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February 21, 2005

Convergence Should be Simple for End Users

By Nancy Gohring

The convergence of mobile and Wi-Fi or WiMax networks will prove useful for enterprise users, but the process of integration must be considered: This article examines how government agencies can benefit from converged networks but concludes that network administrators will want to work with a single integrator to put a package of seamless applications together and end users won’t want to have to manage their connections.

The author also warns that while integration with WiMax networks may also be useful, WiMax operators may initially be more focused on building their market then trying to integrate with cellular operators. However, it may take several years before an integrated WiMax and cellular service is useful, given that the initial WiMax services will be fixed.

While the topic of converged Wi-Fi and cellular networks has been making headlines often recently, I suspect that one of the biggest road blocks, which I don’t think is getting enough attention, will be with the cellular operators. The only way that most of them will be interested in the convergence is if they control as much of each call from end to end as possible. That thinking might put a damper on plans enterprises might like to develop where they hope to offload some cellular traffic onto internal WLANs to cut costs.

Posted by nancyg at February 21, 2005 10:33 AM

Categories: cellular

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