BridgePort networks is demonstrating MobileVoIP Live! next week at The National Show 2005 otherwise known as NCTA. I am looking forward to the show as I am moderating a VoIP marketing panel this Monday. There will be a demo of BridgePort Networks and MobileIGNITE Alliance Members demonstrating roaming between Mobile and cable VoIP networks In CableLabs' Sponsored CableNET 2005

The technology enables cable operators to add mobile services to the triple play bundle of broadband Internet, video and VoIP services – creating a quad play bundle.

"MobileVoIP Live! shows the cable MSO a way to differentiate services and build a new source of revenue," said Mike Mulica, president and CEO, BridgePort Networks. "By peering with a mobile operator, an MSO can offer MobileVoIP services that leverage their customers' existing phone numbers and VoIP network investments. These MobileVoIP solutions offer a win-win for the cable MSO and independent mobile operator to enable both to respond to competition from VoIP service providers, and service providers offering both DSL broadband and mobile."

Two business models, two device scenarios and two call models are enabled by BridgePort Networks' NomadicONE Network Convergence Gateway (NCG) and MobileIGNITE partner-enabled solutions.

In the roaming model, the cable MSO and mobile carrier each provide their own phone numbers and bills their own subscribers, with clearing and settlement between the parties, when a mobile call is terminated on a mobile network, or vice-versa. A cable MSO may have roaming agreements with multiple mobile carriers, just as mobile carriers have multiple roaming agreements with each other.

In the wholesale purchase or MVNO (Mobile Virtual Network Operator) model, the cable MSO resells mobile phone service provided by the mobile carrier's network under its own brand, and provides and subsidizes mobile handsets. The NomadicONE NCG allows either mobile carrier phone numbers or cable MSO phone numbers to be used for this purpose, and leverages VoIP economics to the maximum extent to reduce costs for both the cable MSO and mobile carrier.

Subscribers can use one of two different device scenarios:
 
In the dual-mode option a single mobile phone operates on the cellular network when away from home and automatically switches to VoIP over Wi-Fi when connected on the cable broadband network at home. PCTEL's Roaming Client VE on a Windows Mobile powered Wi-Fi/GSM smart phone is demonstrated as part of the showcase.

In the multiple phone option, a regular cellular phone and broadband SIP phone or MTA (multimedia terminal adapter) are used in combination. A fully automatic presence detection technology known as MobileFIND senses the proximity of the cellular phone and instructs the NomadicONE NCG to deliver all calls to the broadband device when the user is home and to the cellular phone when they are outside. Commoca's SIP phone integrating MobileFIND is demonstrated as part of the showcase, together with a standard CDMA mobile phone with MobileFIND accessory.


Two call models are enabled by the NomadicONE NCG:

"Roam to Home" – where a subscriber's mobile phone number is also used as a home phone number.

"Roam to Mobile" – where a subscribers cable VoIP phone number is also used as the mobile phone's number.

In both cases, circuit-switched call forwarding through the PSTN is avoided and replaced by VoIP connection between the cable and mobile carrier networks, for maximum cost efficiency and feature capability.