One of the announcements at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona last week indicated the GSM Association had retained NeuStar to pilot a new Number Resolution Service (NRS) that would automatically translate phone numbers into IP-based addresses. This would enable mobile users to initiate voice calls and messages from mobile handsets, along with other UC communications, across different IP-based carrier networks.

The number resolution service is described as a Private or Carrier ENUM approach to cross-network contacts, and offers a global master root directory for address data exchange between mobile carriers.

While this may all appear to be paving the way for greater mobile device interoperability to support the addressing needs of mobile UC, there is also the threat of preserving “walled garden” control through unique IP addresses for mobile IMS networks issued by the mobile carriers.

The question still remains of who will supply mobile devices to end-users and how will they be addressed across the IP networks for both business and personal applications. Are we still talking about proprietary hardware and software? Will the mobile carriers allow people and enterprise business applications to access all service subscribers (e.g., through CEBP applications), or will there be extra fees for access by either the enterprise or the subscribers? A question to ask is whether this pilot will lead to enhanced UC, or will it be another false path in the quest for true unified communication.