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Major trends in FMC deployments (India and abroad)
FMC deployments worldwide are staggered and in multiple stages where some of the operators have started from UMA while others may move to deploy IMS directly.
Since there has not been any rollout of FMC in India yet, it is most likely that service providers may jump to IMS directly.
UMA
-First step in FMC with seamless handover of VoIP to and from cellular
SIP
-Handsets launching this year with SIP-based
-Will evolve into full IMS in 2008/2009
IMS
-Roll-out in 2007/2008; widespread deployment in 2009
-Breadth of applications includes Presence/Social Networking, Video Sharing, PTT and others
How are Indian Telco's are moving in the FMC space
India may start with Pre-IMS, but it is too early to comment at this point since successful adoption of FMC also depends on deployment of 3G and Wi-Fi. Pre-IMS services could mainly be applications like Instant Messaging and Photo Sharing. While there are government indications to announce 3G policy soon; deployment and service may take some time. Wide-scale adoption of other complementary technologies like Wi-Fi and WiMAX may happen in parallel.
Can you share some information on the FMC deployments (currently in trail or done)Date contract signed, trial time, commercial launch etc.
Some operators in Europe and the US began deploying UMA service last year. British Telecom, Cingular and Orange have all announced plans for IMS or pre-IMS.
Since most of the trials and contract information is confidential, we will not be able to share this.
Main challenges in deploying FMC architecture
Challenges in deploying FMC architecture include:
· Network Interoperability
· Interoperability of FMC applications – IM, Voice Call Continuity (VCC), video sharing….
· Network deployment
· Shipping handsets with FMC inside.
For operators, FMC offers new ways to improve customer satisfaction and maximize revenue through unified services and billing. These new benefits should translate into increased customer loyalty to the service provider. FMC brings new value-added SIP-based unified messaging and calling services, pervasive in-building coverage and lowered costs. Quality of Service (QoS) comes into play as well, as operators can differentiate and monetize their VoIP offerings through QoS.
What has been the impact of FMC on cellular operators
There was lot of skepticism amongst cellular operators initially over losing revenue due to FMC applications. But over the last year or so, it seems like operators have realized FMC as an additional revenue opportunity for data usage over wireless. Almost all of the IMS applications – video sharing, video over IP, VOIP, Instant messaging, Push to Show, PTT – use data services provided by the operator.
IMS applications like Voice Call Continuity (VCC) may also operators to cut down operational cost.
How do you see the future of FMC in India
Viewing movie clips, downloading music, ring tone downloads are today some of the applications users in urban India would like to use. Not too many users are adopting them today due to slow network speeds. This will drastically improve once you have high speed wireless broadband deployed.
Also, attach rate for camera in a cell phone is getting higher everyday. More than 50% of handsets shipped today have a camera attached. IMS will allow users to share videos and pictures at an experience which surely is very different from they are doing this today.
Who knows… with wide scale IMS deployment it might not be too far when user might read full blown article with multimedia and graphics from his/her mobile phone.
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