Why Did Cox Fail at Wireless?

Why Didn't Cox Try Femtocells Inside of DVR's or UMA WiFi Cell Service?

Cable operators can fix indoor wireless service through their own backhaul via femtocells or WiFi through their own networks.  There are a handful of femtocell companies that Cox could have partnered with but the best might have been Kineto which offers UMA WiFi for cell phone calls.  Will Cox change their marketing strategy as a new MVNO partner with Sprint selling Sprint femtocells?  

Cox Communications, a major cable and internet service provider in the United States, entered the wireless market in 2009 with the launch of its own wireless service. However, Cox eventually decided to discontinue its wireless operations and shut down its wireless network. While the exact reasons for Cox's failure in the wireless market may involve a combination of factors, here are a few potential reasons:

Competitive Landscape: The wireless market in the United States is highly competitive, dominated by major nationwide carriers such as Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, and Sprint (now part of T-Mobile). These carriers have extensive infrastructure, large customer bases, and significant resources to invest in network expansion and marketing. Entering such a competitive market can be challenging for a new player like Cox.

Limited Network Coverage: Building and maintaining a robust wireless network requires significant investment in infrastructure, including cell towers, backhaul connections, and network equipment. Cox's wireless network had limited coverage compared to the nationwide networks of established carriers. Limited coverage can be a disadvantage, especially for customers who prioritize extensive coverage and network reliability.

Lack of Subscriber Base Synergy: Cox primarily focused on providing cable and internet services and did not have an existing subscriber base of wireless customers to leverage. Established carriers often bundle wireless services with other offerings, such as cable TV or home internet, to provide additional value to their customers. Without a substantial customer base in wireless, Cox may have faced challenges in attracting and retaining wireless subscribers.

Evolving Technological Landscape: The wireless industry is constantly evolving, with advancements in network technology and the introduction of new services and features. Keeping up with these advancements requires substantial investment and technical expertise. Cox may have faced difficulties in competing and adapting to the rapidly changing landscape of the wireless industry.

It's important to note that the specific internal factors that led to Cox's decision to exit the wireless market may not be publicly disclosed. The decision to discontinue wireless operations is often based on a combination of financial, strategic, and market considerations specific to the company.

Ultimately, each company's success or failure in the wireless market depends on various factors, including market dynamics, competitive positioning, network coverage, subscriber base, and overall business strategy.

VoLTE vs Wifi Calling

Wireless carrier voice revenues are declining almost to zero (many fees now include unlimited voice and SMS texts, charging only on the basis of data consumed).  Not to mention the reliability of voice coverage is on the declines as well with carrier networks seeing congestion in many areas throughout the World.

Have carriers lost control of voice and messaging services with the onset of the mobile data tsunami?  It appears to be that way seeing the growth of over the top messaging services.  Many wireless consumers suffering from poor quality or non-existent voice service at home have three main technical solutions to consider.

• Install a femtocell, (often termed residential small cell) 
• Use Wi-Fi calling 
• Install a repeater

The wireless industry seems uncertain of which direction to take for future voice delivery.  VoLTE which stand for (Voice over LTE) seems the most popular choice and is considered by many to be the path of the future. However, the complexity of introducing the service late and alongside existing 2G/3G has delayed launch.  Despite the hype at the last CTIA conference, few operators and few devices actively support it today.  This could obviously change quickly over the coming year. Sprint's CTO advised they will wait until its more mature, offering HD Voice over 3G instead.

Several operators are introducing Voice over Wi-Fi including operators T-Mobile. This is quite independent of VoLTE and comes in several flavors - many operators offer a separate App that can be a bit clunky and inconvenient to use. Alternatively, the new iPhone iOS8 Wi-Fi calling feature is fully integrated as a seamless service - making it as easy to use as standard cellular calls.  Most T-Mobile android phones offer built in Wifi calling as well.  The iPhone could be a big trigger for greater take-up of Wifi calling and may affect sales of residential Femtocells.  Approximately, 10 million residential Femtocells deployed worldwide. 

Marin County Cell Phone Reception Review

Marin County Cell Phone Reception Dead Zones

(Click on the Map to Submit a New Location)

I was shocked recently on our family vacation how poor the cell phone reception was in Marin County.  I would be surprised if cell phone companies Verizon, Sprint & T-Mobile had any satisfied customers in the area.  The terrain is quite hilly and the trees are enormous.  It is one of the most beautiful areas in the County but probably has the worst cell phone reception of anywhere I have ever visited or vacationed with a reasonable population density.  This area is also the home to thousands of commuting technology professionals who work in San Francisco and rely on coverage during their daily commutes.

