UMA successes

Driven by VOIP takeoff and FMC ( Fixed-Mobile Convergence) demand, UMA has achieved strong success in 2006, both in handsets and UMA-based DMH services. Samsung, Motorola and Nokia have introduced UMA-enabled dual-mode handsets in 2006, enabling FMC services to take off. A dozen additional UMA-enabled handsets will be introduced in 2007. In the equipment vendor side, major vendors also have unveiled UMA solutions, just naming among others Alcatel-Lucent, Motorola, Siemens, Nokia, Ericsson. Operators were pleased to answer relatively strong FMC demand, and launch UMA-based DMH services. FT/Orange' sUnik, BT Fusion, T-Mobile@Home , Telecom Italia Unico, or Teliasonera HomeFree are among services available today. It is too early to get an idea of the vigorous FMC demand, but T-Mobile said it already get 1m subscribers in Germany since the launch. What's the future? Beyond dual-mode handsets, operators are preparing a number of new FMC services including VOIP services, femtocell services or softmobile services.