Wireless VoIP

Wireless networking, often called Wi-Fi (for Wireless Fidelity), is becoming more widespread every day. In addition to the municipalities mentioned in Chapter 9 that have undertaken to blanket their areas with wireless Internet, some cities are taking the extra step of providing VoIP service over the same wireless infrastructure. Called Voice over Wi-Fi (VoWi-Fi), this service allows callers to use wireless VoIP phones at any location within the city's coverage area.

Wi-Fi VoIP phones

Several manufacturers of VoIP phones are currently producing phones that communicate over a Wi-Fi network (Figure 10.8). Earlier chapters discussed these phones but not the result of this development, which allows a subscriber to walk out of the house, get in the car, and drive to work without ever hanging up the phone.

Figure 10.8. The Cisco 7920 Wi-Fi phone

Available Today

Rio Rancho, New Mexico, has completed the initial stages of a citywide wireless network and has included VoIP telephone coverage as well. Working with partners Azulstar, Ecuity, and Meru Networks, the city offers unlimited stationary and mobile VoIP calling for $29.99 per month. Add $19.95 for wireless Internet, and you have total connectivity for less than $50!

Coming Soon

Wireless initiatives are hatching all over. Minneapolis is planning a Wi-Fi network to allow city staff, police, and residents to build a digital community. New York City, Philadelphia, and Las Vegas are in various stages of planning for their own downtown networks.

Subscribers to these networks will have ubiquitous access to VoIP services with VoWi-Fi phones and TAs (telephone adapters) connected to wireless Ethernet bridges.

WiMax VoIP phones

WiMax is a new wireless networking initiative that is not yet ratified by the standards organizations but shows the ability to cover longer distances. Some access providers are already planning municipal networks using pre-WiMax devices. Networks using WiMax will be able to use fewer nodes to cover the same area.

No WiMax phones are available as of the writing of this book, but you can be assured that they are on the drawing board.