West Marin County especially almost had no reception at all.  This was surprising to me because of the population density and the amount of tourism and residents.  I would guess it is also a safety nightmare for emergency services in the area.  There are long stretches of road that have no signal and the roads are dangerous.  There are bicyclist all over the narrow roads that don't have any shoulder to ride on.  The roads are steep, have lots of blind curves and make for hazardous driving conditions if you are not alert behind the wheel.  I would imagine there are lot of car accidents.

Here is a list of cities, highways and locations in the area that had NO RECEPTION for T-Mobile and Verizon.  AT&T had a weak signal in many of these locations.

Bolinas - No signal
San Anselmo - No signal
Muir Woods National Monument - No Signal
Highway 1 in West Marin - No Signal most of the way
Panoramoic Highway - No Signal
Ridgecrest Blvd. - No Signal
Sleepy Hollow - No Signal
Butterfield Rd. - No Signal
Stinson Beach - 2 bars of 2G Edge on T-Mobile

AT&T probably had the best reception in the area and this seemed to be the carrier of choice for most residents in the area.  If any reception was available it was likely 2G and downloading data or email was virtually impossible.  I would imagine that there are lots of AT&T Microcells used by residents in the area.

I was not able to review Sprint's coverage in the area but it is likely not much better.  Thankfully I am a  T-Mobile customer and was able to make and receive phone calls through WiFi at our friends house.  T-Mobile WiFi phone calls save the day once again.

I would imagine there is lot of resistance from the residents for installing cell phone towers in the area.  I would characterize the population of residents to be quite "earthy".  I have found these communities and the City Council's o be quite resistant to the installation of cell phone towers or new antennas.  

List of T-Mobile Phones That Have UMA WiFi Calling

Right now T-Mobile is the only US carrier to offer UMA WiFi calling on Android phones.  Here is a list of phones that currently support the Kineto application that is not currently available in the Android marketplace.  The application is free but minutes are deducted from your total plan if you make calls over WiFi which is reasonable.  Other carriers like AT&T, Verizon & Sprint have largely ignored this demand from consumers because of their growing femtocell businesses where they would like to sell you a piece of hardware for around $250 plus a monthly data plan. See: AT&T Microcell, Verizon femtocell & Sprint femtocell sales.

Kineto Wireless is an innovator and leading supplier of solutions that enable delivery of mobile services over broadband. They have deploy Smart Wi-Fi Application for Wi-Fi Calling to their customers for free improve indoor coverage through the use of existing Wi-Fi access points. This list is constantly being updated so please check back for further updates and and become a Facebook fan to stay informed.

After speaking with T-Mobile's customer service team we came up with a list of phones that currently have UMA on the device:  G2, MyTouch Phones, Samsung Vibrant, Behold 2 Katalyst, Most Blackberry Phones, Nokia e73 and Nokia 6086, Motorola Cliq and Cliq XT

Does AT&T Have WiFi Calling?

Yes, AT&T offers Wi-Fi calling as a feature for its customers. Wi-Fi calling allows you to make and receive calls over a Wi-Fi network instead of using the cellular network. This feature can be particularly useful in areas with weak cellular coverage or when traveling internationally.

To use Wi-Fi calling on AT&T, you need a compatible device and an active AT&T wireless plan that supports Wi-Fi calling. Most recent smartphones and some older models are compatible with Wi-Fi calling on the AT&T network.

How to enable Wi-Fi calling on an iPhone:

1. Go to the Settings app.
2. Select "Phone" or "Cellular."
3. Look for the "Wi-Fi Calling" option and toggle it on.

To enable Wi-Fi calling on an Android device, the steps may vary depending on the device model and Android version. However, the general process involves:

1. Open the Phone app.
2. Access the settings or menu within the app.
3. Look for the "Wi-Fi Calling" or "Call Settings" option.
4. Enable Wi-Fi calling and follow any prompts to set it up.

It's worth noting that Wi-Fi calling uses your Wi-Fi network to establish the call, but it still uses your cellular plan minutes. If you have an unlimited talk and text plan, the calls made through Wi-Fi calling are typically included and do not incur additional charges. However, if you have a limited talk plan, the minutes used for Wi-Fi calling will be deducted from your plan's allotment.

If you're unsure about the availability of Wi-Fi calling on your specific device or plan, it's recommended to check with AT&T directly or visit their website for the most accurate and up-to-date information.

T-Mobile WiFi Calling Works Great

 

So far I have used the T-Mobile WiFi calling feature a number of times inside homes and buildings and it works great on the G2. It appears that once you are registered on the network it minimizes the signal from HSPA+ or 3G to reduce interference.  I am also able to send text messages as well over WiFi.  So far I have not dropped a call and the connection is very clear.  Once again congratulations to Kineto Wireless for making this happen.  You will not likely see other US carriers following their lead because it is not a profit center for them and disrupts the growing femtocell business.

