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Glossary
Some terms will keep coming up so let's review them:
| Hardphone |
This
is a physical VOIP phone. Something you can hold in your
hand. |
| Softphone |
A
software VOIP phone. Think of Skype's interface for example. |
| SIP |
Session Initiatiation Protocol. The most common VOIP standard. |
| Termination |
Outgoing
call. |
| Origination |
Incoming
call. |
| DID |
Your
own telephone number that can be dialed from any old phone. |
| AP |
Access
Point. A wireless router WiFi phone can connect to. |
Equipment
The only two pieces of equipment you will need are a SIP compliant
WiFi phone and a computer. The computer is only used for initial
setup and is not required on an ongoing basis other than to
add money to your account. However, you can also use the computer
to make and receive calls if you wish.
While
there are tons of wired VOIP phones for use in office environments
there are literally fewer than ten
mobile WiFi phones available on the market. Most are designed
for office use within well functioning wireless networks.
Just about all of them have terrible user reviews.
The
cheapest of the pack -- Utstarcom F1000 and F1000G [Fig. 1]
retail for about $110 (USD) but you can often find used ones
cheaper on eBay.
The "G" version is designed to work with both "b"
and "g" type wireless networks which is not a significant
advantage for VOIP.
The
unit has very little terms of features we expect today. There
is no color screen, no fancy ringtones, no camera, and no
MP3 player. It is relatively small but it looks like a late
90's Nokia. However, it has a significant advantage over the
competition. This phone will roam between APs as you move
around without dropping a call. Better yet, it will auto connect
to any unlocked AP if the signal is strong enough. This means
that you can take the phone with you out of the house and
make calls from places with unlocked hotspots or unlocked
municipal networks. You can also connect to locked (WEP/WPA)
APs as long as you have the password.
One
feature that's lacking is a web browser. Without a browser
it is difficult to log into hotspots that require authentication.
The phone supports use of authentication scripts which must
be written using a special application and loaded onto the
phone in advance. This may not be rocket science but it's
hardly worth the time. There is one phone with a browser --
Linksys WIP330 but it has such poor
reviews that I don't dare fork out over $200 (USD) for
it.
Enough
talk. Let's do it.
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