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Make Phone Calls with WiFi

Several electronics manufactures are coming out with portable phones the same size as a cell phone that can make calls using WiFi. Each are different. Some are locked to phone providers just as your cell phone is.

One exception is the Zytel P-2000W v.2 I don’t own one - yet - but it appears you can configure it to work with many VoIP providers. Several of them give you free calls! (approx. $159.99)

What’s VoIP?
It stands for Voice over IP. Its the future of digital voice communications across common IP networks like the Internet.

Gizmo is a popular, standards compliant, soft-phone that is also free. According to the Gizmo forum post called, Configuring a ZyXEL P2000W-U2 WiFi VoIP Phone with Gizmo, you can configure this hand held phone to make calls via Gizmo to any computer or phone (using the service Callout).

What’s a soft-phone?
Its a peice of computer software that makes voice calls via the internet. It uses VoIP technology.

This can give you much cheaper calling for all phone calls. (local, national, and international) As long as the person your calling has a SIP softphone (etc. Gizmo which is free), the proper headset, and a configured computer. Or you could purchase Callout minutes and call a regular phone.

What is SIP?
It stands for Session Initiation Protocol. Wikipedia can tell ya better than I can.

I’m betting the sound quality is not fantastic. If you ever used a Soft-phone like Skype or Gizmo you know it can be a frustrating experience. But this can change. Especially if you’re on a fast network that isn’t being limited by your ISP.