(If nothing else, this is an amusing "shot across the bow" of the mobile telephony industry during the frenzy of the annual CTIA conference. - SKS)
New study from ABI Research and Wi-Fi Alliance(R) indicates strong
desire for coverage, throughput and affordability offered by dual-mode
mobile phone services
AUSTIN, Texas, March 27 /PRNewswire/ -- One in four U.S. wireless subscribers would switch cellular carriers for access to the benefits of Wi-Fi / Mobile Convergence, according to a new independent study conducted by ABI Research and released by the Wi-Fi Alliance. Nearly one in three subscribers would discontinue their traditional home phone service in order to access two of the key benefits of convergence: strong in-home signal coverage and reduced pricing for calls made from home.
Wi-Fi connectivity in a converged mobile phone can offer as much as five times the throughput versus 3G networks, as well as improved indoor coverage. When using a converged phone, the subscriber is handed off from a cellular to a Wi-Fi network when one becomes available. Carriers can leverage Wi-Fi to efficiently manage scarce licensed spectrum resources by allowing subscribers to connect through a combination of licensed and unlicensed spectrum. Carriers worldwide are launching Wi-Fi / Mobile Convergence service plans which include a combination of benefits including reduced voice and data pricing, delivered over Wi-Fi networks at home and in hotspots.
