17.12.08

What is a WiFi Phone?


A WiFi phone use wireless technology. There are designated areas in cafes and public areas known as hotspots where you can use a WiFi phone. Providing there are no obstructions and depending on the amount of people using the hotspot, you can use your WiFi phone within 300 feet (about 90 meters) of hotspot area. As long as you are within range of a hotspot, your office can be where ever you are.

The WiFi phone has all the same features as a regular phone. With normal cell phones, you can make calls, text message, receive voicemail and with limitations, access the Internet. The WiFi phone has greater data retrieval capabilities and wider Internet access. The WiFi technology can also be found in laptops. There is no need for telephone lines to connect to the Internet.
WiFi phone technology is still relatively new and may take a while to become widely accepted. It has been available in hospitals and offices for years, but consumer options have been limited. It is predicted that the number of access points and hotspots will increase over the coming years. As the benefits of the WiFi phone become more apparent, many people are expected to make the change from more traditional phones.

There are still a few teething problems to be found with WiFi phone technology. You cannot roam between hotspots with your phone and still receive WiFi calls, although you will still be able to make and receive normal calls with your phone. A lot of phones have been found to shut of the WiFi connection when not in use to conserve energy, thereby missing incoming calls. As the speed of technological developments is so fast, these problems will probably have been ironed out by the time you finish reading this article.

As hotspots are free to use, and the average American consumer's cell-phone service costs 50 US dollars (USD) a month, the cost benefits of the WiFi phone can be huge. WiFi is seen as the way forward for the business community. It also looks likely to revolutionize the way we pay for and use our phones in the future.

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