Motorola Intros Voice Over Wireless LAN Smartphone

Motorola rolled out a product suite that's aimed at giving enterprises voice over wireless LAN.

The company's Total Enterprise Access and Mobility VoWLAN product includes Windows Mobile smartphones, and multiple servers that are integrated on top of a company's existing infrastructure. For employees, this could potentially lead to replacing a desktop phone entirely with a smartphone.

The suite includes Windows Mobile-powered smartphones that are capable of making calls, sending and receiving corporate e-mails, as well as running applications. Theses handsets can only be used over wireless LANs, but Motorola said this enables them to be more efficient and have better voice quality. For example, users will be able to have up to four active voice sessions on the handset at one time, and it can use push-to-talk capabilities.

As more and more companies use wireless LAN networks, Motorola sees businesses increasingly look for VoWLAN products. A recent report by Frost & Sullivan seems to agree, as it predicts that the North American market will grow from $110.5 million in 2007 to $2.15 billion in 2014.

"Our customers are demanding enterprise-grade voice and data solutions that can help them improve productivity while reducing operating costs," Advanced Wireless CEO Darryl Morin said in a statement. "Motorola's TEAM VoWLAN solution meets those needs by turning the desk phone and desktop into a pocketable virtual office that provides comprehensive business functionality in a consumer-style, enterprise-grade device built to withstand all-day, every day use."

The product suite includes two physical servers, the Wireless Services Manager and Network Servicers Manager. The first one integrates with most major existing PBX systems, and it provides push-to-talk services, and enhanced batter life, mobility and security. The second server provides centralized provisioning and management.

The company said the TEAM VoWLAN products are scalable up to 4,500 users, and future versions will include. The products are available now in North America, and global availability is expected in the first quarter of next year, Motorola said.