It seems the more I read about femtocell the more I realize it has the potential to change the concepts we have of wireless telecom. Could this technology really change the dual-mode handset market and minimize the role of WiFi in the cellular network architecture and business plan?
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Hey Rich...femtocell technology wouldn't necessarily minimize the role of WiFi in a residence but complement it. That said, you are definitely right that it will have a major impact on business plans going forward. Everyone will be impacted from the largest MSOs to the individual software developer.
More on that later though,
-Bob
Thanks Bob -- but perhaps it will keep US service providers from supporting devices that use networks they can't control and thus minimize the use of WiFi networks in your home. It will be great to see how these competiting technologies work with one another if at all.
Femtocells really do create the possibility of a major disruption in the way we use devices.
First step is filling in the poor coverage for standard mobile phones, especially where broadband is more widespread (eg the USA).
Second is that they enable true mobile broadband data, which is less cost effective to deliver over the wide area at high data capacities.
Third step will be the enabling of services and devices which automatically operate differently when in a femtocell homezone. This includes location aware/presence services, autobackup/download/sync of higher volumes of personal data etc. This could really enable a transformation.
Personally I think WiFi, successful in the home and sometimes in business, doesn't work well when out and about - lots of issues about congestion/contention, needing to enter credit card details for each new location/country, and high battery power consumption. Both can co-exist (indeed some femtocell products include both capabilities plus broadband modem and firewall).
Read more at my independent specialist site at www.thinkfemtocell.com