BT is to offer a fixed mobile convergence (FMC) solution
to large enterprises, allowing the deployment of telephony networks
with support for both Wi-Fi and GSM mobile phones.
The Enterprise FMC platform will be available to companies by
early 2007, and builds on the BT Fusion system launched last year
for consumers and SMEs.
BT Fusion allows users to make cheaper voice over IP (VoIP)
calls over a broadband line when in range of a Bluetooth
short-range wireless hub. When not in range, usually when out of
the office, the user can connect over a GSM mobile network instead
with the same phone.
Enterprise FMC will also allow users to make cheaper VoIP calls,
but over Wi-Fi networks instead of Bluetooth. Again, when out of
the office users will be able to use the same phone to make calls
over GSM mobile networks.
As with BT Fusion, BT plans to offer competitive calling plans
to businesses, which will also be able to reduce the number of
handsets they need to deploy in their organisations. The
IP-compatible phones will also offer users a range of extra
productivity features.
The new service will be launched in the UK, and later extended
to France, Germany, Spain, the Netherlands, and other
countries.
Handset suppliers, including Nokia in partnership with Avaya,
are currently in the process of bringing Wi-Fi/GSM handsets to
market.