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Conversations with Consumers - What People Want from Wireless

By John December 5, 2007 6:02 am

Location: Ottawa, Ontario

You've heard me talk in past posts about how we need to work as an industry to turn the challenges of Hyperconnectivity into opportunities. Nortel's Carrier Networks team has taken the conversation to another level by speaking directly to consumers about what they'd like to do if they had access to more powerful wireless networks.

I've invited Carrier Networks Vice President Scott Wickware to share some of his thoughts about the research that was announced today. Scott also poses 3 polling questions at the end of his post related to "What do YOU want or need from the next generation of wireless networks?" I'd be interested in your answers.

Scott Wickware

Scott Wickware

At Nortel we continually ask for input from our customers and industry analysts about how they see telecom evolving. That usually involves a lot of technical talk about cost structures, business models and an acronym soup of different technologies for powering wireless networks to do much more than they do today.

But we wanted to find out what consumers really think so we went to them directly. Between the months of May and August this year, we talked to 18 focus groups in major urban centers across the U.S. and Japan. By giving them a blank slate on which to paint a picture of what they want from their wireless networks, we learned some interesting things. A summary of what they said can be found in our news release today. You won't find quantitative statistics in this research like 98 percent want this or 64 percent “strongly agree” with that because this was a conversation. We sat down with these folks and just listened.

One of the most interesting things to me was the essentially unanimous frustration with the limitations of current wireless networks beyond data applications like Internet and e-mail. Even Japanese consumer and business users, despite having access to significantly more advanced devices and services, still expressed many of the same frustrations with mobile services and devices as U.S. users. They confirmed that they want Hyperconnectivity through their comments about having connectivity for a range of devices such as MP3 players, digital cameras and even within car systems.

But that's enough about them, what about you? What do you want or need from the next generation of wireless networks? Let us know by commenting below and answering a few quick questions.



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  1. […] more of Nortel’s thoughts on wireless, check out CTO John Roese’s blog where he has a guest post by carrier networks VP Scott […]

    December 7th, 2007 at 7:01 am from All About Nortel » Blog Archive » What Would You Do With Wireless

Comments

  1. There are many people that think that consumers would not want or could not afford the costs of 4G, because the costs of 3G are HIGH. A 3G modem won’t replace a DSL line because it costs two or three times more and it’s much slower. But what If it cost the same or less, had the same reliability, and had no wires? There would be a hype about.
    At the same time, many people don’t really think they could be surfing on their cell phone, because most of the times it is both painful and costly. Hopefully wireless operators pass the savings of 4G on to the consumers, and we will se how the number of connected devices raises sharply.
    There are other services/devices that could come in handy, like having a device that connects to online radio stations. You would need much memory for storage or you wouldn’t need a satellite (…xm, sirius) to get the music you want.
    The possibilities are vast and many of us are eager :)

    December 5th, 2007 at 12:46 pm by Sevillada

  2. I believe that wireless memory cars for cameras are already available … http://www.kottke.org/07/11/eyefi-wireless-memory-card

    December 5th, 2007 at 7:18 pm by Oliver Luker

  3. While using my laptop in the back seat of a car traveling down the 401, I want to be as annoyed by losing my data connection as I am now by a dropped phone call. Of course, I want this ubiquitous data stream at a cost that is in line with my current ISP’s offerings. (Good luck pulling that one off in Canada!)

    December 5th, 2007 at 9:31 pm by Geoff

  4. I continue to buy NT stock on dips because I believe
    that two NT focus technologies are poised to dominate
    communications.

    Infrastructure
    It’s clear that IPTV with true VOD has
    enormous potential. Being able to watch any program at
    any time is very appealing even to technophobes. It
    can also address the advertising, distribution and IP
    concerns of content producers. The data traffic to
    support this is mind boggling but feasible. The
    infrastructure cost would be very high but worth it.
    It is now clear that wireless IP communications can be
    all things to all people for the foreseeable future, a
    technology plateau. This greatly reduces the
    “leap-frog” anxiety that service providers abhor.
    Investing in infrastructure is a lot easier to justify
    when it’s clear that it will be scalable and remain
    serviceable for many years.

    NT stands to profit mightily from such a build out.

    .. and ..

    Fixed 4G
    I think 4G will push out wired Internet and
    television service. Once 4G is competitive in cost and
    bandwidth it’s inevitable. From the provider’s end,
    why have wired and wireless plant when wireless would
    do it all? With falling costs, it will soon be
    economical for HDTV sets to have built-in 4G
    transceivers.

    If each connected device has it’s own 4G interface, the
    bandwidth requirements for any conceivable application
    (e.g. Super HDTV) is maybe 20Mbits. NT has already
    demonstrated this data rate.

    Cordless phones will become fully portable, as will
    computers and small TV sets, making wired devices
    undesirable.

