A user centric always best connected service business model for MVNOs

Abstract

The most successful MVNO (Mobile Virtual Network Operator) model in practice today is the service provider model in which the MVNO appears to be a mobile network operator in its own right and sells comparable voice and data services to those of the underlying network operator. This model has been successful as the mobile operator and the MVNO can cooperate to create services that complement each other or will buy and host together platforms that the mobile operators will benefit from. In recent times, with the advent of new wireless access technologies IP data services to the mobile device are a reality and with this, new data based services have appeared which extend the reach of desktop and internet based applications down into the mobile device. This phenomenon of internet based services on the mobile device is likely to erode the existing user - network relationship, causing the user - network relationship to last for short time-scales of minutes to hours, as compared to the current contract of months to years. Consequently, MVNOs will have to rethink their business model and concentrate more on the development of data services which are independent and portable of the underlying access and transport network and gives their consumers the possibility of always being best connected to their data application.