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ABI: Femtocells to overtake UMA, SIP solutions by 2013

Lynnette Luna — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 19:27:53 -0400

ABI Research expects cellular-based femtocells to outpace UMA and SIP-based WiFi solutions by 2013, grabbing 62 percent of the market. According to Stuart Carlaw, vice president and research: "Although UMA-based WiFi solutions have seen early gains in greenfield markets, these solutions have not proliferated much outside their current carrier footprints. This can be attributed partly to the carriers' desire to assess femtocell developments, but also to lingering concerns regarding the concept of WiFi-based fixed-mobile convergence." Article

SPOTLIGHT: Study: Femtocells to dominate FMC market by 2010

Thu, 13 Mar 2008 07:59:52 -0400

A new report about the femtocell market from Forward Concepts says femtocells will capture the dominant fixed mobile convergence (FMC) market share by 2010. UMA will ultimately transition to IMS-enabled femtocells as UMA is seen as a transitional technology. In addition, global femtocell equipment revenues are expected to grow into a $4.9 billion market by 2012, with Western Europe leading the way followed by North America. Release

TeliaSonera launches UMA in Sweden

Thu, 06 Sep 2007 06:59:53 -0400

TeliaSonera AB plans to launch its Home Free unlicensed mobile access (UMA) service, called Home Free, in Sweden at the end of September. One unique aspect of the offering is the fact that the service is not tied to TeliaSonera's own broadband service. TeliaSonera is offering Home Free to anyone with a broadband connection.

Current Analysis principal analyst Emma Mohr-McClune had a slightly positive spin on the service as it is unique and helps offset Telia's broadband churn, but the initial model is restricted in several significant ways, she said. Those are namely poor handset choice and pricing flexibility.

To read more about TeliaSonera's UMA offering:
- see this release
- take a look at this article from Light Reading

AT&T to sell WiFi/cellular BlackBerry

Thu, 19 Jul 2007 06:59:55 -0400

Research in Motion officially launched its anticipated WiFi/cellular BlackBerry device, and surprisingly, the first customer will be AT&T, which has had the habit of disabling the WiFi portion in such devices--except for the iPhone. But for businesses across the country, WiFi is becoming an important tool--something both RIM and AT&T can't ignore. RIM says the new 8820 will become available later this summer and will include support for EDGE networks as well as having built-in GPS, removable memory cards and stereo Bluetooth. The device also provides voice calling capabilities through unlicensed mobile access (UMA). Does that tell us anything about AT&T's plans?

For more about RIM's new WiFi/cellular BlackBerry:
- read this article from RCR Wireless News
- take a look at this piece from newsfactor.com

Related article:
- FCC approves first WiFi-enabled BlackBerry

Nokia in UMA-WLAN trial

Mon, 31 Jul 2006 20:01:35 -0400

This may bring a cheer to Finnish hearts as they get set for another long arctic winter: Nokia has launched what must be the first public trial of UMA over WLAN in the Finnish city of Oulu. Fifty or so families in the city will be testing the new system, using the Nokia 6136 mobile device. The 6136 allows for seamless handover from GSM to WLAN networks.

UMA allows the device to make calls through WiFi networks rather than having to communicate with a base station. This is not only an advantage for the consumer: Operators, too, benefit because expanding the coverage area by rolling out more WLANs is much cheaper than doing so by building more base stations.

The city of Oulu is a pioneer of all kinds of communication services. Last year it built hot spot around the downtown area where citizens are offered free access. Nokia will be using these hot spots to test its UMA system.

For more on the UMA-WLAN trial:
- see this release
- and this story from gizmag

For more on the state of UMA:
- read Dan Jones's Unstrung discussion

UMA is coming

Tue, 18 Apr 2006 20:01:38 -0400

Mobile VoIP technology is marching forward. WiFi telephones and walkie-talkie-like communicators have been used in hospitals and offices for a while, but now manufacturers and mobile carriers are getting ready to link cellular networks to the myriad WiFi hotspots dotting urban landscapes. This linking will expand coverage and make for cheaper mobile minutes. The technology used for such linking is unlicensed mobile access, or UMA. UMA transmits cellular information packets through the Internet when WiFi is available, but reverts to cellular towers when WiFi is not available. A back-end controller inside the network makes the switch--ideally, without the user even realizing it. The technology will help those with high-speed WiFi routers compensate for poor coverage in their houses or apartments. It will also allow mobile carriers to expand their area of coverage without investing billions on new infrastructure. For users with souped-up handsets, UMA would allow wireless downloading of content at broadband speeds.

ABI Research expects the market for WiFi-enabled mobile handsets to reach 100 million units annually by 2009. European carriers have shown distinct interest in UMA: France Telecom will be the first European customer for Nokia's UMA phones, and TeliaSonera is moving ahead with trials for business customers. U.S. carriers have been more circumspect, even as representatives of Nokia and Samsung say they would start selling functioning handsets in the U.S. this year.

UMA poses a problem for operators. Cingular, for example, may be concerned that offering WiFi calls inside a home might nibble away at the land-line business of its parent companies, AT&T and BellSouth. On the other hand, UMA would allow traditional land-line phone companies to retain customers who are increasingly using VoIP phones. Steven Shaw, director of marketing for Kineto Wireless, a Milpitas, CA-based company developing UMA technology, is blunt: "This is a proactive response from them to get out of this threat of voice over IP... You see this giant bucket of minutes called fixed-network minutes going toward zero because of Skype and voice over IP," he said. "You've now got the option to take those minutes and put those on the mobile network as fast as possible. That's what UMA does."

For more on the move toward UMA:
- see Carmen Nobel's Unstrung report
- and Ryan Nakashima's Rocky Mountain News analysis

PLUS: Trapeze Networks claims that earlier this week it became the first WLAN infrastructure provider to demonstrate seamless mobility between a WiFi and cellular network. Trapeze teamed up with DiVitas Networks, a provider of unified mobility solutions, to demonstrate interoperability between each company's wireless platforms over any dual-mode handset that supports Windows Mobile 05. Release

ALSO: Is WiFi roaming really seamless? It depends. Tutorial

FINALLY: The Bull Market Report, an online investment newsletter, is offering subscribers a report on companies likely to benefit from WiMAX, including Alvarion, ADC Telecommunications, Airspan Networks, Vyyo and others. Site