In a recent post, Martyn Davies refers to a survey published by Aricent that claims 60% of the surveyed prefer to use their mobile handset instead of the landline because the former has a built-in address book. Indeed, Aricent states that “the address book remains the primary 'killer application' on a mobile phone.” The same study also found out that “almost half (46%) are making PC-to-PC calls, while approximately a third (36%) are making PC-to-phone calls.” They do not state whether it is because of potential cost savings or because of the convenience of integrated address book and Presence information. We shouldn’t draw too much from this study because it is conducted by a company that has vested interest in next-generation services and the fact that the survey was conducted in NXTcomm with 110 people participating in it. Nonetheless, I am using it to support my thesis that what is required in a more functional telephone set or integration of PC and phone (not necessarily CTI, where the integration took place in a central entity) and not VoIP per se. For starters, how about a diminutive “iPhone” with DECT cordless phone for home use? Or a PC software that allows me to dial through the modem port but use a bridged telephone for talking? But the easy money is there if you come up with a lame call back service or some such server based solutions. We shouldn’t forget that even in PSTN, the intelligence can be put at the end.
Posted by aswath at August 15, 2007 04:22 PM
it is understandable when you refer "the company has a vested interest in next-generation services". however what is necesary to see here is the fact that the survey is not concluding anything but just giving us some pointers towards a killer application. And how many of us would not agree that it is indeed the case with the address book. while this is just one observation, i would want you to go in and check out the complete survey at http://aricent.com/NXTcomm2007survey/index.html
Posted by: Gaurav at August 16, 2007 09:25 PM