Siemens Enterprise Communications' dual mode FMC MobileConnect solution got a much-needed enhancement with new mobile client that will expand the range of features and handsets it can support. High on that feature list are presence, IM, and visual voicemail, which have long been available on their cellular-only OpenScape Mobile offering, but will now be supported on the dual mode as well. The question now becomes will these feature enhancements be significant enough to finally move dual mode (or any of the IP PBX vendors' mobility solutions) into the mainstream?For the dual mode solution, now dubbed OpenScape MobileConnect, Siemens depends on two key partners: Comdasys and fg microtec. Comdasys provides the mobility controller, and fg microtec supplies the mobile client; Siemens provides the interface to the OpenScape UC environment. This new collaboration with fg microtec will bring some significant improvements to the product.
While it was these dual mode Wi-Fi/cellular systems that fueled the initial interest in fixed-mobile convergence, sales have been lackluster to say the least. That slow uptake can be attributed not only to a fairly weak UC capability, but to limited support for the popular BlackBerry platform and continuing customer concerns regarding their WLANs' ability to support the voice traffic that would result.
The announcement from Siemens and fg microtec will address at least part of that problem. The new mobile client will extend OpenScape-based presence, along with IM and visual voicemail, to a wider range of devices. An integrated presence capability is one of the key UC features that has been missing in many dual mode implementations.
According to Robert Mirbaha, CEO of fg microtec, the new client will run on the Symbian S/60-based Nokia E-Series, but they have now added support for BlackBerry and iPhone devices. For the historically problematic Windows Mobile platform, they will be focusing on dual mode models from HTC and Samsung; back in August dual mode supplier DiVitas announced they were partnering with Samsung for their Windows Mobile implementation.
While Nokia will turn heads in Europe, winning in the US market will require BlackBerry and possibly iPhone support. Each of those brings with it a unique set of challenges. BlackBerry does not support a standard voice over Wi-Fi client, a core requirement for a dual mode solution. As a result, MobileConnect will support BlackBerry devices only in cellular mode, though they will support presence, IM, and visual voicemail. To date, only Agito has been able to demonstrate a dual mode BlackBerry implementation, and Mr. Mirbaha says fg microtec will follow suit if the implementation proves to be stable on subsequent versions of the BlackBerry software.
As for the iPhone, its problem stems from the fact that the device shuts down all but core applications when it receives a cellular call; that would essentially nix the dual mode solution's handoff capability. Every vendor comes up with their own workaround for the iPhone's quirks, and in fg microtec's case, they support a manual handoff between the Wi-Fi and cellular environments.
Across the board, analysts in the UC space give Siemens high marks for their OpenScape UC platform, and now it will have a more functional dual mode mobility solution to go along with the cellular-only OpenScape Mobile. With a more compelling UC capability, maybe dual mode's day will finally come.
I'm going to be hosting a vendor comparison panel on Mobile UC at the upcoming VoiceCon San Francisco in November, and from what I have seen from the vendor responses, dual mode is showing up in a big way. Certainly the savings on cellular usage can be significant, and with a more compelling product and at least some BlackBerry support, perhaps the vendors can start turning that to their advantage.
The dual mode business has been sputtering along now for five years now, and overcoming the shortcomings of the current WLAN implementations remains an obstacle. However the dual mode vendors' bigger challenge has been in closing the gap between their offerings and the user's expectations. This new version of MobileConnect should at least bring Siemens one step closer.
