Vonage has partnered with IP networking specialist UTStarcom to create the F-1000 handheld, enabling calls on 802.11b networks. Delivery of the phone is expected during the spring or summer, with the price yet to be determined.

Wi-Fi Access in Demand

"We are seeing increased demand for a Wi-Fi phone, which appeals particularly to people that have the equipment in their home or office, as well as travelers who can access hotspots at hotels, airports and other areas," Vonage spokesperson Jamie Serino told NewsFactor.

Adding mobile service boosts the company's portfolio of products and potentially broadens the customer base, he said. The Vonage-UTStarcom partnership also offers retailers an opportunity to increase sales and expand into a new category by leveraging Vonage's position in the VoIP market and UTStarcom's expertise in next-generation telecommunications, according to Serino.

Fixed-Line Replacement

The F-1000 is based on Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) technology used by an array of VoIP equipment manufacturers. The two companies envision the new handset as a replacement for a fixed-line phone at home or as a complementary device outside of the home when users are within range of a Wi-Fi access point.

Vonage may offer the Wi-Fi phone gratis for customers who sign up for VoIP service online, Serino said, and the company plans to make it available from retail partners, including Amazon.com, RadioShack, Best Buy, Circuit City, Staples and Office Depot.

TI Adds Expertise

In a separate announcement at the CES 2005 trade show, Vonage unveiled two new products resulting from a partnership with chip giant Texas Instruments. One is a digital home telephone for VoIP from Viseon, and the other is a cordless broadband telephone system from VTech.

Both are compatible with Vonage's service and are expected to ship later in 2005. Last year, Vonage tapped TI as its technology partner to develop new services based on TI's VoIP technology.

Viseon's VoIP phone incorporates technology from TI's VoIP and digital media groups, including the TNETV1050 IP phone processor and DSP-based TMS320DM64x digital media processor. The ip8100-2 broadband phone from Vtech features TI's TNETV1060 VoIP gateway chipset and includes a base unit with a WAN and PC port so that broadband connectivity can be shared without using a router.

"We want to offer our service on as many devices as possible, providing greater choice to customers, and the partnership with TI is helping in that effort," Serino said. He pointed out that the Vonage service is already available through wireless router and terminal adapter products from Motorola and Linksys.