Riding the wave in an converging industry
Convergence is a word on everyone's lips these days, convergence of the IT and telecom industries, and convergence of different networks and business models. Birdstep's product portfolio is the glue that binds these converging elements together, providing users with easy network access and seamless mobility. Work forces and the general public are becoming more dependent on access to wireless networks outside their homes and offices. As operators and enterprises look for solutions and services to meet their customers' and employees' need to access networks at any place and at any time, Birdstep is there to provide the applications and services.
A changing market
The existing mobile operator business is moving from a predominantly voice centered market towards mobile data, embracing content and multimedia. Due to a trend towards flat rate and the large investments in 3G, mobile operators have strong incentives to launch data-enhancing services, including potentially lucrative enterprise mobility applications in order to diversify their business and reduce the churn rate.
As wireless and mobile Internet access services become more prevalent and more usable, mobile operators need to offer ease-of-connectivity to these services through their networks. The large diversity of network technologies such as EDGE, GSM, GPRS, UMTS, HSDPA and Wireless LAN combined with patchy network coverage results in a greater need for connectivity solutions that are both simple to use and easy to understand.
Laptops are driving the data market
The laptop connectivity market continues to show high growth and is becoming mainstream business for many mobile network operators. Wirelessly connected laptops supported by high speed networks are a key driver of data revenue for mobile operators. The number of available PC-cards, high-speed data phones and embedded modems in combination with continuous 3G network roll-outs are critical technology enablers for the industry to reach mass-market volumes. Those technology drivers in combination with soft drivers such as marketing campaigns, general acceptance of connectivity solutions and workforce mobility are contributing to continuous market growth.
Analysts estimates that over 12 million cellular modems for laptops will be shipped during 2007, and that this number will increase to 39 million by 2011. The total number of laptops with mobile internet capability using cellular PC cards and embedded modems will reach a penetration of 35.2% by 2011. This means that by 2011, the market for laptop connectivity alone will have increased by at least 450% compared to 2006.
The Smartphone market
The market for dual radio Smartphones became a reality in late 2006 and will reach an estimated 12.9 million phones sold in 2007 according to ABI Research. By 2011, the market will have grown to almost 328 million. The market is currently in an early proof-of-concept phase, where Birdstep's SmartRoaming and SmartConnect portfolio gives us a unique, market-leading position.
True convergence through mobile VoIP
Mobile VoIP is one of the clearest examples of convergence between the PC and Telecommunications industry. An industry driven by widespread broadband adoption, ubiquity of Wi-Fi, and demand for “real-time internet” services such as instant messaging and voice over IP. By 2008, ON World anticipates there will be approximately 17 million users of Mobile VoIP. Furthermore, ON World projects that mobile VoIP will be used by 100 million users in 2011 on a services market worth $33 billion. To capitalize on this opportunity, Birdstep offers the VoiceRoaming product, a unique solution that is built on the patented Birdstep SmartRoaming client technology, and adds Mobile VoIP capabilities to dual-mode Smartphones.