14 DAY TRIAL // Mobile operators are currently concerned with the evolution of alternative ways of communicating that tend to substitute the use of cellulars. Even the services that still require a phone at one end are potentially harmful to their profit.
It is a justified concern, if you think of the range of possibilities that an Internet connected PC has to offer. VoIP now allows for connections between mobile phones and personal computers. Moreover, text-over-IP rapidly gains popularity among cellular users, especially as some websites provide this service free of charge.
Still, the main problem of carriers is not mainly that of the VoIP. Allowing text-over-IP may lead to several problems and profit loss for service providers. If sending free text messages will be possible, the SMS service will register a severe drop in use, as it will not be convenient for anyone to have to pay for what he can get for free.
Furthermore, it is considerably easier to send web links through text messages or even to check if a person is online rather than calling or sending a SMS message. From this point of view, cellular users will only have to gain from such a service being introduced. Even more, Internet surfing would be much enhanced.
People at AQL claim that this company is capable of providing efficient text-over-IP services for mobile phone users. Still, a standard way of applying this technology has not yet been established. Thus, they are expecting mobile communication leaders, like Nokia, to make the first move for best launching the text-over-IP service.