| So you can have VoWLAN on any internet | | | | hardware vendors and Nokia come in. Wi-Fi |
| accessible device, including a laptop, PDA or a cell | | | | phones is nothing new and testing has been done |
| phone. A cell phone that supports VoWLAN can | | | | for several years now, but the early versions of |
| be called a hybrid or a Wi-Fi phone. VoWLAN and | | | | Wi-Fi phones failed miserably because of the |
| 3G have similarities, but VoWLAN uses a wireless | | | | enormous drain on the batteries which must |
| internet network (typically 802.11) rather than a | | | | support two chipsets rather than one. These |
| cell phone network. | | | | problems have been fixed (?) and some 15 Wi-Fi |
| Why is VoWLAN good? | | | | phones are predicted to hit the market in 2006. |
| Wi-Fi-enabled cell phones bring together cellular and | | | | Most of the handsets will be expensive and |
| landline phone systems and allows consumers to | | | | marketed primarily toward business customers, at |
| take advantage of the best each has to offer. | | | | least for now. As an example, HP's 6315 iPaq, |
| For instance, you could start a call on your office | | | | which switches between traditional cellular and |
| using a Wi-Fi network, switch to a cell phone | | | | Wi-Fi networks, costs $500 - 600. |
| network as you go outside the office building, | | | | Nokia has announced that it will launch its first |
| then conclude the call on a home wireless | | | | Wi-Fi phones for consumers in first half of 2006. |
| network and all this with no interruptions. A | | | | They plan to start selling Wi-Fi phones already this |
| VoWLAN service will automatically sniff out and | | | | year for businesses. Motorola has said its hybrid |
| switch to a Wi-Fi network and switching to a Wi-Fi | | | | phone will be used primarily by businesses and |
| network will result in much better call quality. A | | | | have chose to use the 802.11a Wi-Fi standard, |
| VoWLAN connection is also faster and speeds up | | | | which is found almost exclusively in offices, rather |
| Internet surfing on on your phone (Cell phone | | | | than the more widely used 802.11b or 802.11g |
| 500kbps (kilobits per second) compare with | | | | standards. Motorola is also expected to include a |
| wireless LAN with speeds up to 54mbps | | | | phone loaded with Skype. |
| (megabits per second). | | | | Who wins? |
| The calls should also be cheaper, but this is | | | | As you can imagine VoWLAN and hybrid phones |
| actaully something that still should be read "should | | | | bring new threats and also opportunities to |
| be cheaper". According to Olli-Pekka Lintula, | | | | wireless carriers and traditional landline phone |
| director of Nokia´s strategic marketing at | | | | service providers. carriers could lose some |
| the technology platforms division, it's still | | | | revenue if Wi-Fi phones will be as popular as Nokia |
| questionable whether using VoWLAN will actually | | | | predicts (100 million wi-fi enabled cell phones |
| be much cheaper. A hindrance for VoWLAN calls | | | | globally by 2009). Some see the new Wi-Fi |
| today is also is the lack of a charging method. "It | | | | phones as an opportunity to cement the cell |
| is not clear what earning model for mobile | | | | phone as a true replacement for traditional wired |
| operators would be with cellular VoIP," says IDC's | | | | phones. |
| Pim Bilderbeek. According to Bilderbeek there is | | | | We, the consumers should win. But as long as the |
| also talk about fixed line operators being the ones | | | | phones cost some 500 $, wireless broadband |
| that would bring cellular VoIP phones to the | | | | between $40 and $80 / month, and unlimited |
| market. | | | | access to a nationwide Wi-Fi hot-spot network |
| When? | | | | would add haltf of that a month, we are not the |
| If we have the technique what are we waiting | | | | winners. |
| for? The Wi-Fi phones and here is were the | | | | |