| tart --> | | | | have access to wireless VoIP soft phones, |
| Wireless VoIP combines VoIP with Internet | | | | laptops and hand held computers. |
| wireless (802.11b and successors) networks. And | | | | As the workforce moves to be more flexible and |
| its potential for businesses and individuals will see | | | | geographically spread out, VoIP employees can |
| huge growth over the next few years and this | | | | move from mobile networks to WiFi-based home |
| article will explain what wireless VoIP could do for | | | | and office networks, meaning they can be in |
| you. | | | | touch wherever they are. This means companies |
| Two combinations of hardware and software | | | | can have employees working from a range of |
| make this work:laptops with wireless connections | | | | places including:home, or even another country |
| and VoIP soft phones, or handheld computers, | | | | where labour costs are cheaper. The 21st century |
| again with wireless connections and soft phones. | | | | is already seeing a move to more flexible working |
| The deployment of wireless VoIP looks set for | | | | practices in companies and wireless VoIP will be |
| huge growth over the coming years, for the | | | | major contributor to this revolution. |
| following reasons: | | | | 5. Management |
| 1. Cost | | | | Wireless VoIP offers potential savings by allowing |
| The advantage of Wireless VoIP over cellular | | | | companies to change the way they manage their |
| connections has driven the majority of interest in | | | | phone systems. For example, instead of having |
| this method of communication so far. | | | | voicemail, caller ID and e-mail separately, wireless |
| Reduced costs for calls combined with | | | | VoIP will allow customers to retrieve all of their |
| higher-bandwidth data transfers are two obvious | | | | messages in one place, alleviating the problem of |
| advantages. These however not the only reasons | | | | having different operators for different services. |
| to adopt Wireless VoIP systems. | | | | Employees can also download, enabling them to |
| 2. Deployment | | | | turn their phones into portable computers, track |
| WiFi networks cost a fraction of the deployment | | | | information, or log onto the company's internet |
| of traditional cell tower technology and | | | | connection. |
| implementation is quick as the extensive site | | | | There are obvious time and cost savings as all |
| reviews required to install traditional radio towers | | | | communications are standardized in single VoIP |
| is not required ensuring deployment is cost | | | | telephone system. This means greater flexibility, |
| effective and quick. | | | | reduced billing and tracking complexity. |
| 3. Call Quality | | | | Fact is, wireless VoIP saves time and money |
| Wireless VoIP can also dramatically improve call | | | | leading to simpler management and greater |
| quality, especially in residential areas such as office | | | | operational efficiency. |
| blocks; basements etc where traditional mobile | | | | Major Growth Expected In mobile VoIP |
| network coverage is can be patchy. The | | | | Of course, at the moment, wireless VoIP is in its |
| advantage of having reliable wireless VoIP | | | | infancy and soft phones are only available for |
| systems with excellent coverage are obvious, | | | | desktops and laptops. |
| staff can be in touch in more areas more often. | | | | Once reliable, roaming-friendly networks are rolled |
| 4. Working practices | | | | out and WiFi enabled handset technology becomes |
| Perhaps one of the biggest advantages from a | | | | more advanced, prices fall and connections are as |
| corporate point of view is the way wireless VoIP | | | | easy to make as with standard cell phones, the |
| changes working patterns once all employees | | | | wireless VoIP market will grow drastically in size. |