(keitai-l) Re: Risk of 'Roaming Confusion'

From: Ken Chang <kench_at_hotmail.com>
Date: 06/10/02
Message-ID: <F39OukusO2YAv3uRypB00010480@hotmail.com>
an interesting sovereignty problem

(1)
it's unfair for a Finn guy to call a friend far way in Helsinki
at domestic rating, while his Russian girl on the other side of
the border at international toll.  no complains?

overlayed cell architecture has similar problems like roaming,
like you said, in what algorithms and variables should be used
to bounce between the networks.  maybe something like MAHO/MACA,
and include GPS as an added factor?

(2)
this is a fight for the power, networks vs handsets.

telecom networks are dictators.  it's argued that the networks
are precious public resources and have better understanding of
the overall traffic, like planned economy.

if the handsets, the people, have the control, then the most
preferred service may be jammed like mid-night Roppongi cross.
if the price can be flexibly adjusted to balance the demand,
the free market principle will work for everyone.

maybe an open GNU algorithm will do it, not in the near future.

(3)
there is rumor that DoCoMo may want to build a network with
micro PDC cells, macro UMTS cells, and scattered WLAN islands,
all connecting to one virtual service network,. using tri-mode
handsets ... 507 series?

respects to FOMA, long live Digital MOVA!


From: Benjamin Kowarsch <benjk@mac.com>
Reply-To: keitai-l@appelsiini.net
To: keitai-l@appelsiini.net
Subject: (keitai-l) Risk of 'Roaming Confusion'
Date: Mon, 10 Jun 2002 00:48:11 +0900

An interesting caveat of seamless roaming between GPRS and WLAN
roaming is that a user may be surfing the net in good faith that
they are on a cheap tariff and don't need to worry about the time
they spend online (ie. while on the WLAN), but in fact the device
has switched over to a more expensive service (ie. GPRS).

This would increase risk and cost for the mobile phone company
because it will trigger complaints from customers and may result
in unpaid bills and bad debt.

An example for this kind of roaming confusion can be observed at
the Russo-Finish border, although there it is ordinary GSM roaming
...

from http://www.cellular-news.com/cgi-
bin/database/country.cgi?term1=3Dfinland
Russian network leaks into Finland=A0=A0(27-Mar-02)

The Finnish cellular networks, Sonera and Radiolinja have both
complained to the Finnish Communications Regulatory Authority
(FICORA) about interference from the Russian network, MTS who's
signals are apparently leaking across the Russia/Finland border.
Residents in the southeastern town of Vainikkala have been able
to pick up signals from MTS, which operates a GSM network in
the St. Petersburg area on the other side of the border.

If a Finnish customers handset accidentally logs onto the Russian
network, then all their calls will be treated as if they had
originated in Russia, and incoming calls would be subject to a
roaming charge.

Normally though, if a customer can show that they are in Finland
when the call is made, then the networks will refund the call
charges.  FICORA plans to inspect the signal strengths in
the area and if MTS is found to be leaking across the border,
then it will make a complaint to the Russian authority to reduce
MTS's transmitter power.



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Received on Mon Jun 10 15:58:19 2002