Fellow blogger Steve Coker addressed an issue in his blog “Mobile Operators – The enabling factor for FMC” that I’d like to take a step further. Not only is FMC of great interest and importance to us, it is a mistake to say that carriers – or at least Sprint – are not focused on deploying FMC solutions because of on-net calling.

While on-net calling is an important benefit of enterprise FMC, it is only a small piece of the convergence puzzle. Enterprises that look at convergence holistically will find that there are many ways to integrate fixed and wireless services to reduce costs and improve operations. That’s where we – the carrier – come into play. Whether a company needs to integrate mobile users into the network, or reduce the cost of the wireline network, our role is to help them evaluate and determine the best approach.

An example is a transportation company that eliminated PBX hardware at its branch offices. Using Sprint’s Mobile Integration the company was able to reduce the number of PBXs from more than 100 to a couple of dozen – an 80 percent reduction. Mobile devices replaced desktop phones and became extensions of the PBX, enabling the company to enhance functionality and deliver an integrated voice communication network.

As for on-net calls, there’s no arguing that FMC can reduce costs associated with wireless phones. We recognize this and support it. Our goal is more than selling minutes of use, it is offering the tools and services that enable customers to further reduce network operating costs.