Single Phone Handset

Single Phone Handset per Individual

PSS strategy:

Result-oriented service (product substitution)
Individual has a personal telephone number. The number can be used to subscribe either by regular subscription or pay as you talk for different services:
- Landline operators in home country and abroad.
- Mobile phone operators in home country and abroad
- WiFi networks in home country and abroad
Handset automatically switches to cheapest subscribed service. Landline connection can be made not only via base station in own home, but any location in range of a basestation.

Why?

Reduce number of handsets required, whilst allowing an individual to be contacted through a single telephone number where ever they are.

Comments:

Existing infrastructure would make it difficult to implement in many countries, since many of the players in the above scenario are in direct competition.

Financial:

User can keep call costs down, by switching to land line when in a building with base stations.
High investment costs required for complete system.
WiFi however requires low investment costs
Lower outlay by user could be possible, since only one phone required.
Free phone calls in the house using WiFi

Environmental:

Reduction in number of handsets, with a corresponding reduction in environmental impact.

Social:

WiFi connection has low infrastructure cost and easy for developing countries to adopt. Closes the digital divide.
Having a single phone number makes it much easier to contact a person.

Other:

Dual GSM/DECT phones are available, but not made a big impact on the market.
Handover between WiFi zones currently difficult and results sometimes in broken connections.

Literature:

Call it Omnipresence

Understanding DECT

Dual Mode DECT Phones

Ericsson Cordless Solutions

Mobile Terminals and Handsets

WiFi Bridges Indonesia's Digital Divide

VoIP Stalled By Major Telcos

The Wireless Internet Opportunity for Developing Nations

Voice over Wireless LANs