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Giving voice to IP: the direction of networking.

Article Excerpt
Voice over IP must be one of the most talked about technologies, even if few of us are talking through it. Here, WBT takes a look at where VoIP is heading, and when it's going to get there.

Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) is driven by the promise of efficiencies and a plethora of new services that will result from voice-data convergence in the wireline world. It has not been driven by the wireless world to any great extent; however, it's now time for the wireless industry to take more notice. VoIP, in fact everything over IP, is the direction of networking. This will be beneficial to the wireless industry, but not only in ways expected in the wireline industry. Let's consider a few emerging issues that relate to the direction and importance of VoIP in wireless communications.

Emerging Issues

The following developments are key building blocks in making VoIP a mainstream technology in wireless communications:

* The growth of wireline IP telephony can be seen in the increasing use of IP PBXs and the introduction of IP Centrex services. Voice-data convergence between the desk-top and the carrier's central office will become reality for an increasing number of enterprises.

* Softphone clients for notebook computers and PDAs are becoming common. These software clients enable voice over WLAN (VoWLAN or VoWi-Fi), and it is only a matter of time before they become standard offerings from most vendors.

* Until recently, Wi-Fi consumed more power than a mobile telephone or...

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