10/21/2007

The 700MHz Frequencies – WiFi, WiMax, and Google


Is this the end of the wireless carriers’ dominance in the mobile market? Well, it sure is shaping up as they struggle to deliver products using WiFi and WiMax to their valued customers.
This is a challenge for them since WiFi has been around in the IP world for a number of years but is gaining momentum with the advent of Apple’s iPhone, the Blackberry Curve and Pearl, and other smart devices. The users of these handheld devices are demanding better, faster, current, and relevant web services such as meaningful content, VOIP, live TV. These demands are the challenges the wireless carriers are facing while the new services providers are au fait with these value added services and the technology. Apparently, they can make the transition into the wireless world by providing sleek, sexy handheld devices that are capable of access current content on the Internet, e.g. Apple with the iPhone.

I hope this is a logical segue to the current situation the top four wireless carriers in the US (AT&T, Verizon, Sprint, T-Mobile) who are experiencing reduction in their ARPU – Average Revenue per User (Subscriber). Is this due to WiFi, WiMax being utilized, and therefore cannibalizing pre-paid minutes? Is has been stated that some of these carriers are also suffering from churn since the introduction of the iPhone. If this is true then there should be a paradigm shift when the take-up of Google’s wireless phone operating system, the gobbling-up of small “new wave” mobile companies; e.g. Android, Zingku, the acquisition of a slice of the 700 MHz Spectrum, and the launch of the Google phone? These questions need an answer during the coming week.

Sources: Network World, Computerworld, NanoPrism Glasses

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