Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP) service offers two types of telephone communication over the Internet: computer to computer and telephone to telephone. The most popular VOIP services are telephone to telephone communication. A telephone adapter is plugged into a DSL or cable modem and then into an analog telephone.
Recent developments in VOIP service are the wireless fidelity (WiFi) phones. WiFi phones send out signals like cell phones but on a different frequency (Wilson); the signals are intercepted and routed to the Internet.
WiFi phones were first developed for limited network communication. For example, employees within a large office building could communicate with each other over their own network without being tied to their desk phones. More recently, WiFi phones have expanded beyond the boundaries of a limited network to include the largest network in the world: the Internet.
Cellular phone manufacturers have jumped on the bandwagon to develop phones that will work both as a WiFi and cellular phone—called dual mode hybrids. A hybrid user traveling outside their cellular service can switch to VOIP.
Early versions were fraught with problems such as hybrid users having to manually switch from cell phone service to VOIP service. In addition, there has been limited wireless service areas—called hot spots. However, access to hotspots is on the increase and some manufacturers have already released improved versions of dual mode hybrids that will automatically switch from cellular mode to VOIP mode when a hybrid user has traveled out of cellular range without disrupting a call.
Cellular companies are also looking to cash in by making their systems compatible with VOIP service and possibly offering both cellular and VOIP service in one package.
WiFi phones for VOIP are a relatively new development. As with all new advancements in technology, the bugs will have to be worked out but progress in WiFi technology is being made at a fast pace. Soon VOIP may not just take over the market from phone company giants but from cellular phone companies as well.
Wilson, Tracy V. How WiFi Phones Work. How Stuff Works, Retrieved 06/19/06, from http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/wifi-phone.htm
Simon, Ellen (May 14, 2004). WiFi Phones Wave of The Future. CBS News SCI-TECH, Retrieved June 22, 2006, from http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/05/13/tech/main617354.shtml
Charny, Ben (August 5, 2004). WiFi Phones Make a Splash. CNET News.com, Retrieved June 22, 2006, from http://news.com.com/Wi-Fi+phones+make+a+splash/2100-7351_3-5296745.html
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