Motorola, Cisco Cancel Dual-Mode Cellular and WiFi phone

[Mike Temporale]

http://www.infoworld.com/article/06/04/26/77803_HNdualphonescrapped_1.html?source=NLC-WIR2006-04-27

"Motorola and Cisco Systems have stopped development of a dual-mode cellular and Wi-Fi phone in favor of allowing multiple devices to work with any vendor's enterprise IP (Internet Protocol) phone switch, a Motorola executive said Wednesday. Last July, the companies announced a partnership and plans to develop a device and release early this year. The aim of the project was to let enterprise employees use one phone both outside and inside the office, with calls smoothly shifting over to a wireless LAN in the office and to the cell network when a user went outside. Typical office phone features, such as dialing by extension within the enterprise, would be built in. Dual-mode phones are a key component of fixed-mobile convergence, which could benefit both enterprises and consumers with lower cellular bills and better indoor coverage."

Sounds like a smart move to me. The VoIP market is changing and growing so fast that it would only make sense that a dual-mode phone should be able to work on any WiFi network and not locked into a specific environment.

[Mike Temporale]

http://www.infoworld.com/article/06/04/26/77803_HNdualphonescrapped_1.html?source=NLC-WIR2006-04-27

"Motorola and Cisco Systems have stopped development of a dual-mode cellular and Wi-Fi phone in favor of allowing multiple devices to work with any vendor's enterprise IP (Internet Protocol) phone switch, a Motorola executive said Wednesday. Last July, the companies announced a partnership and plans to develop a device and release early this year. The aim of the project was to let enterprise employees use one phone both outside and inside the office, with calls smoothly shifting over to a wireless LAN in the office and to the cell network when a user went outside. Typical office phone features, such as dialing by extension within the enterprise, would be built in. Dual-mode phones are a key component of fixed-mobile convergence, which could benefit both enterprises and consumers with lower cellular bills and better indoor coverage."

Sounds like a smart move to me. The VoIP market is changing and growing so fast that it would only make sense that a dual-mode phone should be able to work on any WiFi network and not locked into a specific environment.

[edgar]

As a followon - I think it was Nokia that is creating a partnership with i-Pass - a portal provider to wi-fi and wired hotspots worldwide. They partner with T-Mo, Starwood properties, Wayport and many others to provide broadband access at a fixed monthly cost - great for businesses that want to provide Remote Access to employees or individuals that are on the go.

Sounds like we'll get that dual mode phone working for advanced VOICE processes. Wow, who-da thunk it, a phone allowing for advanced VOICE functionality.

-Edgar