How do VOIP WiFi Phones Work?

VOIP makes use of the Internet to make calls. Thus, a VOIP phone should have an access to an available Internet connection. VOIP WiFi phones are designed to access Internet connection from wireless hotspots. As long as the user of the wireless VOIP phone is within the range of a wireless access point and can gain access to the network, VOIP calls can be made using the phone.

Wireless VOIP Phone Reviews

More wireless VOIP phones are beginning to appear on the market including the following:

Netgear WiFi Phone for Skype

The Netgear WiFi phone is designed especially for Skype users. The phone is ideal for heavy Skype users, those who use Skype as their main mode of business or personal communication, or just about anybody who uses Skype most of the time.

The Netgear phone can be used to call any Skype subscriber for free anytime and anywhere as long as a wireless network is available. The phone can be used in any of the wireless hotspots or access points available.

The phone can be bought from the Skype website itself for $299.99. It is a handy gadget though the price is high for a single-purpose phone. Also, since there is no monthly fee, the user needs to have Skype-Out credits in order to make calls to ordinary phones. It's like a prepaid account of sorts.

Vonage WiFi Phone

The Vonage WiFi phone is a UTStarcom F1000 model and is quite small in size which makes it handy. The Vonage WiFi Phone can make calls to any other VOIP phones or any ordinary phones in the areas covered within the user's subscription. The phone also works well with any wireless hotspots anywhere in the world, open or secured.

As with any VOIP service, some limitations are present. Emergency calling using the phone is not as easy as calling 911 on a regular phone. When 911 is called using this phone, the caller will be routed to Vonage's emergency center and the representative who takes the call will then inform 911 of the problem and of the caller's location.

Other than that, the Vonage WiFi phone acts like the ordinary mobile phones in that the user can select ring tones, has a phone book, can set speed dialing, and call log access. The phone is also fairly priced at $89.99 after the rebate of $40.

Linksys WIP330 and WIP300 WiFi VOIP Phones

Linksys, one the leading brands in networking, has also entered the market of VOIP phones for wireless networks. The first two Linksys WiFi phones were formally released early in 2006. The Linksys WIP330 is on the higher end than the WIP300. The 330 model has 2.2" colored LCD and similar features as regular mobile phones such as a phonebook, call logs, wallpapers, screensaver, ringtones, and more. The phone retails for $369.

The Linksys WIP300 retails for $219.99. It has a smaller 1.8" LCD. Both phones are designed to work on any 802.11g wireless networks. The user can choose his own VOIP service provider and can use these phones with the provider's VOIP services.

Future of WiFi VOIP Phones

WiFi VOIP phones seem to have a promising future. By 2005, there were about 4.5 million subscribers to VOIP in the U.S. alone. The Asian market also has a wide acceptance of the technology, projecting $10 billion revenue by 2010. These statistics can surely motivate manufacturers to improve and enhance the features of wireless VOIP phones. Whether the unit is a dedicated VOIP phone or a pocket pc WiFi phone, the advantages of WiFi phone service outweigh the limitations.