Neotel a 'tsunami of change'

This is according to BMI-TechKnowledge market research analyst Roy Blume, who said on Wednesday that convergence - where communication forms like mobile telephony, internet and television are brought together on one network - "makes life easier", empowering users to communicate in an environment that has no limitations.

This next-generation technology will enable users to communicate in new ways not yet entrenched in South Africa, according to Neotel, which is SA's first converged communications network operator.

The executive head of Neotel's enterprise group, Stefano Mattiello, said some companies are already providing converged, or unified, communications, but no timeframe has been put in place for the full adoption of the offering.

"I think it's more of a progression or evolution than a milestone. We can already do it today, but I think that the mainstream application adoption will be in the next 12 to 18 months," he said.

A converged communications network allows users to send an SMS from a fixed-line to a cellular phone; call a number to access data in a user's calendar or e-mail - which could be given through a voice-automated system; and work on applications from anywhere in the country, all off one unit.

"In terms of infrastructure, the underlying network is already in place," said Mattiello. "It's now a case of getting the applications and getting them in from a business perspective."

Mattiello said that the applications are all available from Neotel's partners, but consumers won't be able to find them in a pre-packaged solution from Neotel .

"We partner with most content and application providers - it is not limited. We have also formed relationships with bigger companies like Google, Microsoft and Skype," he said.

"I think that these companies will package the application for consumers while we will provide the network capabilities," said Mattiello, adding that it is all about partnerships and fundamentally, partnering with the right people.

"We have to make sure that these partnerships are visible to the market," he said.

Bringing these technologies (which can interface in any environment, irrelevant of whether a user uses a fancy smart phone or not) together on one platform creates flexibility to make the end user more effective, said Blume.

"The good news is that convergence is making life easier, and you [consumers] ain't seen nothing yet. Things are changing and getting better," he said.

Mattiello said the Neotel's current offering is "just the tip of the iceberg".

"Anything is possible [in communication], even communication via virtual reality applications and holograms. If one imagines it, then it could be possible," he said.

- Fin24.com