User:IpWorld
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VoIP Mobile or 'Mobile Voice over Internet Protocol' is the application of voice over IP technology to mobile handsets.
VoIP Mobile requires a mobile handset that supports, at minimum, high speed IP communications. Most commonly this is using Voice over WiFi or VoWiFi, but the same protocols (typically SIP or jabber) can be used over any broadband IP-capable wireless network connection such as the various 3G standards, EVDO rev A (which is synchronously high speed - both high speed up and down), HSDPA or potentially WiMax.
VoIP Mobile will require a compromise between economy and mobility. For example, Voice over WiFi offers free service but is only available within the coverage area of the WiFi Access Point. High speed services from mobile operators using EVDO rev A or HSPDA with probably have better audio quality and capabilities for metropolitan-wide coverage including fast handoffs from mobile base station to another, yet it will cost more than the typical WiFi-based VoIP service.
VoIP Mobile will become an important service in the coming years as device manufacturers exploit more powerful processors and less costly memory to meet the users' needs for ever-more 'power in their pocket'. Smartphones in mid-2006 are capable of sending and receiving email, browse the web (albeit at low rates) and in some cases watch TV.
The challenge for the mobile operator industry is to deliver the benefits and innovations of IP without losing control of the network service. Users like the Internet to be free and high speed without extra charges for visiting specific sites versus other sites. Delivering VoIP mobile is a service that challenges the most valuable service in the telecommunications industry - voice - and threatens (or promises, depending on your views) the pace of innovation in the global communications industry.
Contents 1 Technologies 2 Recent developments 3 See also 4 External links
Technologies There are three main technologies used for VoIP mobile:
UMA - The Unlicensed Mobile Access Generic Access Network, designed to allow VoIP to run over the GSM cellular backbone SIP - The standard used by most VoIP services, and now being implemented on mobile handsets Skype Protocol and Barablu - a proprietary modified version of Jabber
Recent developments VoIP Mobile took a significant step forward in the summer of 2006 when Nokia included not only a SIP (Session Initiation Protocol) stack but a VoIP client in their new E-series dual-mode WiFi handsets (E60, E61, E70). These E-series handsets are intended for business users, but Nokia released a consumer handset, the N80 Internet edition, in November 2006.
A couple of companies offer VoIP services for these new mobile handsets. Among them are UK Based Barablu and Swedish Challenger mobile, active in mobile VoIP since 2001, and the UK-headquartered Truphone. Truphone uses an OTA (Over The Air) provisioning method: users send a text message to a particular Truphone number in each country, which sends a text message back containing a link which then downloads and runs a provisioning wizard.
Motorola Mobile Devices and Sony Ericsson have also announced their intention to support VoIP in the future.
fring is the first peer-to-peer VoIP solution specifically conceived and designed for the mobile domain. fring enables free calls and chat between fring users and pc-based VoIP services such as Barablu and Skype and GoogleTalk over WiFi or existing handset internet connection and data plan.
Barablu and Skype offers a beta trial version on certain Windows Mobile devices and are currently developing a version for the Symbian platform. They have delayed the Symbian launch date due to technical difficulties.
