CES panelists: these are three transcending steps for VoWiFi handsets

Earlier today, panelists at a CES session entitled "New Communication Tech: From VoIP to VoWiFi and Beyond" waved in on key advances that will push lots of VoIP users from beyond their PC to mobile environments.

Three advances:

VoIP handsets pre-bundled with cellphone-like functionalities such as cameras, video playback and even gaming. Because cellphone users are already accustomed to some of these amenities, they will expect them to be on any VoIP-enabled handset they purchase.

The emergence of 802.11n networks. Dave Hofer, director of wirleles marketing at Intel's mobility group says that when 802.11n devices arrive as soon as the end of this month, they will push the operating range of Wi-Fi handsets from around two to ten times their current coverage.

WiMax- Networks and devices enabled with the 802.16e standard will get here in 2008. Then, we'll see VoIP phones with capabilities to work with these metro-wide communications infrastructures.