Industry News

Extract from an article originally published by Broadbandreports.com 9th March 2008

Apple announced recently that it would not block third party developers from creating VoIP over Wi-Fi solutions on the iPhone and iPod Touch. However, they noted that the solutions have to work over Wi-Fi and not through the cellular network. This may make sense to VoIP developers anyway because the bandwidth limitations of the cell network make it difficult to develop VoIP on that platform.

On-Communications CEO, Ian Roberts comments:

Please see my CEO blog, where I pose the question, “What about WiFi?” in relation to the technology battle for next generation mobile networks. 

Wireless devices from 3, Intel, Nokia, Sony and others demonstrating Skype at the 2008 International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas

Extract from an article published by VoIPinBusiness.co.uk on 7 Jan 2008

Skype’s general manager of mobile and hardware devices Gareth O’Loughlin says “with the introduction of new mass-market devices at CES that support Skype, millions of people around the world will now be able to leave the desk behind, put Skype in their pocket and take their conversations with them.” 

These products include:

3 Skypephone – Introduced together with mobile operator 3, a new affordable mass market 3G wireless handset that lets users make Skype-to-Skype calls and send Skype instant messages from their mobile phone to other Skype users. The 3 Skypephone is available in the UK, Australia, Austria, Denmark, Ireland, Italy and Sweden, and will soon be available in Hong Kong.

Intel-based Mobile Internet Devices – Mobile users will be able to make Skype voice and video calls and send instant messages on the move, while harnessing the PC-like performance of Mobile Internet Devices (MIDs) based on Intel low-power processors and chipsets. This new category of small mobile consumer devices with WiMAX and WiFi capabilities will enable free Skype-to-Skype voice and video calls and cheap SkypeOut calls to be made on open wireless networks.

Nokia N810 Internet Tablet – A pocket-sized WiFi device with a slide-out keyboard which frees Skype users from their desktops, allowing Skype-to-Skype conversations and SkypeOut calls to take place in any WiFi connection, including thousands of Boingo Wireless and Earthlink WiFi hotspot locations.

mylo™ Communicator – Skype comes pre-installed on Sony’s mylo personal communicator, COM-2, enabling users to call or instant message any other Skype user for free over an open WiFi connection. Users of the mylo can also make cheap SkypeOut calls and receive SkypeIn calls.

On-Communications CEO, Ian Roberts comments:

Until now, the mobile operators have blocked Internet calls through the likes of Skype.  3Mobile’s willingness to break ranks maybe significant if it doesn’t get squashed or withdrawn.  Added together with pico/femto cell technology, this is the type of development where an intelligent WiMAX broadband connection into the enterprise could lay the foundation for a single handset for the office and traditional mobile telephony with best of breed function in both environments.  Now then, who could be providing intelligent wireless broadband pipes to enterprise?

A number of technologies have exploded throughout 2007, from Facebook and the iPhone to the Nintendo Wii.

Extract from a BBC News Website item published 1 January 2008 

But what will be making the headlines over the next 12 months?

The BBC News website gives its predictions for technologies that could become big in 2008.

1. The Web to Go
2. WiMAX
3. Mobile VoIP

On-Communications CEO, Ian Roberts comments: 

I totally agree with these Hot 3 from BBC News. As always the devil is in the detail, and I have explored this in individual postings.

BBC News predicts Mobile VoIP to be big in 2008.

Extract from a BBC News Website item published 1 January 2008.

VoIP is a technology that allows users to make cheap phone calls over the internet. Although some firms such as Jajah and Truphone have offered VoIP on mobiles the technology is still relatively nascent.  However, 2008 could be the year the technology takes off. 

Towards the end of 2007, network operator 3 launched a Skype phone that allows users to make calls using the service, already popular for making calls from PCs.

Handset-maker Nokia also offers four phones with the ability to use the technology. “We plan to add VoIP enabled devices to the existing range,” said Mark Squires of the firm.

But even with the backing of a heavyweight such as Nokia, not everyone is convinced that 2008 will be the year of mobile VoIP.  Said Mike Roberts of analysts Informa Media and Telecoms. “It’s very disruptitive, but could be a slow burn”

On-Communications CEO, Ian Roberts comments:

It will be a slow burn, but the prize is enormous, and we have firmly set our sights on being an enabling network for Enterprise Mobile VoIP.  WiMAX is the foundation for that capability, then the world gets really very interesting.