Would you like to SIP some WiFi juice?
This technology is really cool!
AAPT to eat its own WiFi [Australian IT]
Imagine using WiFi to do VOIP calls while in WiFi zones, and as soon as you’re out of it, your smart phone will just switch over seemlessly to using the GSM network for your voice calls.
Well, it’s all possible through a technology called SIP (Session Initiation Protocol).
What is SIP?
SIP is a signaling protocol used for locating remote users and establishing interactive communications. It is analagous to setting up a call on the telephone network, with two critical improvements.
1. It is internet-native, and therefore interoperates well with other protocols including, critically, future protocols (more at SIP RFCs and Specifications)
2. It separates session establishment and session description, so specifying who (or what) you would like to connect to is independent of how you would like to communicate. (Compare calling someone’s voice vs fax line, where the choice of how to communicate dictates how you connect.)SIP is the glue for a new set of existing applications, beyond just the obvious ‘IP telephone’ to include multimedia, mobility, IM and presence, e-commerce, web services, and many others.
- Source: SIP Wiki
Additional information on what is SIP is available at Wikipedia. And SIP Wiki.
More articles on SIP (Session Initiation Protocol)…
Mobile technology is definately one exciting area as we move into the next few years.
Looks like the new i-mate devices are now available in Australia. The launch was yesterday.
And you can buy one from eXpansys for $774.95 (for the i-mate SP3i).
$759 for the i-mate SP3.
Hrm, not exactly cheap, however, that is roughly the price that I was given when I was looking at the i-mate SmartPhone 2 at the Telstra Shop.
From what i’ve read, they are identical devices, but have a different body. Personally, I like the look of the SP3i over the SP3.
Oh, and looks like the Hardware Manufacturer of these devices is looking into producing 3G capable phones.
And there is also a new SmartPhone operating system out there produced by the people who make the PalmOS.