SolveYourProblem eLearning Series
VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol)

VoWiFi: Mobile VoIP Phones
by Jeff Cohen

Mobile VoIP phones are known as VoWiFi. VoIP stands for Voice over Internet Protocol. VoIP is the technology of sending audio as data packets over the Internet. Wi Fi stands for wireless fidelity. This is the technology used to create wireless networks. VoWiFi stands for Voice over Wireless Fidelity. It is the combination of using wireless VoIP networks to communicate on VoWiFi enabled telephones. Wireless devices include laptops, PDAs, and wireless mobile phones. Wireless VoIP phones connect to an Internet connection through various access points or hotspots. The phones operate on radio signals and when they are in the vicinity of the network’s access points, they will pick up the signal, access the Internet, and log on.

Because of a lack of overall security with many wireless networks, VoWiFi still has a ways to go before it is convincing people in droves to sign up for its services. In fact, it is frequently known that when someone is using a wireless network, they can easily jump on another Internet network connection simply by visiting another “hotspot”. Before VoWiFi can really become a serious challenge to cellular phone users, the issue of security not only needs to be addressed, but it will also need to be corrected. There are other issues that also need to be addressed. For instance, since a hotspot only has a length of 90 Meters before losing connection, many users do not see VoWiFi immediately replacing their cellular carriers.

Yet, many users are finding it productive to carry Hybrid phones. These phones are both dual VoWiFi and cellular. By using a Hybrid phone, users can take advantage of their cellular phone service, and then they can easily jump onto a network using their VoWiFi and the applicable hotspot, and save fees on roaming charges. For example, a user may be speaking on their cellular phone, then if they get in their car and drive out of the range provided by their telephone provider, they would be charged roaming fees. If however, they can find an access point, they can jump onto a Wireless Network and avoid roaming fees altogether. Currently, there are no taxes or roaming charges associated with any of VoIP services.

There will be many more advances in the future for VoWiFi. There are already many companies embracing VoWiFi, and other companies are addressing the needs for more stringent wireless security. For example, there are higher security networks in place now, that will decrease the chance of others tapping into your access points. For many wireless users, this has been the preferred method of wireless access.

As it is now, a VoWiFi phone is still more expensive than a standard cellular phone, but as the technology advances, price will most likely go down. Everyone is embracing the ability to integrate video, data, audio, and web browsing capabilities with their phones. VoWiFi also integrates wireless VoIP networking to the package. Since this method is extremely cost efficient as well as beneficial, there is no reason to suspect that this service will decrease in the future.

As with the future of all VoIP products and services, the FCC and US government is racing to provide rules and regulations. It truly is a technology that is on the cutting edge of innovation. In the past, all of the nation’s telephony needs were Circuit Switched and based on the PSTN network. Today however, VoIP is rewriting the rules of telecommunications. And just when it seems that cellular phone services have worked out all of their issues, along comes mobile VoIP with a whole new set of problems. Besides security issues, there are other problems besetting VoWiFi, such as weak batteries, the inability to sustain a connection outside of a hotspot or 90 meter range, and the cost of a VoWiFi phone is still expensive. Yet the idea of integrating video, digital cameras, web cams, Email, web based applications, and mobile phones is exciting consumers world wide. And the onset of VoIP is even more thrilling for the potential benefits and savings. The conception of the two technologies into one super phone is hardly a surprise. In the next few years, expect to see many new hybrid and VoWiFi phones appearing on the local consumer market for sale.

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