    IP Radio-on-Demand
    Having push-button replay and pause would be a
    killer app for IP car radios. Lots of other features
    could be incorporated as well. Music pirating would
    be reduced by providing any tune - anytime - anywhere
    via IP Radio .

    Advertising Revenue
    IP entertainment offers an opportunity for service
    providers to garner a substantial slice of advertising
    revenue. As custodian of the customer, they are in a
    unique position to profile consumer locations and
    tastes. With ad insertion, they can offer end users
    discounted (or even free) communications. They could
    offer highly targeted ads to customers that tell them
    what sorts of ads they want to see (camping gear for
    example).

    December 6th, 2007 at 8:47 am by John McKean

  5. John McKean - I think you have a good grasp of some of the more exciting market opportunities. I also think that some of the good people left at Nortel understand these opportunities. I’m not courageous enough to buy in the dips yet because I don’t see enough evidence that Nortel is going to be a big participant in these opportunities.

    December 6th, 2007 at 10:21 pm by Nortel Watcher

  6. IMHO another big stumbling block to wireless internet is that the main wireless device that most people frequently carry with them - the mobile phone - is really not suitable for several popular applications such as web browsing, television and email. The screen is simply too small for browsing and television while the keyboards provided with mobile phones are too small to be used for quickly creating and editing emails or documents. IMHO Wireless internet will only become attractive for a wide range of people when the costs of internet broadband service gets low enough and the service is stable enough so that users are willing to ditch their DSL or Cable Modem service entirely and exclusively use wireless broadband (e.g. EVDO) as a single mode for accessing the network.

    December 7th, 2007 at 10:53 am by Charles Ritz

  7. John McKean - I think you have a firm grasp of the obvious.

    What ever happened to using the cell phone account or as a prepaid debit card to pay for parking, tolls, mass transportation, stamps, fares and other little fees that require cash, or a myriad of cards, passcodes and devices?

    What ever happened to using cell phones for playing games on a geographic gameboard combined with social networking?

    What ever happened to using cell phones to advertise local specials (say in a mall?), or to contain a shopping list that located goods and services?

    What ever happened to cell phones as a “life alert” for our ageing population?

    What ever happened to using cell phones as a “telemetry monitor” for peoples vital signs (used in both emergency situations and possibly as a part of gaming, or to record exercise routines?)

    What ever happened to using a cell phone as a travel/tour/vacation guide combined with social networking?

    Why can’t my cell phone be used to beam a powerpoint presentation to a local projector (instead of lugging a PC around?). Couldn’t it also take the place of a thumb drive? How about a pair of glasses that I can project the cellphone screen to (making the damn thing useful?)

    Why can’t I get my cell phone to do VoIP over my home network?

    There are lots of things that can be done. The question is what is Nortel doing about it?

    What are your comments on Nokia’s foray into social networking and location?
    http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2007/11/28/nokia-adds-gypsii-social-networking-app-to-gps-enabled-sets/

    December 7th, 2007 at 11:29 am by many

  8. Hey John: Nortel needs a multi-use, breakthrough product soon…. call it ASAP. Think iPhone!

    December 7th, 2007 at 1:53 pm by Jd

  9. Usage of any level of Connectivity needs to be simple and seamless. Stream TV, Music or Any sort of content from your Home to where ever you are. Control Home automation from your laptop/cell phone while you are away. Have internet radio, GPS, Mapping or whatever you need while on the go, in your car or on foot, or any slew of other apps like those listed above by Many be made available.

    The iPhone is a great example. Introduced only with 2G connectivity, even though 3G was available from AT&T. But, as with Apple, simplicity and elegances won over consumers hearts and minds.

    The information is all there in little silos, on your PC, or Laptop or Cell phone or network, on one hard drive or another, in one peripheral or another, designed to work with one application or another. Wouldn’t it be nice if all that information could come together. Then you have the killer app that drives the Network.

    It’s not the phone… its the connectivity.
    And It’s not the connectivity itself, its the simplicity in which that connectivity is applied to everyday living.

    December 7th, 2007 at 3:20 pm by stuch

  10. Mobile data ( EDGE / GPRS / 3G …whatever ) is still far too expensive for casual use. I have no interest in any kind of multimedia support, but I would like decent ( at least 256 bit ) encryption on voice and data calls.

    December 10th, 2007 at 4:10 am by Graham Dresch

  11. We don’t care which wireless technique we use. We just wanna find a cheapest way to surf the internet and connect to VOIP service provide (Skype,MSN,,,) and make a free call from our mobile. I have connected my mobile to WIFI and make a free call everyday.
    We seat in the office or home 95% of time. So if Office and home can provide free wireless internet, No one will use the HSDPA/WIMAX(share BW)for the data and international voice/video call.

