Wi-Fi phones are for business not for homes

DUAL MODE handsets - which support Wi-Fi plus cellular - are best suited for business not home use claims Gerry O'Prey, CEO with WiFiMobile.

He argues that the latest Wi-Fi enabled handsets, such as the Nokia E Series handsets, are best suited for use as extension phones in conjunction with a PABX (switchboard) rather than indoor cellular phones.

"Our software makes the promise of 'One Phone' a reality for business," O'Prey maintained. His company's software runs on Nokia E Series 3rd edition handsets such as the E60, E61 and E70 using Symbian.

The handsets are then capable of connecting to IP based PABXs like the D-Link DVX-1000 or the SPA-9000 from Linksys. There's only one snag. They offer wireless telephony via the SIP protocol rather than using Skype proprietary alternative.

To date, the biggest advocate of dual mode handsets has been BT with its Fusion offering. That basically extends the use of a cellular phone inside the home using Bluetooth (currently).

Another product which could potentially be used for wireless telephony is the residential gateway from Dovado, a Swedish firm. This company is targeting mobile network operators who don't have fixed line networks - like Vodafone.

The gateway has a PCMCIA slot into which you can plug any kind of wireless card. This includes 3G and WiMAX and even TD-CDMA. The idea is that the gateway converts a high speed wireless connexion into SIP based telephone calls. Or it can act as a WiFi hotspot.

Presumably, then, you could use your Nokia E Series phones to make WiFi voice calls. As the gateway accepts DC power, it could even be deployed as a mobile hot spot. µ

L'INQ
WiFiMobile