Cell Life

The new 3G iPhone is creating substantial buzz. Check out Om Malik’s interview with Ralph de la Vega, CEO of AT&T Mobility.

http://gigaom.com/2008/06/09/att-mobility-ceo-new-3g-iphone-game-changer/

One of the concerns is that increase in mobile data usage for social networking, LBS or streaming video apps is going to cause a lot of network congestion on AT&T wireless network. Mr de la Vega is confident that AT&T network can handle it. For more power users of mobile data, the hope is that they are smart enough to use WiFi connection on the iPhone to download large data files instead of congesting the wireless network. A future filled with FMC devices like Femtocells only makes sense here. Femtocells will allow bandwidth hogging home wireless to pass on broadband wireline connections allowing the wireless network to remain somewhat available.

AT&T is taking some hits on its earnings estimates due to the lowered iPhone price and Apple is taking a hit as well as AT&T will no longer share the subscription revenue. But overall sales volume is expected to increase dramatically with the lower price and that is expected to more than compensate for the lower price on the device.

The new iPhone is loaded with good stuff. The App Store will allow for a slew of cool consumer and enterprise apps. The enterprise support is great with MS-Exchange integration. GPS is cool for LBS accuracy.

Nokia and RIM need not fear however. iPhone will only increase smartphone penetration increasing the size of the market for everybody. We feel the smartphones will cannibalize the non-smartphone cellphone market to some extent.

MT

As promised, there is a white paper published by CellStrat team on Femtocells, their advantages and limitations. This paper along with other CellStrat’s rich white papers are available at :

http://www.cellstrat.com/whitepapers.html

Hope you enjoy reading these papers. Do let us know any comments.

MT

Fixed Mobile Convergence refers to the idea that there is only one phone for home and mobility. The mobile handset replaces the wireline device without causing wireless network congestion. The handset uses the wireline broadband for in-home or in-building calls. FMC can be done in various ways, prominent techniques being Femtocells and WiFi dual-mode handsets.

Femtocells

Femtocells are essentially compact, personal cellular base stations that plug straight into the internet connection at home or in building. On the promise of Femtocells, one can think of them as essentially “mobile taking on WiFi”. Femtocells essentially route mobile calls on the IP network.

Typically Femtocells pack high-speed 3G technology or High Speed Download Packet Access (HSPDA) inside, which can have download speeds of upto 7 Mpbs, similar to many home broadband offerings.

According to ABI research, by 2011, there will be 102 million Femtocell users.

Advantages of Femtocells

Advantages for wireless operators :

a) Free wireless network and reduce network congestion
b) New revenue opportunities for operators.
c) Reduce cell towers capital expenditures.
d) Create buddy lists in Femtocell (list of authorized Femtocell users) to share the Femtocell base station with the designated user base.

Advantages for customers :

a) Better coverage
b) Make free calls by routing wireless traffic onto the internet.
c) Home Zone pricing (discounted compared to regular wireless pricing)
d) Works with all mobile handsets - no need for expensive dual-mode WiFi handsets.

Femtocell vs WiFi Access Point

Look out for a white paper from CellStrat for more on the topic of Femtocell and FMC solutions.

MT