Landline phone

There is a news on the actions taken by Ofcom( Office of Communications) has set regulations  that Voice over Internet Protocol services (VoIP services) that allow users to call ordinary fixed or mobile phone numbers, (such as Skype, Truphone and many others) must now make additional provision, so that consumers and other citizens are able to use them to contact the emergency services and that a high level of emergency services access is maintained for society as a whole. Ofcom considers the users of those services should be able to call 999.

In its March 2007 Statement, Ofcom decided to review its approach to ensuring maximum availability of 999 access. That was because:

·        since the 2006 consultation, there had been a rapid increase in the use of VoIP services: 10% of UK households used VoIP in the last quarter of 2006, compared to 5% in the last quarter of 2005

·        significant developments in VoIP services and technology meant they were more likely to “look and feel” like traditional fixed and mobile phone services and to replace those services for the mass market in the future;

·        there was under provision of VoIP services that allowed 999 calls: in a survey of VoIP users conducted for Ofcom in October 2006 (the October 2006 research) 64% of VoIP households surveyed said they had a service that Ofcom knew would not allow them to call 999

·        a significant proportion of VoIP consumers were confused about whether they could call 999 from their service or not: the October 2006 research found that 78% of UK households with a VoIP service that did not provide 999 access incorrectly thought that it did provide 999 access or didn’t know if it did;

·        Responses to the 2006 Consultation from the emergency services, Government, the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) and the Royal National Institute for Deaf People (RNID) expressed similar concerns to Ofcom.

This action of Ofcom may  not be a good news to some of the VoIP companies due to  testing and costs involved in qualifying for 999 emergency service access. If  they want to be considered as genuine replacements for the common landline then they  should  accept the decision of Ofcom and execute the decisions immediately. 

Traditional phone services have existed for over 100 years. Voice services using the Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) are changing the way voice services are delivered. These services normally use a broadband connection to provide voice calls using VoIP technology through a personal computer (PC) with a handset or headset, or a special adaptor connected to a traditional phone handset. VoIP services could benefit customers by reducing the cost of delivering existing services, providing new services and increasing competition in telephony and broadband. Ofcom aims to ensure that, as voice call services evolve, consumers and citizens are protected.

Option 2: require all VoIP services that allow users to make calls to traditional fixed phones or mobile phones (called type 2 VoIP services in this consultation), or to make calls to and receive calls from traditional fixed phones or mobile phones (called type 4 VoIP services), to allow users to call 999. Ofcom considers the users of those services are likely to expect to be able to call 999.

The news comes following an investigation by Ofcom which says operators that provide VoIP to landline services (such as Skype, Truphone and many others) must now make this potentially lifesaving additional provision. VoIP to VoIP only services will be exempt.

           Today Google is the biggest online advertiser  and bags more than $40m a day from online advertisements. Now it  intends to expand itself in the advertising section to mobile devices. The aim is to reach the local advertisers  by promoting its own mobile device. It is understood that  Google is establishing and growing partnerships with industry leaders to develop innovative services for its users world-wide, since it is an important area for advertisement.  At present Nokia, Motorola, Samsung, Sony Ericsson , LG,Apple iPhone are  some of the the important  mobile phone companies in the market. Understanding the increasing popularity of the newer generation of mobile phones, that  offer advanced features, such as music and e-mail, on a single mobile phone, Goggle has reportedly intending to  enter the mobile telephony market.

An analysis of Goggle’s mobile project based on reports in the media

During  December 2006, there was a news that Google was interested in developing a “branded Google phone” . It was also reported that Google had held talks with Orange about a multi-billion-dollar partnership to create a ‘Google phone’ which would make it easy to search the web. The software experts of are doing some amazing work compressing data so that the mobile user gets a much better experience. Since people with Google have little experience on  mobiles they  want to utilise the Orange’s years of experience.’

 During 2006, Eric Schmidt,  CEO of Google had  expressed in his views  that in the future mobile phones should be free for the consumers, who will accept to watch targeted forms of advertising. According to Eric Schmidt,  since the mobile phones are used eight to 10 hours a day for talking, sending of text messages or Web access such users  should get  free mobile phones. It just makes sense that subsidies should increase as advertising rises on mobile phones.  At the same time mobile phones may never become totally free to the consumer.

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As per the latest news  in theWall Street Journal,  prototypes of  Google Phone  has been shown to  mobile network operators,  with a view to  introduce a Google-branded handset. Google is aiming to secure a large slice of the growing mobile advertising market by introducing handsets optimised for Google search and other applications.

It is also understood that hundred of millions of dollars have been spent on Google’s mobile phone project. The phone may be named as gPhone or Google Phone.

Google is also designing new software for the gPhone, including a sophisticated new mobile browser.  It is reported last month that Google had engaged Taiwan’s High Tech Computer to design a Linux software-based phone.

However, the Google Phone is unlikely to appear until 2008 at the earliest, since still it is in the planning stage.

Proposed  Specification of Google’s gPhone

 A number of prototypes have been developed by Google. The specifications are being drafted  that can best display Google’s applications.

 The proposed   Google’s  specifications  may include 3G and  Wi-Fi  capability, for high-speed web-browsing, download and other capabilities.

GPS ( Global  Position System)  may also be integrated in the mobile, as a special  facility to identify the location.

The regular mobile phone multimedia functionality, such as such as cameras and video  will also be included.

Future course of action

 Once the specifications  are finalised Google  may approach a suitable  multiple handset manufacturers to work with on a Google defined specification. The manufacturer may also be asked  to make their own handset designs based around the Google reference.

 T-Mobile, owned by Deutsche Telekom, would likely be Google’s U.S. partner with France Telecom’s Orange selling the phones in other markets.

It is  observed that Google had also approached , AT&T and Verizon Wireless, the two biggest U.S. wireless services, in recent months to request  them to sell phones with Google service.

It is worth noting that T-Mobile and Vodafone  have already incorporated Google search in their mobile Web service in Europe, while AT&T offers it as one of several Web search options.