April 09, Associated Press — Cell phone industry steps closer to Voice over IP. Nokia Corporation employee Wojtek Felendzer held a mobile phone to his ear as he walked across the room, the call automatically and seamlessly switching behind the scenes from a Wi?Fi wireless hotspot to the regular cellular network. While Felendzer took only a few steps, his demonstration at the CTIA Wireless 2006 conference in Las Vegas, NV, proved that mobile Voice over Internet Protocol technology has made a meaningful step forward. For years, Wi?Fi telephones and walkie?talkie?like communicators have been available for hospitals and offices. Now, manufacturers and mobile carriers are preparing to link standard cellular networks to the mishmash of Wi?Fi hotspots, a move that will expand coverage and perhaps make cheaper mobile minutes a reality. The technology, called Unlicensed Mobile Access, will help those who have high?speed Wi?Fi routers overcome any poor coverage in their houses or apartments. It's also a way for mobile carriers to expand their footprint without spending lots of money on new infrastructure. Voice minutes over Wi?Fi networks are far cheaper than minutes on cellular networks because they use free radio spectrum and the Internet and do not require large cell towers.
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