I feel there is a serious controversy happening here. As some have noticed, the ability to make unlimited wifi calls on the net with a minimal cost has been possible for some time. In the last couple of years it has even become possible on PDA's. If the PDA has access to Skype you have a wifi phone, and for around $10.00 a month you have unlimited calling to the world.
I noticed the Nokia n810 and the Sony Milo are disappearing, and the price is going up on those if you can find a new one. Nokia doesn't sell the n810 any more, nor does Sony sell the Milo, and I believe the reason is because they do allow you to call on Skype. Now Nokia has the n900, which is a cell phone, that does all of what the n810 does.
Skype does offer a couple wifi phones, but how long will that be an option if the controversy continues. I wonder which will go first, wifi or cellular? With wifi growing everywhere, even in grocery stores for example, will they be able to curve the use of wifi phones.
What about cities who offer a blanket of wifi coverage over the entire city, why use a cell phone? For me the idea of a prepaid cell phone makes sense when you travel outside of the wifi coverage, instead of paying a monthly fee and signing a one or two year contract for a cell phone you will use occasionally.
If you are one who uses the wifi phone for business because cell companies charge way too much for extensive calling. You are on the cutting edge of this controversy. Yes some companies do offer a flat fee for unlimited calling, but if you have wifi at home why do you even need one?
It would be great if the cellular companies would just allow wifi calling on their phones. It would sure free up the over taxed systems like at&t. With the increasing amount of data being transmitted now days, you would think this would be a consideration. After all if the city your in doesn’t have a blanket of wifi, you have to use a cell phone, now it makes since.
I believe this is an issue that needs continued attention, my money is on wifi calling. If the cellular companies don't adjust, in time they will be loosing a lot of customers to wifi. Maybe they already are, thus explains the controversy.
Bill Collier
http://mindworthy.mypodcast.com
Week in review: eBay cuts off Skype | Business Tech - CNET News
