Bringing revolutionary changes to the telephony market, new Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) wireless handsets are now available that can access traditional phone systems whenever and wherever a Wi-Fi connection is available.
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Today's IP phones are designed primarily for deployment in larger enterprises that require workers to be highly mobile within an office complex or on a corporate campus. One of the biggest advantages of these new handsets is that they can help smaller businesses save money by reducing the wiring costs that otherwise would be incurred when implementing office layout changes.
The technology is perfect for fostering highly collaborative office environments that feature flexible layouts meant to untether workers from the traditional desktop. Remote workers also will appreciate the fact that these handsets can link easily to telephone systems with wireless home networks equipped with a broadband connection and a link to a VoIP service provider.
Standard Fare
The latest IP handset designs are based on the Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) standard for call control, which, theoretically at least, makes them compatible with SIP-based call servers, Internet Protocol PBXs, and many other VoIP client devices.
However, before mixing and matching handsets, prospective buyers should be aware that some differences in the implementation of SIP among communications service providers and IP server vendors can lead to undesirable complications in connecting and using these handsets.
Almost all IP phones offer complete support for the 802.11b flavor of Wi-Fi, together with the requisite Quality of Service (QoS) capabilities for helping gateways identify and prioritize the voice streams generated by these devices. To reduce bandwidth consumption, all the new IP handsets support the latest G.711 and G.729 voice-compression technologies.
Moreover, the devices presented in this roundup sport the same calling functions that one would normally expect to find on any cellular handset, including speed dialing, call forwarding, call waiting, and three-way conferencing.
In addition, these handsets also offer other familiar features, such as vibrating alerts for incoming calls and short messages, phonebooks for storing contact information, and speakerphones that have full-duplex capabilities for enabling hands-free operation.
Zyxel Prestige-2000W v.2
In addition to offering a standard 802.11b capability, Zyxel's Prestige 2000W VoIP Wi-Fi phone allows users to make or receive phone calls within the coverage area of any higher-speed 802.11g wireless access point. The new handset also incorporates a smart autoprovisioning mechanism that will allow I.T. specialists to deploy and manage the phone's VoIP services.
In addition, the IP phone supports the use of WEP encryption to protect phone conversations. It also incorporates a direct IP-to-IP call feature. By configuring a remote IP address in the built-in phone book, calls can be placed between devices even when there is no intermediate SIP proxy server available on the network.
In addition to these features, the Prestige 2000W can establish an 802.11b ad-hoc network -- a PC-to-PC network without an intervening wireless access point -- that gives users the ability to turn the device into a wireless intercom.
The Prestige 2000W's 1,350 mAh battery delivers a continuous talk time of up to four hours or up to 24 hours of operation in the standby mode. According to Zyxel, the handset's maximum outdoor range is a little over 300 yards, while indoor coverage ranges upwards of 80 yards.
The Prestige 2000W can be purchased from several online vendors at prices from $200 to $260.
Cisco 7920 Wireless IP Phone
The Cisco (Nasdaq: CSCO - news) 7920 Wireless IP Phone is designed to provide voice communications with the company's CallManager and CallManager Express platforms. The handset sports a backlit 128 x 80 display and a few programmable softkeys for accessing screen-based applications, features, and functions.
Delivering indoor communications at distances over 300 yards, depending on the environment, the 7920 IP phone is secured by means of Cisco's LEAP wireless authentication technology as well as an optional password prompt that appears at device power-up. In addition, the handset supports several kinds of encryption, including WEP and WPA.
One unique feature of this IP phone is that the latest firmware now supports XML applications, which is a plus given that the next iteration of Microsoft's (Nasdaq: MSFT - news) Office collaboration suite will feature applications that are likewise based on XML. The 7920's XML-handling capabilities can be customized to provide handset users with direct access to several XML sources, such as stock quotes, employee directories, or just about any other XML-based content.
Cisco's 7920 handset delivers up to 3.5 hours of talk time, or up to 21 hours in the standby mode, from the included 1,440 mAh lithium battery. For those requiring more talk time on a single charge, the optional 1,960 mAh battery can deliver up to 4.25 hours of talk time or 30 hours of standby time.
The Cisco Wireless IP Phone 7920 can be purchased from various online vendors at prices that range between $480 and $570.
Zultys WIP2
The Zultys WIP2 is a Linux-powered device that sports an attractive backlit display, together with separate visual indicators for alerting users to the arrival of incoming calls, voicemail, and instant messages. Users can customize the WIP2 to reflect personal preferences with respect to handset volume level, display window contrast, and language.
The new handset also can be configured to behave as an intercom so that the unit's built-in speakerphone will automatically answer all calls after one ring. In addition, the phone will silently disconnect at the end of a call to let users answer a call and conduct a conversation without having to touch the phone itself.
The Zultys WIP2 features the ability to encrypt any outgoing voice stream heading to another WIP2 phone or to any other device that supports the Advanced Encryption Standard (AES). Users can activate this encryption function before a call is placed or while a conversation is in progress. In either case, the encryption code is displayed on the handset so that parties at both ends of the conversation can verify their calls are being protected.
The new Wi-Fi phone also integrates a presence feature that can indicate whether other workers with SIP-enabled devices are available, in a meeting, on the phone, or busy. Another unique feature of the handset is the sequence of bars on the display that indicates the network's current QoS status. This feature can alert users to any current network issues that might be affecting speech quality.
