Cellular Providers or Information Providers
I expect cellular carriers will quickly become information providers much like what is happening with cable providers. Most cable providers offer cable TV, on-demand movies, cable internet and they are moving in on the telephone market with digital VoIP services.
From what is going on in Japan, cellular companies in the U.S. are going to start offering more information services shortly. NTT DoCoMo is offering a “contactless” mobile wallet called I-mode Felica. This e-wallet allow subscribers to make payments, pick up tickets, board airlines, enter their homes, and much more all with the tap of their phone. See CNet’s posting DoCoMo keeps plugging the e-wallet for more information on what DoCoMo is doing to provide more information services over their cellular service.
I would assume that U.S. cellular carriers are very interested in offering more information services like what DoCoMo is doing in Japan. DoCoMo does not see these new information services as just additional revenue stream, but as their main income in the future. The reason is that they acknowledge that cellular service will soon be a commoditize item with flat rate services.
It appears that all telecommunications services will soon be treated as a commodity. The entire industry is being commoditized. If cellular, cable, and telephone carriers do not transform themselves into to information providers soon, they will not be around for very long.
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