02
UMA TodAY
FALL 2007
JUMpsTArTing The FeMToCell MArkeT
is one of the last places
one might expect to find UMA technology. UMA has been known primarily as
a technology for dual-mode handsets (DMH) and Wi-Fi. Yet, here it is in the
middle of 2007, and UMA has earned its position as the de-facto specification as
a femtocell-to-core network integration standard.
But for those "in the know," this comes as no surprise. UMA, known as GAN
(Generic Access Network) in the 3GPP, is a secure, robust, proven technology for
mobile operators to extend existing services (packet, circuit, IMS) over the public
internet, regardless of device type (dual-mode phone, femtocell, terminal adaptor,
softmobile).
Are femtocells in some way competitive with dual-mode handsets? We explore
this timely question in the Universal Mobile Access Update article. At the end
of the day, femtocells and dual-mode phones have strengths that are more
complementary,
making UMA the ideal infrastructure investment for both
femtocell and DMH deployments.
Meanwhile, UMA-based DMH services around the world from T-Mobile,
Orange, TeliaSonera and others continue to flourish. In this issue, our writers delve
into Orange's Unik service and unveil an impressive package. It's clear that there
is demand in the market for a cost-effective `home zone' service offer. Estimates
indicate there will be more than 1 million DMH subscribers based on UMA
technology by year's end.
But for all the success, dual-mode services are reliant on handsets. Operators
have been demanding more UMA handsets. Finally, there is a light at the end of
the tunnel for operators and their subscribers who want more choices. There is a
growing portfolio of UMA-enabled handsets from Nokia, Samsung, Motorola, LG,
RIM/Blackberry, HP, Sagem and SIM Tech, as well as devices rumored from HTC
and Sony Ericsson, expected some time next year. It's the self-fulfilling prophecy:
build the devices and the subscribers will come.
At the end of the day, UMA's success in the DMH market has made it field
hardened, operator proven and commercially deployable; just the requirements
for also jumpstarting the femtocell market.
Let's get this market started!
Steve Shaw
Editor, UMA Today
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Editorial
Editor-in-Chief: Steven Shaw
Executive Editor: Abbe Solomon
Design Director: Collin Stone, COGNEO
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