TheFeature.com discusses how DoCoMo's 3G/WLAN phone protects cell voice business model: Carlo Longino writes that DoCoMo's N900iL handset works on 3G cell networks and office Wi-Fi networks, but that the company has somehow disabled it from working in hotspots. Is it disabled, or can it just not handle the authentication? Gateway pages aren't good for handheld devices, especially cell phones, but this is a great opportunity for 802.1X to enter the scene and handle the authentication.
Longino expects that DoCoMo, T-Mobile, and other carriers won't make it easy to use voice over just any old Wi-Fi network because it could erode voice revenue.