inCode Reveals 10 2005 Wireless Predictions

The top 10 predictions cover Increased competition drives new developments in wireless voice, data and video for carriers, manufacturers and enterprises.

Although competition in the U.S. wireless market already is greater than in many of the country’s other telecommunications sectors, the battle for customers will intensify even more in 2005. Industryeconomics will force at least one additional consolidation among U.S. wireless network operators next year, but remaining operators will see no competitive relief. Non-traditional players –multimedia companies with powerful content and cable TV arms, major brands with private-label wireless services and even equipment vendors — will muscle into the wireless marketplace with attractivesubscriber offerings. Those are some of the key points from the Top 10 Wireless Predictions issued today by inCode, a global wireless technology and business consulting firm.

“The map of wireless companies as we know it could be redrawn,” says Jorge Fuenzalida, East Coast Director of inCode’s Technology and Strategy Group. “Conglomerates with huge content portfolios will challenge wireless network operators for control of the wireless ‘pipe,’ forcing carriers to provide differentiated, compelling services for enterprises and consumers. In addition, the warm, decades-long relationship between carriers and equipment vendors is cooling as manufacturers use music delivery and exclusive offers to attract wireless customers and marginalize carriers.”

To strike back, wireless carriers can strengthen their competitive advantage with these weapons:

— New classes of premium, one-to-one and one-to-many voice services that generate new revenue streams and leave plain-vanilla, commoditized voice behind

— Service-level agreements that ensure quality of service, not just quality of the network providing it, to attract and retain high-value enterprise customers

— Better in-building coverage and “seamless mobility” — across the hallway as well as down the highway

— High-quality audio and video service with music, TV news and programming on mobile phones

In addition, the special role that wireless has played in public safety and homeland security will become even more important and visible. More government funding finally will be available for identifying the location of mobile subscribers who dial 911, enabling first responders to send help faster. inCode expects progress on technology issues that hinder implementation of a national citizen alert system over cellular. Further, use of Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID) tags — electronic seals that detect tampering — will enhance homeland security and speed container movement through international ports.

All of inCodes predictions can be found in our message boards:
http://forums.designtechnica.com/showthread.php?p=36684