The IP phone's battery delivers up to four hours of talk time or up to 12 hours of operation in the standby mode. The WIP2 will be available in November for around $400.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nf/20051019/tc_nf/38587;_ylt=AuVBXMtyXNp_mp97GGMph3gjtBAF;_ylu=X3oDMTA5aHJvMDdwBHNlYwN5bmNhdA--
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Today's IP phones are designed primarily for deployment in larger enterprises that require workers to be highly mobile within an office complex or on a corporate campus. One of the biggest advantages of these new handsets is that they can help smaller businesses save money by reducing the wiring costs that otherwise would be incurred when implementing office layout changes.
The technology is perfect for fostering highly collaborative office environments that feature flexible layouts meant to untether workers from the traditional desktop. Remote workers also will appreciate the fact that these handsets can link easily to telephone systems with wireless home networks equipped with a broadband connection and a link to a VoIP service provider.
Standard Fare
The latest IP handset designs are based on the Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) standard for call control, which, theoretically at least, makes them compatible with SIP-based call servers, Internet Protocol PBXs, and many other VoIP client devices.
However, before mixing and matching handsets, prospective buyers should be aware that some differences in the implementation of SIP among communications service providers and IP server vendors can lead to undesirable complications in connecting and using these handsets.
Almost all IP phones offer complete support for the 802.11b flavor of Wi-Fi, together with the requisite Quality of Service (QoS) capabilities for helping gateways identify and prioritize the voice streams generated by these devices. To reduce bandwidth consumption, all the new IP handsets support the latest G.711 and G.729 voice-compression technologies.
Moreover, the devices presented in this roundup sport the same calling functions that one would normally expect to find on any cellular handset, including speed dialing, call forwarding, call waiting, and three-way conferencing.
In addition, these handsets also offer other familiar features, such as vibrating alerts for incoming calls and short messages, phonebooks for storing contact information, and speakerphones that have full-duplex capabilities for enabling hands-free operation.
Zyxel Prestige-2000W v.2
In addition to offering a standard 802.11b capability, Zyxel's Prestige 2000W VoIP Wi-Fi phone allows users to make or receive phone calls within the coverage area of any higher-speed 802.11g wireless access point. The new handset also incorporates a smart autoprovisioning mechanism that will allow I.T. specialists to deploy and manage the phone's VoIP services.
In addition, the IP phone supports the use of WEP encryption to protect phone conversations. It also incorporates a direct IP-to-IP call feature. By configuring a remote IP address in the built-in phone book, calls can be placed between devices even when there is no intermediate SIP proxy server available on the network.
In addition to these features, the Prestige 2000W can establish an 802.11b ad-hoc network -- a PC-to-PC network without an intervening wireless access point -- that gives users the ability to turn the device into a wireless intercom.
The Prestige 2000W's 1,350 mAh battery delivers a continuous talk time of up to four hours or up to 24 hours of operation in the standby mode. According to Zyxel, the handset's maximum outdoor range is a little over 300 yards, while indoor coverage ranges upwards of 80 yards.
The Prestige 2000W can be purchased from several online vendors at prices from $200 to $260.
Cisco 7920 Wireless IP Phone
The Cisco (Nasdaq: CSCO - news) 7920 Wireless IP Phone is designed to provide voice communications with the company's CallManager and CallManager Express platforms. The handset sports a backlit 128 x 80 display and a few programmable softkeys for accessing screen-based applications, features, and functions.
Delivering indoor communications at distances over 300 yards, depending on the environment, the 7920 IP phone is secured by means of Cisco's LEAP wireless authentication technology as well as an optional password prompt that appears at device power-up. In addition, the handset supports several kinds of encryption, including WEP and WPA.
One unique feature of this IP phone is that the latest firmware now supports XML applications, which is a plus given that the next iteration of Microsoft's (Nasdaq: MSFT - news) Office collaboration suite will feature applications that are likewise based on XML. The 7920's XML-handling capabilities can be customized to provide handset users with direct access to several XML sources, such as stock quotes, employee directories, or just about any other XML-based content.
Cisco's 7920 handset delivers up to 3.5 hours of talk time, or up to 21 hours in the standby mode, from the included 1,440 mAh lithium battery. For those requiring more talk time on a single charge, the optional 1,960 mAh battery can deliver up to 4.25 hours of talk time or 30 hours of standby time.
The Cisco Wireless IP Phone 7920 can be purchased from various online vendors at prices that range between $480 and $570.
Zultys WIP2
The Zultys WIP2 is a Linux-powered device that sports an attractive backlit display, together with separate visual indicators for alerting users to the arrival of incoming calls, voicemail, and instant messages. Users can customize the WIP2 to reflect personal preferences with respect to handset volume level, display window contrast, and language.
The new handset also can be configured to behave as an intercom so that the unit's built-in speakerphone will automatically answer all calls after one ring. In addition, the phone will silently disconnect at the end of a call to let users answer a call and conduct a conversation without having to touch the phone itself.
The Zultys WIP2 features the ability to encrypt any outgoing voice stream heading to another WIP2 phone or to any other device that supports the Advanced Encryption Standard (AES). Users can activate this encryption function before a call is placed or while a conversation is in progress. In either case, the encryption code is displayed on the handset so that parties at both ends of the conversation can verify their calls are being protected.
The new Wi-Fi phone also integrates a presence feature that can indicate whether other workers with SIP-enabled devices are available, in a meeting, on the phone, or busy. Another unique feature of the handset is the sequence of bars on the display that indicates the network's current QoS status. This feature can alert users to any current network issues that might be affecting speech quality.
The IP phone's battery delivers up to four hours of talk time or up to 12 hours of operation in the standby mode. The WIP2 will be available in November for around $400.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nf/20051019/tc_nf/38587;_ylt=AuVBXMtyXNp_mp97GGMph3gjtBAF;_ylu=X3oDMTA5aHJvMDdwBHNlYwN5bmNhdA--
