As with so much of the rest of the internet ecosystem, Wi-Fi calling often represents an indirect revenue model, where a feature is monetized in some way besides direct end user payment for use of the service. In many cases, Wi-Fi calling is a way to overcome mobile network signal issues indoors.
Wi-Fi calling also represents an early and informal method of spectrum sharing, in this case treating licensed mobile operator assets and owned or third-party Wi-Fi assets as interchangeable parts of the physical network access infrastructure.
That virtualization of the details of network access already is a building block for service providers
Such as Republic Wireless and Google's Project Fi, and is different from Wi-Fi-only calling offered by over-the-top apps such as Skype, Google Hangouts, Facebook Messenger and WhatsApp.
There are, in fact, a growing number of ways to virtualize spectrum and access assets
In a growing number of instances, both direct and indirect revenue models might be involved, with a growing amount of integration of owned and third party access assets.
Of course, in other cases, Wi-Fi is a feature of a service the buyer actually does pay for directly. The best example is consumer fixed network internet access, where Wi-Fi typically is the physical mechanism used to connect devices. In that sense, Wi-Fi replaces physical cables and outlets.
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