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Technology

What Is Mobile-To-Mobile Convergence?

Malcolm Tatum
By
Updated May 17, 2024
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Mobile-to-mobile convergence or MMC is a newer approach to the technology that provides the ability of mobile devices to connect to different types of networks. As part of this technology, mobile-to-mobile convergence makes it possible to automatically move from a cellular network to a Wi-Fi connection without having to manually initiate a process. This approach to wireless communications has made an extremely positive impact on mobile phone usage in recent years.

Just about any type of mobile device can be configured to allow for mobile-to-mobile convergence, assuming the device is equipped with the proper hardware. MMC works well with the cellular telephone, various types of softphone devices, and the newer smartphone equipment. When configured properly, the move from one type of network to another is relatively transparent to the end user, and does not involve any delays while the connection to one network is severed and the connection to a different network is achieved.

There are several features associated with the technology that make it attractive to many business and residential customers alike. First, MMC will work within the environment of a wide area network, and will even interact with any type of PBX. The roaming capability can make use of both cellular and Wi-Fi networks, ensuring that the best option for connectivity is always utilized as the end user moves about. This secure connection process makes it possible for persons on the go to have constant access to email, the home server of the business, and even online multimedia conferences, depending on the voice and visual capabilities of the hand held device.

Mobile-to-mobile convergence is very similar to the older mobile technology of fixed-mobile convergence. However, the big difference is that the device equipped with mobile-to-mobile convergence does not have to rely on a specific service provider in order to make the transition from one network or system to another. The action is simple, easy, and will even work in areas where the originating service provider is not active.

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Malcolm Tatum
By Malcolm Tatum , Writer
Malcolm Tatum, a former teleconferencing industry professional, followed his passion for trivia, research, and writing to become a full-time freelance writer. He has contributed articles to a variety of print and online publications, including WiseGEEK, and his work has also been featured in poetry collections, devotional anthologies, and newspapers. When not writing, Malcolm enjoys collecting vinyl records, following minor league baseball, and cycling.
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Discussion Comments

By Melonlity — On Jul 20, 2014

@Soulfox -- That trouble may be sooner than you think. For years, people have been able to download apps that will allow for such voice communications over WiFi. The problem has always been the better services charge and the free apps result in choppy, horrible calls.

Still, that technology may show up sooner rather than later.

But cell companies could counteract it fairly easily. Just offer affordable plans with unlimited calling minutes and that would probably do the trick.

By Soulfox — On Jul 20, 2014

@Terrificli -- That technology could also spell trouble for cellular providers. What if someone worked on a way to use the Internet through WiFi for voice communications? Such a system could kick in when WiFi was available and then flop back over to cellular when WiFi was not in range.

That could cause a major hit to the primary revenue stream of cellular companies, couldn't it? One could buy a cheap cell plan that allowed for a little bit of data and maybe a couple of hours of voice communications per month and rely on WiFi for everything else. I see trouble on the horizon.

By Terrificli — On Jul 19, 2014

The ability to connect to switch from a cellular connection to WiFi sounds like a mundane thing, but that little feature has made smartphones actually useful. Imagine the hassle of having to manually switch to WiFi. People would forget to do that, be stuck on transferring data by cellular networks and would be horrified when they got their cell bills every month (most plans allow for a certain amount of cellular data usage and charge out the nose for anything over that).

See? It sounds minor, but the ability to shift from a cellular data connection to a known WiFi connection without requiring the user to do anything was a huge development.

Malcolm Tatum

Malcolm Tatum

Writer

Malcolm Tatum, a former teleconferencing industry professional, followed his passion for trivia, research, and writing...
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