This is Vonage’s second attempt at mobile VoIP. We saw the first iteration some three years back when Vonage teamed up with UTStarcom to offer single mode Voice-over-WiFi. UTStarcom supplied the handset.
Having a handset dedicated for just mobile VoIP might have turned out to be a bad idea in retrospect. You would have restricted yourself to just those customers who would be willing to buy a UTStarcom handset. UTStarcom recently restructured the ownership of its handset business.
Vonage is obviously late into the market with the new service. And I think there are two major market trends that have led to the present form of mobile VoIP offering that Vonage has put on offer. One is the efforts undertaken by mobile VoIP providers to integrate their clients into varied handsets (symbian as well as windows mobile). The softclient for mobile VoIP is being sourced from Counterpath. That lets the service provider focus on software side and not the hardware/handsets. Vonage has also seen the mobile VoIP interest heightened somewhat by the iPhone usage. The other trend is the failure of dual mode wifi-GSM consumer services.
These same market trends have led larger providers like Neuf and Telecom Italia to simply extend their fixed line VoBB service onto WiFi and 3G mobile handsets rather than offer dual mode wifi-GSM service. Some of these services come with a single number service and some with two numbers.
Vonage is doing something similar. It is extending its VoBB services over to mobile so that you have features such as parallel ringing. It does not however facilitate a common contact list on the mobile handset.
P.S: Vonage today appointed new CEO.
Comments (1)
The Vonage UTStarcom WiFi phone was a flop because consumers perceive wireless VoIP to be the equivalent to cellular calling - until consumers change (unlikely) or WiFi VoIP mimics cellular calling it will continue to be a less than stellar performer.
Relative to this release, I do not believe it has anything to do with Mobile VoIP, but more to do with multiple ways to access your Vonage account...no mention of a Mobile VoIP offering, just CounterPath for your laptop (or desktop). I know Counterpath has a mobility suite, but, I didn't see that mentioned.
In theory this sounds like a nice feature add, but in practice I don't see many running out to get Vonage because of it...maybe it will help them retain customers?
Posted by Garrett Smith | July 30, 2008 4:35 PM
Posted on July 30, 2008 16:35