As enterprises move to unified communications, there will be two focal points for all of the user’s communications and collaboration activities – a desktop hard or softphone and an associated mobile device. Integrating those two interfaces will be key in ensuring that the user has access to the tools they need to remain accessible regardless of where they are located. This will be particularly important for attracting younger workers who will bring with them less formal models for work and collaboration. Aastra has been driving the development of completely integrated solutions based on fully open standards that can operate across the widest variety of mobile networks. Integrating the fixed and mobile environments is only the first step however, as the real goal is to extend the full range of UC functionality to the mobile user.
As a worldwide supplier, Aastra is very aware of the differing mobility requirements found in different parts of the world. In the Nordic countries where Aastra has its Ericsson roots, companies are moving to a pure mobile model and abandoning the wired telephony infrastructure almost entirely. To respond to that need, Aastra has developed a converged solution that incorporates fixed and mobile networks and addresses the different mobile networks and pricing plans found around the world. That, in conjunction with a solution that truly embraces open standards like SIP (Session Initiation Protocol) and SIMPLE (SIP with IM and Presence Leveraging Extensions), will ensure the greatest level of mobile UC functionality and the widest range of interoperability.
The Aastra mobility solution is comprised of the Aastra Mobile Client Controller (AMCC) and the Aastra Mobile Client (AMC). In line with Aastra’s commitment to open standards, the Mobile Client Controller is SIP based and call manager agnostic. For cellular-only configurations, the deployment is software only. The controller comes into play for dual mode Wi-Fi/cellular deployments, and it provides the ability to transparently hand off connections between the two environments. Going forward, Aastra plans to integrate the AMCC with all of its call managers, eliminating the need for that additional server. This is in keeping with Aastra’s development strategy of building open applications that can work across multiple call managers, thus providing investment protection for its customers.
A functional mobile UC solution must also support the full range of mobile operating systems. The Aastra Mobile Client currently operates on BlackBerry, the most popular smartphone in North America, and Symbian, which powers the Nokia smartphones that dominate the European market. Plans are in place to add iPhone and Android support, and all of these will operate over either cellular or Wi-Fi networks.
The mobile environment brings with it special challenges, particularly for the types of integrated applications we find in UC. In designing a mobile client, it is important to recognize the difference between the fixed and mobile environments. In the wired world, it may be important to support hundreds of features, but a good mobile interface is characterized by doing a few things very well. The key is to have a mobile-appropriate interface that allows the user to access the most important features in the simplest and most intuitive fashion.
While it is important that the user interface be simple and intuitive, the solution must also be easy to deploy. The AMC can be downloaded and configured over the air or from a PC. Once provisioned by the system administrator via the Web based interface, the user can install the software with a single click.
The Aastra mobility solution is geared toward mobile unified communications, not simply fixed-mobile convergence. The AMC does provide basic single number reach, single voice mail, and inter-network handoffs, however it also extends the core UC capabilities. Those would include directory access with presence status, secure mobile IM, and in-call features like calendar integration, conferencing, call waiting, and call back.
The other major goal of a mobile UC solution is the ability to control mobile network costs. To that end, Aastra has incorporated a number of cost control features. The most obvious way to reduce mobility costs is to shift cellular calls onto Wi-Fi networks when possible; analysts estimate that 40- to 60% of cellular calls are made while the user is within range of a Wi-Fi network. The AMC has the ability to route VoIP calls over both enterprise Wi-Fi networks and public Hot Spots. When operating in Hot Spot mode, the client also provides VoIP encryption to ensure confidentiality. Aastra’s wireless VoIP works not only over Wi-Fi networks, but over cellular 3G networks as well. Like VoIP over Wi-Fi calls, those 3G routed connections are also encrypted.
Based on its global reach, the Aastra mobility solution incorporates mobile least cost routing and other features to address the needs of international travelers. In the US and Canada, users pay mobile usage for both incoming and outgoing mobile calls. Most other parts of the world use a “calling party pays” model, where incoming mobile calls are not charged against the user’s minutes. To provide the most cost effective call routing wherever the user is located, the AMCC downloads a least cost routing (LCR) table to the mobile device; the LCR selections are defined by the system administrator
By recognizing the mobile operator’s network ID, the LCR can route the user’s calls by the most appropriate means. If the user is in a location where both incoming and outgoing calls are both charged, it can place the call through the PBX and the user’s desk number will be provided on the caller ID. If the user is in a country that uses the calling party pays model, it can send a call request to the PBX, which calls back the mobile and then places the outgoing call, thereby eliminating the mobile usage charge. Most importantly, the entire process is transparent to the user, so the company can get the benefit of the best managed communications and the users are not burdened with special dialing instructions or calling procedures.
Another mobile cost savings strategy for international travelers is SIM swapping. Rather than paying international roaming charges, many frequent international travelers buy SIM cards for mobile networks in the countries they visit frequently, and install them in their handsets when they visit there. The problem is that the SIM card is assigned to a different number, so while the user can make calls less expensively, no one can call them (unless they happen to know where the user is traveling and their local number in that country). With the Aastra Mobile Client, when the user installs a new SIM card, a data message is sent to the Mobile Client Controller, which records their new number. From that point onwards, when someone calls the user’s desk number, the call is automatically forwarded to their “temporary” mobile number. When they reinstall their home SIM card, the number is updated on the PBX again.
The nature of work is changing, and with that comes an emphasis on accessibility and collaboration in an increasingly mobile environment. With its global focus, Aastra has developed a complete set of integrated mobility solutions that are applicable worldwide. Importantly, those solutions embrace open standards to ensure best -in-class capabilities for mobile UC. The biggest challenge they face is increasing user acceptance. Clearly, there is an economic incentive to adopt mobile UC, but thus far user acceptance has been lukewarm. With a well-designed user interface and a well conceived set of cost control features, Aastra may have come up with the right formula to move mobile UC into the mainstream.