How Wireless VoIP Phones Work

The functioning of wireless VoIP phones is similar to that of regular VoIP phones but Wireless VoIP phones combine VoIP technology and Wi-Fi (wLAN) systems. Users need to be in the range of the wireless node in order to make and receive calls. And when they are in the Wi-Fi's reach, they are able to do a lot of the same calling functions enabled by regular desktop VoIP phones.

When one is already equipped with a wireless local area network as well as VoIP phones, adding wireless VoIP phones can be a logical step. Wireless VoIP phones are also known as VoWLAN or voice over wireless local network areas and Wi-Fi phones. The working of wireless VoIP phones involves a data network to which Wi-Fi equipment is connected. The network itself can either be independent, or connected to the Internet or the public phone system.

The equipment enables high-speed wireless connection to unlimited access points. Each access point has an antenna to catch the signal from the Wi-Fi equipment and broadcast it in a 300-foot radius or a hot spot. Within the radius all Wi-Fi enabled laptops, personal digital organizers and wireless phones can tune into the signal. In wireless VoIP phones, the voice is converted into segments of data for transmission from the phone antenna to the Wi-Fi radio waves and then received by the data network.

 Here the data segments reverse the process to reach an extension or the traditional phone network. In other words, an extension can be carried around. Although there is no argument about wireless VoIP phones being advantageous, they have their share of shortcomings as well. Fore one, they can not yet completely replace hard-wire VoIP phones mainly due to lack of reliability and the limited functions of wireless phones currently available in comparison to desktop phones. However the biggest disadvantage in wireless VoIP phones is the limit on the number of simultaneous calls that can be made.

The maximum number of calls in each wireless system cannot exceed five or ten. This seriously undermines its call handling capability in a large corporate environment. Nevertheless, the dramatic reduction in operational costs has made it possible for wireless operators with high quality compressed VoIP to bring the ease and comfort of cordless calling to the VoIP world.

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IP Phone Systems

What began as a novelty application for Internet users to converse on-line has now graduated into a sophisticated and the most cost-effective technology, capable of replacing the traditional PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network) and PBX (Private Branch Exchange) phones. That's IP Phone for you. The hardware requirements of a domestic user are very simple. All that an IP application requires is an ordinary PC equipped with IP software and connected to the Internet.

Attach speakers and a microphone to the PC, you are all set to call any number - whether local, international or cellular - incurring only Internet expenses. If you don't have a computer, you can use a specially manufactured IP Phone (basically a phone with a built-in adaptor) or even a regular phone supported by an IP adapter. If you want to operate even during power failure, you will need a generator or a UPS. Software requirements are also equally simple.

Popular service providers like Skype, Yahoo Messenger, Google Talk etc. provide free downloads for the computer based IP Phone. Regular updates, too, are freely downloadable. Providing software for the IP Phone/adaptor is the responsibility of the manufacturer. More extensive hardware is required for large enterprise implementations and many involve considerable expenditure for converting the existing PBX system into IP system. Since the IP system runs on data network system instead of the regular copper circuits, LAN/WAN connections should be properly configured.

Depending on the call traffic and bandwidth requirement, number and locations of IP routers and extensions are to be determined. Power back up is also compulsory for an enterprise. However, most of the hardware expenditure is one-time expenditure and proves economical in the long run because single network supports voice, data and video transfer. As far as the software requirements are concerned firewalls and servers are to be configured to accept IP transmissions.

Software needs of business enterprises differ form user to user. Therefore, software solutions for organizational users are generally custom made but for certain common features. The cost savings in making calls through the Internet are simply monumental for a business organization with high volume long distance calls, remote branch offices and mobile workers.

Traditional PBX phones come in many ranges and they require to be scrapped periodically to be replaced by new hardware which involves lot of expenditure. There is no such problem with IP Phones because this system is mainly based on software rather than hardware and, thus, easier to alter and maintain.

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Wireless IP Phones

A wireless IP Phone can be described as a sophisticated, next generation mobile IP communication device. The concept of Wireless IP Phone originated due to the spread of Wireless LAN (WLAN) in business organizations. It integrates the regular IP phone with wireless installations and facilitates parallel voice and data support to enterprise desktops on the same wireless prop. The technology supports not just the standard packet-switch IP telephones but also the traditional circuit-switch PBX (Private Branch Exchange) interfaces. Primarily developed to be used within the offices, it combines the cost-effectiveness of an IP Phone and the convenience of a mobile phone.

 Originally the wireless IP Phones were not intended to replace the traditional mobile phones but were meant to be used exclusively within a restricted environment like the premises of a business organization or a house. The earlier models work only through WLAN which has limited geographic application. The range of operation, both indoor and outdoor, of the phone would depend on the capacity of the hardware providing the wireless access and it goes without saying that performance would deteriorate with distance.

 The latest models are designed to support both WLAN and public wireless network. Mobile PCs such as laptops and palmtops can be carried anywhere and can run on various applications but they lack the compact portability of cellular phones.

Public wireless networks such as cellular phones cover wide geographical areas but have limited data bandwidth. Therefore, the new models of Wireless IP Phones are developed combining the open architecture of laptops and the easy portability of cellular handset so that they can switch to public wireless network after coming out of the purview of WLAN. There will not be any interruption in service during the switch.

 The Wireless IP Phone works on battery and needs to be charged just like a regular cellular phone. Older models' battery requires greater power; talk time and stand by time are also lower than those offered by a regular cellular phone. But the latest models claim to be on par with regular cellular phones and offer similar features like caller ID, call hold and transfer, conference calls, selectable ring tones, phone book etc. However, security is the major problem. Signals are broadcast over the air in the wireless system and can be easily intercepted by outsiders who are within the range of reception. Wireless link must be secured to avoid such risks.

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