Emergence of WiFi VoiP Services : Assessment of Markets and Technologies

SUMMARY

This report is about the technologies and the markets for emerging wireless initiative, WiFi VoIP. This initiative combines the strength of wireless technology with the promises of VoIP. Both technologies are evolving with a rapid rate, and combined together allow wireless voice communications for many applications, such healthcare, manufacturing, office building and even, in a near future, long distance. At the present time, this technology is envisioned like an inexpensive alternative to the traditional PSTN or cellular telephone for closed proximity environments.

The technologies for WiFi VoIP are commercially available, and a number of vendors have commercial products. There are different implementation solutions, including combination of cellular and WiFi telephone, and the report analyzes these variations. Despite of immaturity of the market, this report found a surprisingly mature readiness of vendors to supply products, and this promises the market steady growth. The authors see many attractive features in WiFi VoIP, including a grade quality, cost-efficiency and easy integration with data traffic. Altogether, this technology is becoming a valid addition for broadband wireless, which attracting wide varieties of industries such as healthcare, retail, air transportation and other. The authors analysis show that the market is getting closer to maturity in two-three years, when many obstacles both technological and business are being overcome.

Target Audience

This report is important to a wide population of researches, technical and sales staff involved in the developing of the VWiFi services and products. It is recommended for both service providers and vendors that working with wireless technologies and VoIP. The report also helps to understand issues associated with relationship between VoIP and WiFi.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1.0 Introduction

• 1.1 Origin
• 1.2 Time and Importance
• 1.3 Scope and Goals
• 1.4 Research Methodology
• 1.5 Target Audience

2.0 VWiFi -- Technological Advances

• 2.1 VoIP
  • 2.1.1 Why VoIP?
  • 2.1.2 Standards
  • 2.1.3 Areas of Influence
• 2.2 WiFi
  • 2.2.1 Standards
    • 2.2.1.1 802.11
• 2.3 WiFi VoIP
  • 2.3.1 Structure
  • 2.3.2 Who needs it?
  • 2.3.3 Bumpy Road to Success
  • 2.3.4 Competitor or Friend?
  • 2.3.5 Golden Rush
  • 2.3.6 Users' Requirements
    • 2.3.6.1 Voice Quality
    • 2.3.6.2 Security
    • 2.3.6.3 Mobility

3.0 Standards

• 3.1 802.11e Standard

4.0 3G and VWiFi

5.0 VWiFi and Service Providers

6.0 Regulatory Issues

7.0 VWiFi Market

• 7.1 General
• 7.2 Market Drivers
  • 7.2.1 Justification of Applications
  • 7.2.2 New Economics of Scale
  • 7.2.3 Cost Issues
• 7.3 Market Forecast
  • 7.3.1 Model Assumptions
  • 7.3.2 Estimate
  • 7.3.3 Sensitivity Analysis

8.0 Equipment Vendors

• Airspace
• Agere
• Alcatel
• Atmel
• Avaya
• Chantry Networks
• Cisco
• Colubris
• Meru
• Microsoft/NEC/Intel Partnership
• Motorola
• Nokia
• Nortel
• Proxim
• RTX
• Spectralink
• Symbol
• Viper Networks
• Vocera
• ZyXel

9.0 Service Providers

• 9.1 Beginning
• 9.2 E@Glecom
• 9.3 IDT/Net2Phone
• 9.4 Seek Technologies
• 9.5 Vonage

10.0 Conclusions

Glossary

list of FIgures

• Figure 1: H.323 VoIP Environment
• Figure 2: VWiFi Architecture
• Figure 3: VWiFi US Market Estimate ($M)

List of Tables

• Table 1: VoIP Standardization
• Table 2: WiFi Standards
• Table 3: VWiFi vs. Cellular
• Table 4: Access Points Evolution