Toward a ubiquitous consumer wireless world

This article sets out a consumer-based generic techno-business model foundation for future generations of wireless communications. It is proposed as an evolution of, and alternative to, the legacy subscriber-based model. Two key novel proposals are a person-centric IPv6 address enabling full number portability and an access-network-independent third-party authentication, authorization, and accounting (3P-AAA) service provision, which will empower users to opt out of their long-term subscriptions with access network providers and use advertised communication services from any consumer-centric wireless access network that is present to them. The wireless environment thus created is described as a ubiquitous consumer wireless world (UCWW). Its most characteristic attributes are consumer choice, consumer-driven "always best connected and served," consumer-driven integrated heterogeneous networking, elimination of roaming charges, a level "playing field" for new access network provider entrants, and a potential commercial ad hoc networking solution. New core UCWW infrastructural entities and functionalities proposed and described include 3P-AAA service provisioning; a universal CIM1 card; a personal IPv6 address class, wireless billboard channels; advertisement, discovery, and association services; and access-network-independent incoming call connection service providers. Typical interrelationships and operation of these entities are illustrated by means of an example. UCWW elements requiring standardization are noted.