Michael Stanford (News - Alert), Principal, Michael Stanford, LLC, will address the audience at the upcoming Internet Telephony Conference & EXPO, which takes place January 23–25 in Miami Beach, FL. Stanford is moderating a panel discussion on fixed/mobile convergence in the enterprise. I took the opportunity to ask Stanford to share his thoughts on a variety of issues currently facing our industry.

 

 

MS: Incursions of mobile phones into both the fixed-line voice space and the mobile PC space.

 

MS: For customers, yes: More choices, technologies maturing, competition bringing prices down… this will all serve to make 2008 a better year for consumers.

 

MS: In terms of the largest dollar changes in market size, the continuing growth of mobile phones; In terms of technology potential, the continued growth of smart-phones relative to feature phones.

 

MS: It doesn’t seem to have changed the telecom market much at all; it inhabits a parallel world. It has vastly increased the volume of international consumer voice (and videophone) traffic, without generating much revenue for anybody. It has been great for consumers, keeping families together across continents and oceans.

 

MS: Apple’s great achievement has been to show what phones can be like when the carriers are kept out of the development process. With their revenue sharing deals they have also established a different dynamic for the relationship between an OEM and an MNO, though it remains to be seen if any other OEM can follow this example. The forthcoming SDK for the iPhone may be another game changer, depending on how Apple manages third-party applications relative to carriers.

 

Google’s interest in the 700MHz spectrum auction has already made a radical change, with their insistence on open access for the C-block. Their interest in the white space spectrum is also capable of changing the fixed broadband access industry. Google Maps is a major contributor to the iPhone aura. It is less clear that Android (News - Alert) will make any difference. The carriers are making the right noises about Android, but so far they have been notoriously resistant to any innovation where they don’t control the revenue stream, and this could strangle Android. Let’s hope not!

 

In its usual way, Microsoft (News - Alert) continues to plug away with tiny increments that may end up revolutionizing the market. On the mobile phone side, Windows is continuing to grow, especially with the disproportionate growth of the smart-phone market segment. The rollout of the Unified Communications product line puts another nail in the coffin of the traditional business model for enterprise voice, but this change is happening geologically slowly.

 

MS: Attendees will be treated to a discussion of the comparative merits of various FMC solutions for the enterprise. Geared towards IT department decision makers, the session will feature multiple major equipment suppliers on the stage for Q and A

 

MS: Growth of wireless voice in the enterprise.

 

 

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