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Enterprise Wireless Data through MVNOs
After DDI POCKET, Inc. launched its 128kbps data service over
its PHS network on March 26, 2002, some enterprise customers will obtain the
service through Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs) rather than directly
from DDI POCKET. To better understand this phenomenon, the PHS MoU Group visited
Mr. Robert Kelley, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at Japan
Communications Inc. (JCI) - one of the MVNOs. JCI was founded in 1996 as a MVNO aimed at serving enterprises'
need for voice and data service. Today, JCI has over 1000 corporate customers.
Mr. Kelley explained that wireless carriers' services were originally designed
for consumers, thus need much modification to serve businesses' needs. JCI acts
as a partner and wholesale distribution channel for carriers such as DDI POCKET.
It serves enterprises' unique needs such as security, data acceleration, flexible
billing by business units, and system integration. More importantly, JCI provides
ONE-STOP procurement, service, and support for business customers. According to JCI, popular wireless data applications for enterprise
are sales force automation, field force application, and to a lesser degree,
email and Internet access. For these applications, 64kbps is the minimum acceptable
data rate. JCI boosts perceived user data rate by 1.5X to 3X over the network
data rate through data compression and filtering. To provide such data rates economically, JCI utilizes PHS networks.
Mr. Kelley said PHS has a far brighter future than most people realize, as it
will remain one of the most utilized and economical wireless data network available.
Now with DDI POCKET's PHS network offering 128kbps service, demand from enterprises
for wireless data will likely surge. With its unique position in the enterprise
data service value-chain, JCI is well positioned to ride the wave. |
