Voice over wireless local area networks (VoWLAN) might just be one of those technologies whose time has come. Combining voice over IP (VoIP) and wireless networking -- the two headline network technologies of the last couple of years, VoWLAN is, quite simply a natural.
"There's a lot of pent-up demand for VoWLAN, and particularly for dual-mode cellular and wireless VoIP phones," Forrester Research principal analyst Ellen Daley says. "There's a pent-up demand because of a fear and concern of wireless phone costs. Companies are saying that 'we see people using their cell phones on office hallways,' and they're interested in reducing those costs."
Indeed, at one level, the equation is quite simple in a carpeted office environment. If you have a wireless network anyway, and your employees are using their company cell-phones to talk as they move from desk to desk and from conference room to cubicle, then you might as well see if you can put it all together and save airtime charges. With the imminent market availability of reasonably affordable dual-mode phones, it's a no-brainer.
However, Daley is quick to point out that company executives who think that it will all simply be a question of giving everyone a new phone will be sadly mistaken. The one thing you can count on, in fact, is that most companies that are thinking seriously about VoWLAN are probably underestimating the complexity involved in actually deploying the technology.
"Just look at wireless LANs," Daley says. "Most are deployed casually, providing guest-access. They're not integrated in the network infrastructure as a whole or scaled-up to be able to support voice. There will be a rude awakening. A lot more of a design process goes in to supporting VoWLAN."
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