Interview with Christina Sundman, CEO and Co-Founder, Challenger Mobile
Is mobile VoIP part of overall mobile telephony arbitrage that includes mobile callback, FMC, and Voice over Wireless Broadband (VoWB)?
So far as termination into traditional public network is concerned, you could view it like that.
How long have you been providing mobile VoIP?
We have been around since 2001. By 2004 we had our VoIP softphone ready. We have built our technology around SIP, and not any proprietary technology. We offered the downloadable version for mobiles in 2005 and also combined that with callback solution so from the softphone people could initiate callback.
What is the advantage in building a SIP mobile client?
Nokia and other handset makers are coming out with WiFi-GSM dual mode phones supporting SIP. This will drive the mobile VoIP market and serves as just one of several reasons for building a SIP mobile client.
When exactly did you decide to focus more towards white labeled mobile VoIP?
We launched our mobile VoIP retail service called Challenger Mobile in December 2006. During 2007 however we changed the focus towards white labeling our offering.
Who are your potential customers for white labeled offering?
We believe that players like MVNOs and wireless ISPs will be interested in providing this service to their customer base. MVNOs will be the first ones to move in this direction. As soon as we see one MVNO success, the others will follow.
Who do you compete with in the white label stuff?
To tell you the truth I have not come across anybody.
Why not offer a similar solution for mobile callback i.e. a white labeled mobile callback?
We are actually thinking about it. That thing pops up in discussions with our prospects. There are some who are looking for it.
Do you think there is plenty of bandwidth available in wireless broadband networks to support end user VoIP application?
Maybe in some countries it might be limited. But wireless broadband networks are being set up everywhere. More and more WiFi hotspots are being built in the cities. We enable mobile VoIP over WiFi as well as 3G. It also depends on your mobile VoIP technology, the compression it uses etc. Mobile VoIP in general takes less broadband capacity than the PC originated VoIP.
If large cell operators enter mobile VoIP market what would be the single biggest pull factor?
If cell operators can have more voice traffic going over data network, that means less strain on GSM networks.
In retail mobile VoIP certain companies provide plain old voice while others try to create communities. What are the prospects of two different approaches?
Those who go for creating a community are effectively targeting the teenagers. For business people, business travelers, adults and expatriates, plain old voice would perform better for now.
What happens to your retail service now that you are focused on white labeling?
Retail offering serves as a showcase for potential customers to demonstrate how the solution works. But we still serve retail customers. It is just that we are not marketing that heavily.
Have you signed up any new customers for this white label stuff?
We have an MVNO customer in the UK that will be bundling mobile VoIP with another mobile offering they have. They will be launching it in 6 or 7 countries starting with the UK. They will most probably launch the service this month. That will be our first customer.
