Whoever invented the expression "talk is cheap" obviously didn't have to pay his company's mobile phone bill. Mobile handsets have become the primary phone for many business users, even when they're in the office.

The sheer convenience of a single, roaming device makes the mobile phone the preferred choice for many, especially when that device includes essential business features such as address books, calendars, to-do lists, and email and web clients.

But few business mobile users think closely about the cost implications of all that convenience and accessibility. According to the telecoms consultancy Analysys, around 80% of corporate telephony spending now goes on calls made to or by mobiles.

In-country mobile-to-office and office-to-mobile calls are a pain point for business, and international mobile roaming and interconnection charges are worse still. Even though a May 2007 EU agreement capped the price of a mobile call while abroad at €0.49 per minute, and incoming calls at €0.24 per minute, mobile costs remain high.

So while few companies want to scale back the use of mobiles, the majority are actively seeking ways to slash the running costs of their mobile fleets. Fixed-mobile convergence (FMC) via Skype offers a way to do just that.

Device definitions

Before going further, let me define what I mean by FMC. There are a number of different definitions of the term, using competing approaches and different technologies. Here, I am defining FMC as a solution to the simple business problem of how to curb mobile phone costs, using readily available solutions that can be cost-effectively and seamlessly integrated into a company's communication infrastructure. The key components for this flexible and easy to deploy FMC solution include Skype-enabled mobile handsets equipped with mobile broadband (EDGE, 3G, WiFi, etc...), and PBX-to-Skype application gateways that link the office PBX to Skype - the World's largest VoIP network.

Using PBX-to-Skype application gateways within the office already enables business users to take advantage of VoIP benefits - low international call costs, enhanced inter-office comms - without having to replace their existing investments in PBX equipment. What's more, it does this for a low one-time upgrade cost.

And now, with increased uptake of Windows smart phones and devices, the benefits of connecting over VoIP can extend to mobile users too, to make a profound impact on the biggest proportion of business comms charges.

Bridging the mobile gap

So how does this work? How does a business link its mobiles and its office telephony via VoIP to gain the benefits?

First, the business deploys a PBX-to-Skype application gateway at its offices. This adds up to 8 Skype lines to the company's existing PBX that can be picked up and transferred between extensions like an ordinary call. The gateway also centralises Skype provisioning and management, giving IT managers full control over use and eliminating the need to install Skype on each PC.

The mobile device can be any smart phone that can run the Skype Mobile client (such as the latest Blackberries, the Nokia N95, or phones that run Windows Mobile etc).

With the Skype client installed on the mobile, the user's Skype account can be managed centrally by the business IT team, and call preferences set up via the gateway to give alternate routing to the mobile user's Skype account. The Skype call is placed to the mobile via 3G, and even when 3G services are not available, the mobile call can be done via SkypeOut from as little as 2 cents a minute - in any case cutting over 80% of the cost from the mobile call, whether the call is domestic or international.

Proof in practice

Let's take a look at some specific examples of how this FMC solution works to deliver cost savings, and productivity gains in real-life scenarios.

Example #1: using a Blackberry on a US GSM Network with Skype Mobile Client. The user can make Skype calls from the Blackberry to his gateway-equipped UK office in the morning, and calls to his gateway-equipped office in Asia in the evening. The user will not incur any international charges for the Skype calls to the UK or Asia locations since these calls are treated as normal domestic calls that are part of the user's monthly voice/data plan (typically £40 per month for AT&T Voice/Blackberry plan). Yet for a UK Vodafone mobile customer using an ordinary mobile phone, these calls would be 30p - 90p per minute.

Example #2: saving on international roaming charges using a Windows Mobile smartphone, with Skype Mobile Client over 3G. The user can make and receive Skype calls to and from gateway-equipped US and UK offices while traveling in Asia. With the Skype-enabled FMC solution, the call is again part of the user's 3G data plan. With a conventional mobile call, typical UK international roaming charges range from 33p up to 149p per minute.

Example #3: using a Skype 3 Phone to make and receive Skype calls to and from gateway-equipped US and UK offices while traveling internationally. In this case, the Skype calls are free as part of the phone package, again comparing well with typical UK international roaming charges range from 33p up to 149p per minute.

Moving to Mobile 2.0

So implementing the Skype FMC solution is easy, and management of the solution is under full control of your IT team. This ensures accountability and user compliance when using the system, as the team can set up speed-dials and alternate routing to maximise use of the solution, and cost savings too.

It also has the key advantage of being easy to set up, as it requires no changes to a company's existing PBX equipment, office phones or computers. All it needs is the right type of smart phone.

FMC presents an easy win to the cost-conscious business, by enabling them to slash mobile costs, and to keep those costs low. But it also gives businesses a pathway to truly converged, flexible communications, using IP as the conduit - what some people would describe as Mobile 2.0. The good news is that FMC is available today, and businesses can painlessly and cost-effectively deploy it to reap the benefits.

And perhaps giving business people the freedom to roam, and talk for free while roaming, will be the killer Mobile 2.0 application?

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