Nokia pushes dual-mode phones and FMC services

Fixed-mobile services expected by the end of the year

Nokia is set to unveil five more mobile devices with both 3G and Wi-Fi connectivity before the summer, and some are likely to debut at next week's 3GSM show in Barcelona.

The handset maker would not reveal details prior to launch, but said it is keen to provide telecoms operators with devices to support fixed-mobile convergence (FMC) services expected to be available in the UK later this year.

Meanwhile, with business-class FMC stalled by billing headaches and problems with the hand-off between Wi-Fi and cellular networks, much of this year's 3GSM show is likely to be about consumer and residential services. These services will allow mobile calls to be routed over a broadband internet connection instead of the cellular network when the user is at home.

Sales of enterprise systems currently make up only one percent of Nokia's revenue, even though two years ago it established a dedicated division to serve the needs of business customers.

"It's true Nokia is not where it previously wanted to be. The devices are not there, and the portfolio is not as broad as it should be," said Nokia executive vice-president and chief strategy officer Tero Ojanpera. He added that mobile operators must shoulder some of the blame, having focused too much on attracting consumers, whose needs are simpler to understand than those of business customers.

"The operators have tried to take the route of least resistance to market and have not focused on pre-pay business customers. But now the market is mature, and the operators realise that enterprise customers churn less and are more reliable when it comes to paying," Ojanpera commented.