobile Convergence.
http://blog.divitas.com/blog/divitas-networks/0/0/a-letter-to-blackberry-team-up-with-divitas-and-take-the-mobile-market-by-storm
A Letter to Blackberry: Team Up with DiVitas and Take the Mobile Market Communications by Storm
Posted Thursday, February 26, 2009
To: RIM co-CEO Jim Balsillie
From: DiVitas Networks
Dear Mr. Balsillie,
We are writing to you as a fellow player in the mobile communications market – not as a RIM competitor, but as your future Mobile UC partner.
After reading your recent interview with the Financial Times – and learning how RIM is responding to Blackberry competition from the likes of Apple’s iPhone – we feel compelled to extend an important message: Let’s unite Blackberry devices with DiVitas Mobile Unified Communications.
RIM is a proven winner in the market for enterprise smartphones. And DiVitas is the leader in Mobile Unified Communications. You stated the need to offer this technology to your customers in your interview with Financial Times’ Ingrid Lunden. Why reinvent the wheel? Integration between DiVitas and Blackberry will enable you to quickly deliver a competitive edge in a cutthroat market.
We are convinced this would be a win-win for both parties. And judging by your comments about discussions with CIOs, you probably agree. “There is a “real urgency” around wanting more mobile unified communications … having the ability to integrate the BlackBerry devices with their existing PBXs,” you told Ms. Lunden.
Your perceived demand among your customers for Mobile UC/PBX integration makes perfect sense to us. We know CIOs want to reduce their mobile communications costs. At the same time, they want to make their employees more reachable. Mobile Unified Communications (Fixed Mobile Convergence technology combined with Unified Communications apps) lets companies reach these goals (cost cutting and increased mobility) by providing several capabilities:
1- WiFi calling to reduce monthly telecom bills (WiFi minutes don’t count against the cell plan):
* WiFi calls placed or received on-campus calls are free.
* International calls are free when placed or received over WiFi.
* WiFi calls placed or received from hotspots (home office, airport, coffee shop, hotel, etc.) are free.
* Mobile users can additionally create their own WiFi hotspot in any hotel room with WiFi – they can place free calls via WiFi and use their laptops simultaneously.
* Bridge vendors (who can charge thousands of dollars per month) can be eliminated by using DiVitas for free, in-house bridge lines for conference calling (international and local).
2- Mobile workers carry a single device and a single number to make them consistently reachable:
* Support for the Single-Number Reach capability makes a mobile device behave like a deskphone. This means mobile workers are available by a single phone number – the deskphone number – which results in fewer missed calls and helps eliminate the waste of expensive cell minutes
3- Companies leverage their existing communications investment:
* Deploying voice over the existing WLAN gives companies more bang for the WiFi buck.
* PBX integration provides support for existing deskphone features (call forward, extension dialing, call waiting, etc.).
* Mobile workers are available as if they were seated at their desks, regardless of where they are located (on-campus, in cellular mode or in a WiFi hotspot) when they place or receive calls.
4- Taking advantage of productivity gains through Unified Communications applications:
* Presence ensures that mobile workers are consistently reachable by allowing them to broadcast their availability and how best to be reached (phone, text, not available, etc.).
* Micro-blogging provides status details about where the mobile worker is and what they are doing (in a meeting, catching a flight, in the office, at the dentist, etc.).
* Instant Messaging (IM) can replace expensive text messaging for brief, discreet communication … but at no additional cost (provided there is a data plan).
* Visual Voicemail allows mobile users to eyeball messages sitting in their inbox, and decide which should be read first. This saves expensive cellular minutes and time.
* Single Voicemail Inbox Management means that mobile workers have only one voicemail inbox to manage — the corporate mobile phone and corporate deskphone inboxes are one and the same.
Mr. Balsillie, the smartphone market is white-hot right now. And RIM needs to act quickly to maintain Blackberry’s position as the leading enterprise smartphone. There’s no quicker way to getting there than by dropping a proven solution into the Blackberry mix and offering it to your existing and prospective customers ASAP.
Sincerely,
DiVitas Networks