Research: Convergence in mobile communications

Rhetorik

Published: 25 Jul 2007 08:04 BST

Executive summary:

The respondents in this research had a good understanding of the term "convergence" as it applies to mobile communications, with between half and three-fifths relating it to:
- Voice, data and other services available over the same mobile network
- Integration of fixed-line and mobile services (fixed/mobile convergence)
- Access to voice, data and other services via one mobile handset
Penetration of fixed/mobile convergence within UK enterprises is currently quite low. Less than one-fifth of the mobile organisations researched reported a high or very high degree of convergence and almost half stated this to be low or very low.
Implementation was higher for mobile convergence of voice, data and other services, with almost one-quarter of all respondents noting high or very high convergence, and only a third reporting the lowest levels.
Highest current application of converged communications technologies was found for WLAN in the office, mobile voice and data, fixed-line IP telephony and use of WLAN hotspots. Fixed/mobile convergence and mobile VoIP are less applied and only 10 percent of enterprises declared use of an internet-hosted PBX.
The market is poised for strong growth in mobile VoIP, internet-hosted PBX and fixed/mobile convergence. The user base in each of these areas is predicted to increase by more than 135 percent over the coming two years.
Mobile VoIP and fixed/mobile convergence are expected to see a very large increase in numbers of users. Around two-fifths of the enterprises researched plans to become new users over the next two years.
Significant uptake is predicted for fixed-line IP telephony; mobile voice and data, internet-hosted PBX and use of public WLAN hotspots are planned by an additional 13-14 percent of the sample. The strong growth rate for internet-hosted PBX translates into a more modest increase in number of users, due to the much smaller current installed base for this technology.
Key drivers in the uptake of converged mobile communications are to provide improved business efficiencies, to facilitate overall cost savings and to offer an improved customer service. Other drivers of importance are the provision of better communications to both customers and suppliers, and the ability to facilitate home working for staff.
The most important barriers to adoption are related to costs and security issues, with the costs of time online and those involved in the upgrading of current business applications both noted of importance. The management and support of devices used on a converged network is also seen as a concern.