Free or Low-cost Wi-Fi Mobile Phone Calls

December 1, 2006

Not too long ago wireless devices such as laptops were used to take advantage of wireless access points but in the recent times cell phones have been added to this list of devices. An example is a Wi-Fi cell phone made by Belkin. This new mobile phone device allows users to make free or low-cost cell phone calls over the Internet. This particular cell phone is designed to tap into several wireless access points installed in businesses, Internet cafes and most importantly homes.

This is to the advantage of those with high-speed Wi-Fi access in their homes, for they should be able to use it as a medium for free or inexpensive calls as well as an option to conventional phone service.

Availability

This technology is starting to materialize commercially and companies such as Vonage and Skype are now selling or supporting mobile devices that use Wi-Fi networks.

Usability

One of the biggest obstacles the user faces when using the Wi-Fi phone to make calls is the fact that the Wi-Fi radio frequency spectrum is not licensed and therefore not maintained by any specific company, so call quality can be poor at times. If you are trying to make free cell phone calls off someone else’s wireless network, you cannot expect to get the best reception and you cannot always expect all your calls to go through. As the saying goes “You get what you pay for.”

Wi-Fi cell phones also have a short battery life but the technology is improving quickly.

Free or low-cost phone calls?

Where free calls are concerned, Wi-Fi cell phones that come pre-loaded with Skype or Vonage allow you to make free calls to anyone on Skype without using a PC. For calls to ordinary phones (without Skype or Vonage) it only costs pennies per minute.

Technical Details

1. Enjoy free unlimited phone calls over Wi-Fi networks without your PC.

2. Skype / Vonage Certified to work just like your existing Skype or Vonage account.

3. Connect to any secured or open access Wi-Fi network that does not require browser-based authentication.

4. Exceptional Voice Quality.

5. WEP (Wired Equivalent Privacy), WPA and WPA2 (Wi-Fi Protected Access) Supported.