Spanish incumbent Telefonica has launched a cloud-based telephony service with local internet firm fonYou.
The new service, called ‘Second Line’, offers Spanish customers a virtual mobile number in addition to the one on their SIM. Because this new…
Spanish incumbent Telefonica has launched a cloud-based telephony service with local internet firm fonYou.
The new service, called ‘Second Line’, offers Spanish customers a virtual mobile number in addition to the one on their SIM. Because this new number is based on a cloud, users will be able to utilise over the top services such as visual voicemail and real-time call registers.
A similar service is also being rolled out on South African operator Cell C’s network, and fonYou is in discussions with telcos in other geographic regions too.
Announcing the deal with Telefonica, fonYou CEO Fernando Nunez-Mendoza said the agreement highlights how mobile operators are seeking to expand their own cloud services to avoid being overtaken by new competitors in this nascent market.
“[Mobile operators] know that they must not leave this field open to new and challenging competitors such as Google Voice or Skype, said Nunez-Mendoza. “They must get involved and compete themselves.”
Nunez-Mendoza is calling on telcos and the wireless market to not ignore companies such as Skype, which he says doubled its share of international call traffic to around 25% in 2010.
Although SMS traffic is still strong, growing smartphone use is also prompting increasing competition from instant messaging providers, he added.
However, Nunez-Mendoza is optimistic that mobile operators are in the best position to offer “high-quality” cloud services.
“They control the access networks, they can build on existing payment relationships, and they have already secured a position of trust with the customers regarding confidential information etc,” he said.
“They are in a good place to compete and succeed in the provision of cloud-based services.”
