Although cellular/Wi-Fi handsets have been available for the past several years, the segment got a strong boost in 2007, when Apple launched the iPhone. With an innovative touch screen that allows the user to view Web pages with the tap of a finger, the iPhone raised the bar for device usability, functionality, and design.
Discussions with vendors at CTIA indicate that Wi-Fi is clearly becoming a complementary function to cellular. Devices that support both cellular and Wi-Fi promise to leverage licensed and unlicensed spectrum to deliver the best possible customer experience at the lowest cost.
Wi-Fi mobile convergence made a strong showing this year at CTIA. In the past, carriers believed Wi-Fi would marginalize cellular and often deactivated the 802.11 technologies in their handsets.