Voice Networks
Fixed-mobile meets UC
By Isabelle Guis
With the integration of unified
communications into FMC, collaboration and
communications for mobile workers has been
simplified.
Adapting to the demand of their mobile
workforces, many businesses are beginning to
implement fixed-mobile convergence (FMC) by
extending their wireless networks to support
voice and unified communications services in
an effort to improve cost efficiency and
increase employee productivity.
Prior to the introduction of FMC, fixed
and mobile phones were separate entities,
with individual phone numbers, voice
mailboxes and directory settings. A user had
to stay on the same phone for an entire
conversation. Then the ability to transfer
calls between a fixed phone and a cellular
phone was introduced, so users could forward
calls to their cellular phone when away from
the office.
With the propagation of Wi-Fi networks in
offices, and the availability of dual-mode
phones (cellular and Wi-Fi), employees could
now transfer calls between fixed and
cellular, and between fixed and Wi-Fi
phones. This benefited mobile workers to an
extent, but was still limited to voice
transfer.
Unified communications are now available
to extend office-based business
communications across a variety of devices
and networks. Employees can switch between
fixed and mobile phones with all of their
unified communications. With single-number
reach, callers can always dial the same
number to reach a certain person, and
automatically be forwarded to the device the
user is connected to.
Similarly, single voice mail lets the
user consult one voice mailbox, regardless
of the device and network being used. This
reduces complexity and enables greater
responsiveness. When instant messaging and
corporate directory are added to this mix,
mobile collaboration can be achieved.
Depending on the device and availability of
applications, videoconferencing, a shared
workspace environment and visual voice mail
may also be supported.
STAYING CONNECTED
Initially, users were satisfied with the
ability to roam from fixed to cellular and
fixed to Wi-Fi phones, but their mobility
now requires them to roam transparently
between cellular and Wi-Fi networks, as
well. They need to move seamlessly from one
wireless device to another (for example,
notebook computer, IP phone or dual-mode
phone) and stay continuously connected with
all unified communications features.
A mobile salesperson, for example, can
now begin a conference call on a wired IP
phone and, when needed, send the ongoing
call to a dual-mode device in order to walk
to meet a colleague on another floor. All
unified communications features remain
available to the salesperson, even after
forwarding the call to the mobile phone.
While the salesperson remains within the
corporate wireless LAN (WLAN), the mobile
phone, in most cases, uses Wi-Fi. The
roaming decision of when to use which type
of wireless network can be performed
intelligently by examining network load and
considering the quality of service (QoS)
required for voice calls or
videoconferencing.
FMC is not limited to unified
communications applications. If the same
salesperson later decides to drive to a
customer meeting, the salesperson might
search the Web for driving directions and
download the latest shipping information
about the customer. The mobile phone is
automatically switched over to the cellular
network as soon as the salesperson leaves
the reach of the corporate WLAN, without
interrupting the salesperson's Web session
and connectivity to business applications.
When FMC expands to any application and
any network, it helps businesses increase
staff productivity. With the integration of
unified communications into FMC,
collaboration and communications for mobile
workers has been simplified to a certain
degree, but to provide a true mobile user
experience, businesses need to consider the
integration of business applications and be
prepared for more than cellular and Wi-Fi
access technologies.
With a forecast that 1.1 billion Wi-Fi
mobile devices will ship worldwide during
the next three years, businesses need to
expand their FMC capabilities. Specifically,
enterprises need to integrate all business
applications that mobile workers are already
employing in the office, such as video
browsing, asset management and applications
management.
LOW COST OF OWNERSHIP
For most businesses, total cost of
ownership can be kept low since many
enterprises already have wireless networks
with unified communications in place. These
enterprises only need to ensure their
network is designed for the implementation
of FMC technologies.
Businesses that are currently using WLANs
only for data communications might have to
upgrade their networks to support voice and
unified communications with comprehensive
wireless coverage and a satisfactory QoS.
This might mean adding wireless access
points and migrating to a controller-based
architecture.
Implementing an FMC solution can lead to
an overall reduction in cellular costs for
the mobile workforce, including reducing
cellular minutes when calls are made via
Wi-Fi on campus and decreasing international
roaming charges for calls between
international enterprise campuses or
offices.
An FMC solution should increase the
productivity of mobile employees by
providing continued access to critical
business applications and communication
tools, including in-building access in spots
where cellular coverage is poor. With FMC,
there is no need to authenticate calls while
a user moves between coverage areas. Users
stay connected to applications and can
conduct business without interruption.
FMC reduces the number of missed calls
(single-number reach), increases
responsiveness (single voice mail) and
enhances the mobile worker experience (e.g.,
using the best way to reach them based on
presence information) resulting in enhanced
customer and partner satisfaction.
To take advantage of the numerous
benefits of FMC and maximize return on
investment, organizations should identify
their mobile workforce profiles to deploy
the most relevant FMC features, from
applications to network and devices.
A comprehensive FMC solution will
maintain the same mobile experience for any
multimedia business application in any
environment, moving through different
networks - including fixed, Wi-Fi and
cellular - and will support emerging
technologies, such as G4 and WiMAX.
Isabelle Guis is senior manager,
mobility solutions, Cisco Systems, San Jose,
Calif.
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