Simultaneous use in mobile communications

Inter-working, integration and convergence of heterogeneous wireless networks are becoming a closer reality. This ultimately leads to the possibility of an end user to use simultaneously several services through different systems and operators with a multi-service, multi-system and multi-operator mobile terminal. In the present paper, a coherent set of concepts of simultaneous use is identified, generated by a space of simultaneous use, where services, systems and operators act as building components. A high level analysis is performed, where several pros and cons are identified. Several parameters are listed for the evaluation of simultaneous use concepts (e.g., cost, throughput, and complexity), depending on taking a users´ or an operators´ perspective. One of the largest benefits of this systematic study of simultaneous use concepts is the identification, from the perspective of users and operators, of essential R&D issues, which lead to a promising pervasive wireless communications future.