P1003  Exploiting the "Always On" concept

The EURESCOM P1003 Exploiting Always On study shows that the AO functionality is making a number of value-added services more attractive to the users. Always On enables new kinds of services and a new way of utilising already existing services. A telco adapting to deliver AO services may thus increase its revenues, and shift these revenues towards higher margin areas. The perceived value to the user derives from the value-added service, e.g. on-line banking, unified messaging, and not from the "transport of bits". This project report investigates a number of services that have been identified as attractive from the user panels and field trials involved in the study, and lists the players, the business models and the critical factors for success. The study gives strong indications that AO-enhanced services will constitute a competitive advantage in the fixed and mobile networks, but provisioning of relevant services will go beyond traditional telco turf, and probably require new skills, complex interrelations with players from other industries, and considerable business acumen.