Cell Wireless Corporation, an Arizona provider of discounted long-distance services, Web calling, and other services, will offer a Wi-Fi phone in the first quarter of 2006.
Users of the new phone will be able to make VoIP calls to each through Wi-Fi hotspots. They will also be able to use the device as a conventional Wi-Fi phone at home or at the office. The phone is expected to cost between $300 and $500.
“This exciting development allows members to call each other using a mobile Wi-Fi cell VoIP phone — free of charge,” said John Bohringer, CEO of Cell Wireless Corporation. “It will also include free VoIP conference calls and free VoIP chat rooms.”
According to In-Stat, 2 percent of VoIP subscribers used wireless IP phones as of last summer. The research firm predicts that by 2009, 73 percent of consumer VoIP subscribers will use wireless IP phones.