M5T Aims for a Common Fixed-Mobile Convergence Vision

By: Richard “Zippy” Grigonis

Samuel Guénette is the General Manager of M5T (www.m5t.com), the sister company of Mediatrix. He is responsible for the company’s operations direction and activities, and recently he sat down with Yours Truly to discuss the direction of the Fixed-Mobile Convergence (News - Alert) (FMC) market today.

RG: Do you see the FMC marketplace changing?

SG: The dream of using one telephone with one number whether you are at home, at work, or in another country makes a lot of business sense to a world that is becoming more and more mobile. Numerous studies over the last year have emerged praising FMC as an ideal productivity tool for businesses of all sizes. The FMC market is growing slowly and steadily but we at M5T can see it exploding over the next few years as it becomes more the norm rather than the exception. It is altogether feasible that smart phones PDAs and other mobile devices will one day likely replace desk phones for most office workers.

RG: For the average business or business user, how can FMC benefit them?

SG: FMC makes mobility far more affordable for the majority of employers, not only for workers on the road but also those in offices. We have equipped most of our team with smart phones and have seen a definite increase in not only productivity but we have also seen a cost-saving benefit for roaming and other long distance fees. I no longer have to worry about contacting any of my team, I can simply dial their extension and it will not make a difference if they are in the office or half-way around the world.

RG: M5T recently introduced the M5T MC Client. Tell me a little about it.

SG: The M5T MC Client is a Fixed-to-Mobile Convergence application which enables reliable and secure seamless service, wherever the user is and whatever the access mode he’s using (Cellular or WLAN).

The M5T MC Client has been designed for Enterprises, Internet Telephony (News - Alert) Service Providers (ITSPs), Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs), and Cable Operators wanting to offer differentiating services and features. Additionally, the MC Client provides IP-PBX (News - Alert) and softswitch vendors the opportunity to provide a single number FMC solution, which enables their users to effectively access all of their current IP-PBX features on their mobile phone from anywhere in the world. We designed a unique tab and icon-driven interface that enables even the most novice user to navigate quickly to any needed feature.

One of the great advantages of the MC Client is that it can be configured to intelligently detect and connect to wireless networks; it will also allow the user to create a list of preferred wireless networks. The M5T MC Client can also switch

automatically from 3G to WiFi (News - Alert) and back again, this allows seamless voice communications, handing off calls between networks as required.

RG: M5T is principally known as a leader in SIP-based technologies. What made you decide to develop an FMC Client?

SG: As a company, M5T has seen tremendous growth over that last 5 years and we are now in a position where we can build upon our core strength as a SIP-based developer. We like to view the M5T MC Client really as a natural extension of our core SIP-based technologies. The MC Client has enabled us to take the next logical step from creating strictly the SIP-based components for telecommunications to branching out and developing specific applications that deliver agile functionalities with comprehensive security controls to safeguard communications.

RG: We hear that M5T is one of the driving forces behind a new initiative for developers of Fixed-Mobile Convergence solutions. I want to go into more detail with you next month about this but can you give us a little insight about the group?

SG: We recently have teamed up with several key partners to create the FMC Connection (FMCC). The FMC Connection is a collaboration of industry-leading technology companies that share a common vision of delivering Fixed Mobile Convergence solutions, products and services to the fast growing FMC marketplace.

The FMC Connection is focused on promoting, developing, and marketing solutions that will allow the rapid deployment of FMC into current and next generation business services. We are also looking to inform not only the people in our industry about the FMC revolution but also the public at large.

RG: More information about the FMC Connection will appear in the August issue of Internet Telephony Magazine (News - Alert).

For more information about the M5T MC Client go to www.m5t.com or [email protected]. IT

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