    December 12th, 2007 at 10:59 pm by Frank Zhou

  12. Case in point: http://tinyurl.com/2dmues

    December 16th, 2007 at 6:37 pm by many

  13. Let’s imagine what you can do with your cell phone in near future,
    it could be an infrastructure which can be adopted to current cell phones, or a new improved new cell phone phone. When you get in a network your cellular phone transform to wireless Vo-WLAN phone.

    You have to log in to network. After you log on, your phone going to use WI-FI instead of GPRS, VOIP instead of wireless network.

    Whenever you get in to the campus you are going to log in to the network. And you can see who is online in the campus or corporations.
    You will be able to chat, message, video conference and play games simultaneously with your friends and peers.
    Giving workers greater flexibility to access the corporate network and provides secure guest access to network resources. This structure implement business communication anywhere, any time which helps to ensure that workers can always reach and be reached.

    Which is different from dual mode phones that switch between the cellular carrier and a Wi-Fi hotspot.

    In the hospital doctor can connect to room 401’s camera to check out his patient and reach the nurse at that moment on the same phone.

    For corporations they don’t have to get a phone on each table. Everybody is going to use their cellular phone.

    December 17th, 2007 at 8:22 am by Mehlika Diri

  14. Today, Wireless devices are primararily used for Communication.People want to use Mobiles as A Personal computers
    Definetly Mobile is at top level.Keeping mobile in mind following things are required.
    1>>Wi-fi or LAN connectivity over Mobile.(For Offices)
    2>>Mobile TV with high quality videos.
    3>>Improved compatibility between Mobile devices and Computers.

    December 18th, 2007 at 7:38 am by Jitendra Jain

  15. The mobile form factor is not compatible with everything needed for an effective business set. The electronics industry recognized pretty quickly that there was good business to be had building add-ons for iPods. I’d like to see the telecom guys develop docking stations that connect mobiles to a fully functional enterprise desktop. I would suggest a bluetooth link to a headless desktop except I find Bluetooth performance to be notoriously inconsistent.

    December 18th, 2007 at 5:27 pm by Nortel Watcher

  16. Just a short observation and question…..

    I am convinced and excited by the Hyperconnectivity argument and endorse all of the previous frustrations. However, I am sure that by far the largest growth area is in applications that are currently ‘dumb machines’, In-Car audio, Nav and warning systems, Home entertainment systems, washing machines, bathroom appliances, first line medical diagnosis; the list is limited only by imagination.
    Scott Wickware’s recent research shows that the Consumer has the imagination, desire and perceived need for these services, we are well positioned to provide the infrastructure to support them, but who is engaging with the consumer electronic industry to make this happen? Do we have a Team selling all this innovation to manufacturers or are we waiting for them to innovate? Can’t we ‘wag the dog’ a little more than we are??

    January 2nd, 2008 at 7:15 am by Lee Cocozza

  17. I’d like to see the wireless carriers in Canada drop the rates on their data packages. As an independent Contracter it’s very expensive to utilize the Black Berry or iphone to their potential…you end up with crazy bills.

    I’m a bit web, info and teck junky…I want wireless access everywhere…on every device I can get it on. I’m, also very mobile with my job so would like to see more wireless hotspots around town (Calgary).

    As a former Nortel Employee in Canada and the US keep inovating. I want to see more Nortel headlines in the papers.

    cheers…p

    January 3rd, 2008 at 8:10 pm by Paul

  18. With people getting more mobile than ever, I believe Mobile devices are almost like lifelines; need to be in constant touch with others, to be contacted anytime, anywhere; share profiles with friends and family (calendars, pictures, videos etc) instantly; remotely control critical devices at home; store and forward healthcare information; security of data on devices; web browsing and last but not least “longer battery life” - cheers MV

    January 9th, 2008 at 1:58 pm by MV Prabhakar

  19. @ John McKean & others.

    Problem with the whole line of thought of 4G pushing out wireline is this: in times of 2G, 3G was thought be be a huge advance. By the time the (early) 3G networks had any kind of decent coverage, the 3G “advances” of 384kbps were already exceeded by the advances of the web and the connected world. 4G has the same problems. By the time 4G networks will reach any kind of ubiquity and will offer 30Mbps per sector, applications will routinely consume 4-7Mbps. You mention HD video streams. NT might have demonstrated a sector delivering 20mbps. Very nice, but not nearly enough. Very quickly, with even a few home users expecting to get HD content on the same BTS at the same time, even 4G capacities will be subsumed and surpassed by what users will generate in demand. Hence, I think wireless technologies will never supplant wireline.

    What we will see is a significant shift in what content will be used on mobile devices, and the pricepoint at which it will be delivered. But even in this space, i think the current hype of the telco vendors is much the same as in the 3G days. The chant of 4G delivering what 3G didn’t is much like 3G delivering what 2G couldn’t and is just hype. We will see 4G reach ubiquity no sooner than 2015. Imagine what applications will consume by then. 5G to the rescue :-)

    January 30th, 2008 at 2:07 am by Moot

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