OMTP offers suggestions for handling the matter of VoIP services

Jul 7, 2007 05:56 GMT  ·  By

The Open Mobile Terminal Platform (OMTP) advises networks to unlock mobile VoIP services for mobile phones. The matter of this service being available on regular handsets for mobile phone users has been a questionable one, as carriers have a great deal to suffer in terms of profit rates.

The white paper which the OMTP has published states that operators are entitled to remove or lock the VoIP apps on handsets which they offer to their clients, but allow them to unlock them after the initial contract has expired. In this way, they will be able to benefit from this capability that their phone comes equipped with while also managing to meet terms with the regulation of their service provider.

Their decision to publish such a statement comes as the VoIP technology has reached a considerable development over the last few years and has high chances of doing even better in the future.

Carriers have been reserved until now in providing unlimited access to VoIP technology to their customers, as this considerably reduces their profit rates. This solution for placing unlimited mobile to PC and mobile to phone calls will take a considerable turn for the better in the next two years. A recent study from Coleman Parkes states that UK businesses that use the VoIP standard will jump to more than 70 percent from what current calls charge users. Under such terms, who would pass this technology for the traditional one?

The white paper also states that networks will have to specify whether the handset that they are offering to their customer has come with VoIP functionality which has been locked or removed.

The OMTP is made of renowned members with a long history in providing mobile telecom services. Among them, there are also Vodafone, Orange, T-Mobile and 3. Some handset producers also agree with the concepts which have been published, including Nokia, Motorola and Ericsson.