Dreaming of Convergence

“I typically use my Treo to make calls whenever I’m NOT at work or at home where I tend to use a standard landline.”

Most Treonaus will relate to the above situation and for over six months now I have been wondering why I don’t or can’t make ALL calls exclusively via my Treo whether they be via wireless, landline or IP.

Leaving aside the fact that wireless carriers are not exactly thrilled at the idea of people making non-wireless calls on their Treo the principal reason why I don’t currently use my Treo for all my calls is obviously one of cost.  If only I had the option of an unlimited voice plan at a reasonable price there is no doubt in my mind that I would quickly switch all of my calls to my Treo but such a low cost ‘flat-fee’ plan is unlikely to become available for at least another couple of years. 

The other option would be one based on the recently launched BT Fusion service in the UK which provides a standard mobile phone and wireless broadband hub (image right) to deliver a solution that offers normal mobile coverage and rates when you’re outside your home and low landline rates via broadband (IP calls) when you’re at home.  If only such a solution were available for our Treo today I would sign up for it in a snap.  It would be even more ideal if I could also have the same setup at the office.

The third option, would be to have a VOIP client (such as Skype) installed on my Treo to make free Treo-to-Treo or Treo-to-PC calls and low cost IP calls to all other numbers as long as I am within close range of a WiFi network.  The day when this will happen is getting closer but we’re sadly not there yet.

Aside from the cost implications, at this point you might be wondering why I would want to make all of my calls via my Treo in the first place.  The reason is quite simple: speed and convenience.  I have over 3,000 telephone numbers conveniently stored on my Treo and continuously synchronized with my Outlook (thanks to PocketMirror Pro XT).  It is therefore considerably faster for me to dial any number at the push of a button from the Treo than having to manually dial these on a standard handset or waste time programming new individual numbers in its small phonebook.

At the same time, I can envisage a day when businesses completely replace wired desk phones with Treo smartphones which can simultaneously operate as both wireless and IP phones.  Combined with an all-in-one executive docking station such as the one that I dreamed up a while ago which would integrate:

• A large dial pad, programmable speed dials and also large 5 Way navigation buttons
• Treo Hotsync & charge
• 2 x 20W speakers
• Spare battery charger
• USB & Wall power
• Audio In & Out connections
• Stylus slot
• Full Duplex Noise Reduction Speakerphone
• Digital radio
• Landline telephone input
• Bluetooth headset charging slot
• Sliding portable bluetooth keyboard
• All of the above priced at under $250

The more I think about it the more I become convinced that a Treo for all of my calls on the go, at work and at home will soon be a reality.  When this happens our Treo will truly have achieved ‘convergence’.

Treonauts are always looking for the next big thing…