When lines converge [data communications]
John Walko · Engineering & Technology · 2006
The lines between fixed and mobile voice and data communications have started to blur. Six years after the emergence of the 802.11b/a standard for Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi), it has taken for granted that consumers will buy into the convenience of lower costs that will come from having one handset for their mobile and fixed-line calls. Nine months of effort by 14 equipment suppliers and carriers have resulted in the Unlicensed Mobile Access (UMA) Technology, which requires no modification to existing infrastructure and is agnostic with respect to the technology of the access network. Even while the business prospects for UMA remain unclear, several organizations have unveiled UMA-enabled handsets that will have a myriad of features.