TeleSym contributes software to Intel demonstration: The device uses TeleSym’s softphone to do VOIP on Wi-Fi and can roam onto a GSM network without dropping the call. Intel Communications Fund has invested in TeleSym.
A lot of people are talking about this capability but the business case for a service that roams from cellular to Wi-Fi will be tough to work out. For example, pricing may be difficult. Using the Wi-Fi network should be cheaper then the cell phone network so it seems like operators should let users know when they are transferring from one network to the next but it’s not clear how they’d do that. Also, the cell phone operators would have to negotiate a good deal with Wi-Fi operators, otherwise why would they want to hand customers off of their network?
Try thinking about it from the perspective of the consumer rather than the cellular service provider and I think you'll find it less confusing.
No, cellular operators with their horror of churn and almost proprietary linkage between the handset and service are not going to initiate this development, they are still in the olden days of telecommunications.
In the future, there will be no need, and certainly little incentive to accept the current model of lock-in.
In radio, the audio kind, you don't buy a reciever per station (though in set-top box land, this is almost the case), same with wireless.
So, when I have a handset that can do voice over Wi-Fi and cellular networks, and I have money in my pocket, which cellular operator will decline my offer to pay to use their network, as required?
Not a successful one I think.
Nokia is saying that 30% of the 600mm handsets sold in 2006 will be WiFi enable.
Carriers are saying that they would rather make friends with WiFi that to fight the battle to keep WiFi out.
It will be complicated and take some time but eventually, a Wifi-enabled cel phone will be the "new IP-client" and the way that many people talk over the WAN and a WLAN with a single phone and a single phone number.