XO Communications and Sotto Wireless are working together to change the landscape of business telecommunications services with Unwired Office, a technology that unites office telephony with mobility.

The technology is a single-device-fixed-mobile-convergence (FMC) tool that is designed to helps businesses with mobile workforces get better control over telecoms costs while boosting employee mobility and productivity.

"It's unique compared to other types of fixed mobile convergence -- this is the first single device service," said Chad Couser, senior manager for public relations at XO, Herndon VA.

"With this solution we can integrate our networking services with the Sotto platform to offer an office solution with a mobile service," he said.

XO provides communications services to half of the Fortune 500 list as well as leading cable companies, carriers, content providers and mobile operators.

Beginning with an initial trial in Seattle, Unwired Office will combine XO's nationwide IP networking capabilities with Sotto Wireless' all-in-one wireless and office phone communications service.

Bellevue, WA-based Sotto Wireless' service platform combines cellular voice and data services, office phone features and wireless applications into one service.

The Unwired Office combines a business' office phone (PBX) system, broadband network access and mobile device. Using the Sotto platform, customers' fixed and wireless communications services are integrated onto one smartphone.

"The wireless signal connects directly into the corporate network, which is connected to the XO IP network," Mr. Couser said. "So it's similar to at home if your phone is connected to your modem."

The smartphone is connected in the office to a Wi-Fi network. When the user leaves the office, the smartphone connects to a GSM network.

In-office mobile phone usage continues to grow each year. Half of all employees use a mobile phone for work, according to a study conducted by Simpson Carpenter.

"A lot of businesses have highly mobile employees," Mr. Couser said. "With this [service] the minutes aren't an issue because the mobile phone is an extension of the office wireless network."

The service also lessens the cost of mobile phone use for businesses because it offers pre-paid billing.

"With this [service] the customer gets a fixed amount of minutes and they can't go over, so there's a known cost," Mr. Couser said. "The other thing is productivity -- employees can have anytime, anywhere access to voicemail and email."

Features of Unwired Office include high-speed dedicated Internet access, a hosted private branch exchange (PBX) system and individual smartphones with one phone number for office and mobile calling. The package also covers wireless email and messaging and optional IP desk phones as well as anywhere coverage through in-office Wi-Fi networks and wireless service.

In addition, the service enables businesses to transparently extend the office phone system for a home or branch office or a remote workforce.

"[Employees] also get a wireless router at their home and that would plug into their existing cable Internet connection," Mr. Couser said. "With the wireless router at home it's a virtual extension of the office wireless network."

The service is currently used exclusively with Nokia devices in the E61 family. The standard device is a Nokia E61i that features both office Wi-Fi and cellular network connectivity options.

The company launched the trial a little over a week ago and plans to introduce the service to other Sotto Wireless customers. The company also plans to roll out its services on Windows Mobile devices.

"With this service we're going to go through a trial over the course of the next several months and, following a successful trial, we'll look to roll this solution out in other markets across the United States," Mr. Couser said.