WiFi phone sales up 61 per cent

Worldwide sales of WiFi phones jumped 61 per cent in 2007, as more companies embraced the cost and convenience benefits of using wireless voice over IP (VoIP) for internal calls.

Figures compiled by market research firm Infonetics suggest that single-mode WiFi-only handsets are being deployed instead of desktop phones in campuses and large office environments, where the costs of deploying wireless LAN (WLANs) and WiFi phones is less than installing both data and voice telephone networks.

The trend looks set to continue with the increased availability of WiFi-enabled smartphones, such as the iPhone and WiFi BlackBerry. These combine private WLAN and hotspot connectivity with the ability to make GSM calls when outside WiFi range.

BT is offering its corporate Fusion service, which uses dual mode WiFi/GSM phones to replace existing mobile and desktop phones in offices.

Infonetics estimates that worldwide sales of all wireless LAN equipment, including independent and dependent access points and WLAN switches and controllers, hit $1.9bn (£952m) in 2007, up 20 per cent from 2006.

See also:

Interview: Business phones get back to basics

Symbian’s Andrew Moran explains how the mobile industry has a renewed focus on voice and messaging  28 Sep 2007

Interview: Converged comms brings challenges

Lars-Michaël Paqvalén of Telepo explains why enterprise mobility is at a turning point  03 Sep 2007

BT tweaks its Fusion Wi-Fi package for businesses

BT's new Wi-Fi-based fixed-mobile communications solution should cut bills for smaller firms  14 Dec 2006

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