Fixed Mobile Convergence Drives Quad Play

Fixed mobile convergence might be shaping up as a key driver of "logical" quadruple play bundles. Of the top values cited by respondents to a Compete survey in early 2008, three of the four most important features involved integration of home (fixed) phones and mobiles.

Another significant finding: 97 percent of consumers were most interested in the broadband Internet service component of the bundle.

These two top findings suggest that FMC is as big a deal as many say, and that broadband has emerged, at least among technology-savvy users, as the single most important service delivered by a wired network.

The new survey also is interesting in suggesting that consumers finally are figuring out conditions under which a wireless service is a "logical" part of a bundle.

In past years, people seem to have better understood or accepted the idea that a voice service and Internet access service "go together." They now are comfortable with the idea that video and Internet access go together, or that voice and video can be bought in a package.

Wireless and wired voice service seems to have been less obviously a logical bundle for most consumers. But the ability to integrate the mobile and landline phone obviously is resonating in a new way.

Compete says interest in bundles increased 55 percent from July 2007 through March 2008.

More than four out of 10 respondents say they would either be "likely" or "very likely" to consider purchasing mobile phone service from their telecommunications provider.