WiFi Handsets - Can You Hear Them Now, Verizon Wireless?
We’ve been all over the upcoming product intros for WiFi handsets. Again. And again. And again.
There will be WiFi-only phones, that only work where wireless broadband is available. And there’ll be dual-mode phones, that allow you to cross over between your traditional wireless (cellular) carrier and WiFi.
Earthlink has a pay-per-month business model that would allow you to buy a handset for between $50 and $100 - then charge you $25 a month for phone privileges. But Earthlink’s service, at least at the outset, would only be available in places where Earthlink is the broadband provider.
Skype has announced handsets later this year - somewhat more expensive than Earthlink’s - but the per-call charges would be free, or virtually free, as Skype has pretty much always been.
Manufacturers such as Samsung have actually started rolling out devices that will work on both GSM cellular networks and Wi-Fi. Motorola and Nokia are moving in the same direction.
And providers like Cingular and T-Mobile are prepared to offer crossover service to their customers. (T-Mobile, which has less cellular penetration but lots of its Hot Spots, sees this as a cheap, easy way to provide better coverage.)
Where does that leave Verizon Wireless? According to the New York Times, VZW is sitting on the sidelines for now, with no plans for a WiFi product. Their spokesperson says: “At this point, we don’t see a great application for customers.” They may also see this kind of service cannibalizing their enormous cellular and wireline phone business.
And perhaps VZW can afford to wait. WiFi is still the wild wild West of wireless technology with nothing even close to comprehensive coverage. With Verizon Wireless’ huge investment in infrastructure - and in marketing to convince us all that their network has us covered just about everywhere, why take on a technology that will be relatively cheap but relatively unreliable?
And if WiFi handsets do get popular, VZW can always jump in later and catch up. Right?
[via New York Times]
August 13th, 2006 at 12:31 pm
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