T-Mobile USA and enterprise wireless local area network (WLAN) vendor
Meru Networks have partnered to bring fixed mobile convergence (FMC) to enterprise customers, using unlicensed mobile access (UMA) technology.
UMA technology ensures a seamless experience in moving between networks. It allows subscribers of T-Mobile (
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T-Mobile is said to be the first national telecom operator with an FMC offering targeted at enterprise customers. T-Mobile is the first company to utilize UMA technology, which provides Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM)/General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) mobile devices with access to Meru enterprise WLANs over unlicensed spectrum bands.
In a bid to offer better customer experience, T-Mobile has joined Meru's Wireless Interoperability and Network Solutions (
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“Meru's innovative wireless virtualization technology makes it an ideal fit for a venture that bridges the cellular and Wi-Fi environments,” said Dave Fredericks, national director for products solutions and planning for T-Mobile, in a statement. “Once users move onto the WLAN, Meru's virtualized WLAN architecture guarantees they'll have the same experience as on cellular.”
The seamless connectivity is ensured because of the use of a single radio frequency channel and enterprise-wide eliminates handoff interruptions and co-channel interference.
“Meru has already installed some of the nation's largest production enterprise FMC solutions,” said Sarosh Vesuna, Meru's vice president of business development, in a statement. “Users can initiate a call using Meru's voice-over-Wi-Fi infrastructure at home, continue their conversation in the car on the cell network, and move onto the Meru wireless LAN when they arrive at the office – all with the same device and with no disruption when moving between networks.”
Enterprises may be happy to use this service since T-Mobile's association with Meru will enhance productivity, seamless coverage, and high-bandwidth access when indoors, and at the same time give enterprises better control over communication costs.
Rajani Baburajan is a contributing editor for TMCnet. To read more of Rajani's articles, please visit her columnist page.
Edited by Michelle Robart