New Sprint service allows network operator to expand indoor voice and messaging coverage by pushing into existing Wi-Fi networks
Kineto Wireless, provider of telco-OTT solutions to the mobile industry, and Taqua, supplier of mobile and fixed core networking IP convergence systems and apps, today announced that Sprint has selected Kineto's Smart Wi-Fi client to enable Wi-Fi Calling. Kineto's technology turns private home and office Wi-Fi networks into virtual small cells for mobile operators to use to provide better voice and messaging services.
With Wi-Fi Calling from Sprint, subscribers can use their voice and messaging services over existing home, office and public Wi-Fi networks. As a result, Sprint subscribers are expected to experience high quality voice and messaging coverage in the places they spend most of their time.
Kineto's Smart Wi-Fi solution consists of smartphone client software from a joint solution with Taqua, that enables mobile operators to include Wi-Fi as part of their Voice over LTE (VoLTE) deployment strategy.
By using Taqua's IMS core network solution suite, mobile operators can enable smartphones equipped with Kineto's Smart Wi-Fi client to receive IMS-based voice and messaging services over existing Wi-Fi networks, such as at homes and offices. Smart Wi-Fi means operators can effectively turn all existing home and office Wi-Fi networks into virtual small cells on their mobile network.
Operators can therefore use Wi-Fi as a part of their VoLTE deployment plans, adding critical network coverage and capacity in the locations subscribers spend most their time. Subscribers benefit from high quality voice and messaging coverage and operators benefit from lower churn due to increased customer satisfaction as well as from increased network offload.
Ken Kolderup, CMO at Kineto Wireless, told Smart Chimps that Smart Wi-Fi is the answer to many carrier network issues: 'Wi-Fi is more common now, plus before operators were a bit distracted by the femtocell craze for a number of years, until they realised femtocells weren't a mass-market proposition. Femtocells need to be stored, distributed, are not inexpensive to supply, and need to be swapped up to keep up with technology such as 4G, plus they need to be managed as part of the macro network.
'The reality is femtocells are a weapon in the arsenal for the carrier, but in the meantime everyone started using Wi-Fi at home. Operators' attitudes towards Wi-Fi have changed significantly over the last few months, from being viewed as a competitor to a way to help control mobile data usage. As our technology effectively turns private Wi-Fi into femtocells, by turning on Smart Wi-Fi, a carrier goes from a zero base of femtocells to loads.'
Taqua's vice president of marketing, Frederick Reynolds, told Smart Chimps: 'Two years ago, Taqua and Kineto formally announced our partnership to enable a carrier class voice over Wi-Fi solution. The culmination of this partnership and hard work is our first joint customer, Sprint. While Sprint already utilises Taqua's Virtual Mobile Core as its femtocore, this work with Kineto now allows the same transparent user experience over Wi-Fi networks. We believe this seamless voice solution is applicable for many types of carriers worldwide.'
A recent Strategy Analytics report shows that Wi-Fi is now installed in nearly two thirds of all US households, and a recent Deloitte study indicates nearly two thirds of all US smartphone users now prefer to connect to Wi-Fi for accessing the internet.
