Who's Who of VOIP

Increased use of laptop computers in business and for the mobile traveler have propelled the demand for wireless networks. With the Internet now an important part of so many people's lives, new broadband technologies are emerging that make it possible for us to surf the Web in places we've never imagined./p

The ubiquity of broadband Internet access gives rise to different expectations. Most users are accustomed to cell phones, and thus expect more portability than can be found in a VOIP softphone loaded on a laptop but some will be satisfied with walkie-talkie communication on a laptop or PDA because it’s less expensive than if everyone uses their cell phones. To satisfy these longings, various manufacturers of phones, radio components and chipsets are working around the clock, pushing the wireless technological envelope.

The Wireless VoIP Players

The following vendors are already "catching the VoWiFi wave,” bringing a new era of mobility in personal communications:

Avaya

Avaya IP Wireless Telephone solutions from Avaya (www.avaya.com) is based on NetLink Telephony Gateway that keeps voice quality high by giving voice packets routing priority over data packets.

Cisco

The Cisco Wireless IP Phone 7920 from Cisco Systems is a sturdy, high-end phone meant for corporate use over Wi-Fi networks.

Extricom

Extricom Ltd., an Israeli R&D company, delivers a wireless LAN architecture that is friendly to voice traffic.

GIPS and Pocket Presence

The GIPS VoiceEngine is specifically designed for packet networks such as Wi-Fi environments to reduce latency, packet loss, and jitter and delivers real-time voice over Wi-Fi with strong sound quality.

Nortel Networks

Nortel's Wireless LAN 2220 Series Portfolio provides consistent desktop-like functionality of secure high-bandwidth voice and data services, along with seamless, broadband wireless roaming across both public and private networks.

SpectraLink

SpectraLink's NetLink Wireless Wi-Fi phone replicates the features of a desktop business phone.

Symbol Technologies

The Pocket PC-based PDT 8100 has a built-in miniature imaging system for capturing barcodes, video and still images.

Telesym

SymPhone Client software brings high-quality voice calling capabilities to Windows notebook, tablet and desktop PCs, using Wi-Fi networks and the Internet.

Texas Instruments

Texas Instruments combined their Wi-Fi and IP phone chipset with software to come up with a complete mobile handset for wireless LANs. Although it’s still just a demo prototype, you can use the demo TI Wi-Fi phone to make VoIP calls through any access point.

VLI

VL Inc. recently teamed with the Palm Pilot folks to bring you the Palm Gphone, which brings mobile packet voice to a Palm PDA.

Vocera

The wearable "communicator" has arrived 200 years ahead of schedule with broadband device that that obeys voice commands. Biometric voiceprint verification prevents unauthorized use of the badge.