I still have two remaining business questions: Why is T-Mobile Wifi Not Free especially when you are overseas and will you be charged international calling rates if the call originates on a WiFi network in Europe for example?

Why is T-Mobile WiFi Calling is Not Free?

Why is T-Mobile WiFi Calling Not Free

We just spoke with a friendly T-Mobile customer service representative who took the time to look up & read the actual billing policy.  Wifi calling is be billed exactly like normal cell phone tower calls just like nights & weekends, my faves, & mobile-to-mobile.  The Wifi usage minutes will be reflected on your bill, unfortunately.  The question remains will this last forever as Google Voice and Skype start to steal revenue and minutes from the carrier.  One of the benefits of making Wifi phone calls is to save money and not pay $1.25 per minute to make calls overseas.  To do this most iPhone and Android users have used the Skype, Truphone or Google Voice apps to make cheap calls that range from .02-.05 cents per minute.  Since you are not using T-Mobile's network and using free wifi, it doesn't make any sense to still pay the ridiculous rates of $1.25 per minute to make calls overseas and this will need to change.  

T-Mobile has had a reputation for having an inferior network to Verizon, Sprint & AT&T in some areas.  However, if you live in a major metropolitan area the coverage is pretty good.  For many T-Mobile users who live in heavily wooded areas, the hills or simply where a cell phone tower signal does not reach into their home.  Wifi is now an option to make and receive phone call.  

Wifi phone calling endorsed by the carrier is a major industry breakthrough as all of the major carriers have been putting this development off for about a decade for fear of cannibalizing their overprice voice subscription business.  For the millions of people who don't have a signal in their home or office all you have to is have an Android phone and it will update your system automatically to make calls.  

T-Mobile has been the one US carrier that has not taken a femtocell strategy of fixing in-building coverage.  Instead, they have partnered with Kineto app that allows Android phone users to make Wifi phone calls.  This is interesting because Kineto was VC funded many years ago with a femtocell strategy and quickly changed course to adapt to the market that wasn't willing to pay $200+ for the network device.  

T-Mobile Wifi Phone Calls on Android Phones

T-Mobile has announced Wi-Fi Calling technology with the upcoming availability of built-in Wi-Fi Calling solutions planned for a wide selection of Android powered smartphones, including the recently announced new T-Mobile myTouch and Motorola DEFY with MOTOBLUR. All have the Android 2.2 operating system named Froyo. Hopefully, this Smart Wifi app will become available on future G2 updates.

Kineto offers the wireless industry's only combined Wi-Fi-based Smart Offload solution. Kineto’s Wi-Fi-based Smart Offload application enables mobile phone users to turn any standard Wi-Fi access point into a seamless extension of the T-Mobile network, allowing subscribers to receive all their mobile services when connected via Wi-Fi. This application helps solve the Capacity Crunch. Resolves the 3G Indoor Coverage Challenge. Addresses the perceived mobile VoIP threat Helps improve battery performance by enabling handsets to transmit at lower power when attached to a Wi-Fi access point, and thereby increase handsets' talk and standby times.

Wi-Fi Calling for Android is built upon the same technology as UMA, but is a different implementation from T-Mobile's past offerings. T-Mobile’s current Wi-Fi Calling solution which operates on BlackBerry smartphones, for instance, seamlessly hands off calls from T-Mobile’s network to Wi-Fi networks, Wi-Fi Calling for Android does not. T-Mobile Wi-Fi Calling for Android increases coverage and but unfortunately still uses voice minutes on your plan.

10 Funny Femtocell Product Brand Names

AT&T's New Sponsor Sudafed - "Congestion Relief for Our Network"

SudaCell - Congestion Relief for the Network

SinuCell - Relief for your Network Congestion

MicroHell - Because we know your outdoor cell coverage is actually getting worse

Wi-For-Free - Why would we want to use a free back-haul service like Wi-Fi?

Never Drop - Or we pay for the call

Extenna - Extension for your iPhone 4 antenna that won't reach the cell tower

Ubiquity - Your phone should work everywhere our coverage maps claim

Auto Re-Dial - Because we know you will have to do it at least once

Show Me the Money - Just pay us and stop complaining about your poor service quality

Cell You Crap - When your $150 + $20 Per Month AT&T MicroCell drops calls

What are femtocells?  - They are 2G, 3G, 4G, LTE or Wi-Fi wireless device that has been specifically designed for cell phones and used it is used to enhance cell phone reception indoors and lower cell phone costs at the same time.  Femtocells are typically used to relieve network congestion, dropped calls and areas that have no cell phone reception.