The role of Wi-Fi in unified communications

• Tags:
• Messages,
• Lan,
• Wi Fi,
• Battery

Deb Shinder

Published: 11 Jun 2008 10:37 BST

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...and other popular devices, and it integrates with enterprise applications.

The DiVitas solution features a built-in PBX (and also works with an external PBX). PBX features include such standards as hold, forward, transfer, mute and caller ID, as well as more advanced features such as visual voicemail, scheduled and ad hoc conferencing, simultaneous ring, and the ability to toggle between desktop and mobile phones.

Advantages of Wi-Fi/cellular convergence
The convergence of wireless LAN and cellular technologies has advantages above and beyond cost savings. It can also address connectivity problems that occur in some locations, whereby cell phone users get poor or no signals within their buildings. By using the Wi-Fi network internally, these users can continue their conversations without interruption when they enter the corporate building.

As the technology matures and wireless networks become even more ubiquitous than they are today, convergence is sure to become more popular. The redundancy of having both networks available increases the reliability of mobile communications, while at the same time increasing worker productivity and reducing downtime due to lack of connectivity.

Most of the convergence solutions are carrier-agnostic, so you don't have to commit to a particular cellular provider in order to use the technology. Ultimately, dual-mode phones could replace landlines and wired VoIP lines completely. But as attractive as that sounds, it’s likely to be a long way down the road.

Obstacles to adoption
Despite the advantages, cellular/Wi-Fi convergence has been slow to take off. Even with a number of companies offering the hardware, deployment of dual-mode telephony is still a relative rarity.

One reason is reluctance on the part of the traditional cellular providers to support a technology that will reduce the number of billable minutes used by their customers. Cellular airtime is expensive for users, which means it's lucrative for the providers. Mobile phone companies may not give that up without a fight.

Another obstacle is the wireless infrastructure itself. Many company Wi-Fi networks don't have the bandwidth necessary to support company-wide convergence.

Voice traffic uses more bandwidth than the data traffic for which most companies originally deployed existing Wi-Fi networks. This should become less of a problem as 802.11n standards become established and the equipment for high-speed n networks becomes more widely deployed.

Yet another challenge is battery life. Wi-Fi drains batteries quickly, as many laptop computer users have discovered. Better battery technologies for mobile handsets will be necessary in order to support Wi-Fi/cellular convergence.

Even with all these obstacles to overcome, convergence seems inevitable as more and more users demand 'one-stop shopping' for their communications needs. The question is not if but when dual-mode phones will become our primary means of voice communications.

Credit: Understand the role of Wi-Fi in unified communications from TechRepublic.com

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