FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: VOWLAN: THE KILLER CONVERGENCE APP

While the rest of the wireless world argues about "Wi-Fi versus 3G" for data applications, Voice over WLAN continues its steady growth and is set for rapid expansion as Wi-fi enabled cell phones hit the market in 2004, according to a recently released report by ON World. More information on VoWLAN, Wi-Fi enabled handset and wireless softphone markets may be found from ON Worlds recently released report, "VoWLAN: The Rapidly Evolving Voice over Wi-Fi Landscape," available from ON World's website at http://www.onworld.com.

San Diego, CA (PRWEB) October 24, 2003 -- -- While the rest of the wireless world argues about "Wi-Fi versus 3G" for data applications, Voice over WLAN continues its steady growth and is set for rapid expansion as Wi-fi enabled cell phones hit the market in 2004, according to a recently released report by ON World.

VoWLAN, an emerging VoIP technology for providing voice packets over wireless LANs, has been mostly targeted at vertical industries such as healthcare, retail and manufacturing. However, the rapid growth of Wi-Fi infrastructure along with new developments such as softphones, communication standards such as Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) and the emergence of dual mode (Wi-Fi and cellular) handsets indicate that VoWLAN is headed for mainstream markets.

Serving prime customers to the operators

"Wi-fi enabled cell phones will give mobile phone customers a high quality and seamless voice and rich data experience from the home to the enterprise to the hotspot cafe. This translates into a 24/7/365 always on power user for the operators to sell services and content to," says Mareca Hatler, ON World's Director of Research.

Recent product launches and demonstrations indicate that we are very close to this reality. At the September Intel Developer Forum, Intel and TeleSym demonstrated a "Universal Communicator" prototype handset that combines Intel's Adaptive Communications Technologies with TeleSym's SymPhone software to accomplish seamless roaming between wireless Internet networks (Wi-Fi) and the GSM cellular network. Startup Kineto Wireless secured $24 million in September to accelerate the development of their Mobile over Wireless LAN solution that gives mobile operators a way to track voice and data over WLANs whether in the enterprise, home or hotspot.

Converging mobile with enterprise communications

Meanwhile, companies selling to the enterprise are gaining traction by easy to demonstrate presentations on the return on investment (ROI) of mobile workforce technologies. The flexibility of VoWLAN and other IP based mobile devices to network and integrate into current LAN-WAN infrastructure as well as the ease of deploying WLAN's in remote office and field locations is causing an communications revolution. Over the next five to seven years, this revolution will meld mobile and enterprise communications and fuel much opportunity for a variety of developers.

Triggering a flurry of innovation

These needs have sparked much innovation and many new entrants are expected to emerge to solve issues such as seamless roaming and billing, security and advanced PBX telephone functionality that goes with the user wherever he/she may go.

Leading PBX vendors such as Avaya, NEC, Mitel and Nortel Networks have all embraced Voice over IP and the new systems that emphasize data over legacy voice communications. They are also incorporating products that provide more mobility such as wireless SIP phones. This year, we have seen the beginning of alliances between the mobile and enterprise worlds. In January, Motorola, Avaya and Proxim announced an alliance to develop a dual mode handset. Then in April, Motorola announced a similar alliance with NEC and AireSpace. Nokia also has plans for dual mode handsets.

A new world of business communications

The next generation of communications is coming soon. ON World projects that nearly 90 percent of all handsets, handhelds and laptops will be Wi-Fi enabled by 2007, for a total of more than 700 million devices. At least half of these will include VoWLAN technology as more users learn about the convenience of using one number, and often one device, inside the office, at home and around town.

This makes VoWLAN an essential component of the future of communications whether you happen to be a 3G or Wi-Fi champion.

More information on VoWLAN, Wi-Fi enabled handset and wireless softphone markets may be found from ON Worlds recently released report, "VoWLAN: The Rapidly Evolving Voice over Wi-Fi Landscape," available from ON World's website at http://www.onworld.com.

About ON World:
ON World provides world class business intelligence on emerging wireless technology markets to Fortune 1000 companies, venture capitalists and startups.

For more information about ON World and our available reports please go to: http://www.onworld.com.