The Wi-Fi phone is a relative newcomer to the world of Voice over IP. This device, usually portable, allows you to use a VoIP service over an open Wi-Fi network--be it your own or a public hotspot. BroadVoice, Net2Phone, and Packet8, for example, offer portable Wi-Fi handsets and VoIP service bundles. The Packet8 package, for example, includes the Uniden UIP1868P, a handset that's designed for use at home. Vonage is currently testing its Wi-Fi phone service, and expects to roll it out by the end of the year.
I decided to take Net2Phone's VoiceLine XJ100 Wi-Fi Handset for a test drive. When I first heard the term Wi-Fi phone, I thought, that sounds like my kind of thing: hotspot, Internet cafe, caffeine, yakking on the phone, repeat. I envisaged a delightful testing scenario as part of my research for this column--one creamy latté leading to another, all across town.
Pure bliss--or so I thought.
But once I looked into what the XJ100 can (and can't) do, I realized that research for this column was not going to go according to my fantasy: The XJ100 doesn't work with the paid-Wi-Fi services usually offered at cafes. The reason for this has to do with the handset's limitations and the need for certain types of Wi-Fi networks. So I put those thoughts of hip Internet cafes and vats of lattés aside.
When you sign up for the XJ100 on Net2Phone's site, you can (as with most VoIP services) choose a phone number in the area code you want. Net2Phone has hundreds of area codes up for grabs, including five area codes from Canada. Alternatively, you could opt for a U.S.- or UK-based toll-free number, so that others can call you for free.
I was curious to see how much futzing I would have to do right out of the box. Very little, it turned out: Overall, the device worked well. Navigating the menus was a cinch and voice quality was impressive. However I found some cons among the pros: The XJ100 works only on open or free Wi-Fi networks, including public hotspots or networks with Wired Equivalent Privacy encryption (you need to know the necessary encryption key). The handset does not support for-pay hotspots, so you can't log into a Boingo or T-Mobile hotspot, for example. That's because the XJ100 lacks the software tools--no Web browser, for starters--to log in to such networks.
The phone is pricey: The suggested retail price is $175, not including Net2Phone plan charges. And it's likely to prove useful only to people who travel a lot, especially those who make a ton of international calls while on the road.
Using the Device
The phone handset is slick and light, weighing just under 4 ounces: It's just a bit bigger and longer than your typical candy-bar cell phone. Its blue-tinted LED display is easy on the eyes, too. You get your phone number when you sign up for the service, and the company provides a PIN when you get the hardware: You need both of these to access and manage your account online. You have to charge the handset on the included charging base for about 5 hours before using it for the first time.
The XJ100 behaves like a basic cell phone: Using the arrow navigation button, you can keep track of your incoming, outgoing, and missed calls; add to or edit your contacts list; and change the ring tone or set it to vibrate mode. Unlike a cell phone, though, there's no network-supplied clock: You have to manually set the local time if you switch time zones.
My home network uses Wi-Fi Protected Access security, which the XJ100 does not support, so I could not test it at home. I guess I could have temporarily disabled the security, but I didn't want to go through the hassle. Plus, the very nature of the product makes it better suited for use outside the home or office. Net2Phone says its XJ100 handset lacks the computing power required for WPA, and that its upcoming XJ200 model will not support WPA either. The current XJ100 does support both the 64- and 128-bit encryption key versions of WEP, the weaker security technology included in the original 802.11x specifications.
I used PC World's Hotspot Finder to point me to Wi-Fi locations in my area. Then, armed with the XJ100, off I trotted.
Using a Wi-Fi Phone
Here's how the process works: Once I located a public access point, such as my local library's network, I scrolled down through the XJ100's options, pressed Scan, and the device would hunt for access points. Shortly after that, it would automatically display the available network/s on the screen, and I'd select the one I wanted. Behind the scenes, the device would then connect with Net2Phone's network to initialize and reboot in order to obtain an IP address. The XJ100 also retrieves the necessary account info from Net2Phone and saves this configuration info.
After the home screen appeared again, I was ready to dial. Once I was connected to the hotspot, I could also start receiving calls. (Note: Net2Phone says the upcoming XJ200 will not need to reboot after obtaining the configuration info.) The XJ100 works with 802.11b and 802.11g networks.
Other than charging the phone and going through the scanning process each time I approached a new hotspot--a process that takes just a few clicks and less than half a minute--I didn't have to do anything else. Of course, in the cases where multiple networks flashed up (particularly with uninformative names like "Linksys 100"), I wasn't always sure which one was tied to an open network. So I had to do a bit of trial and error before the phone was finally ready to make or accept calls. The XJ100 is fully configured when you get it, which is a big plus. It's similar to the way most new cell phones are usually ready to use after the initial charge.
When making calls, I had to remember to dial "1" before the area code each time (except for local calls)--something I don't have to do with my usual mobile phone. The quality of the phone calls was very good: My voice and voices on the other end were clear. I didn't experience any dropped calls. In fact, the quality was generally a lot better than calls made on a cell phone. However, on a few occasions there was a slight delay before the person heard my voice, when they answered the phone. (Oh, and lest you think I was babbling on the phone incessantly in the library, of all places, I did my testing in a discreet corridor, far away from the studious crowd.)
As I write this, the XJ100 does not support traditional 911 emergency services. It offers a workaround, but you must first register your phone number and street address with Net2Phone on its site. In May, the Federal Communications Commission ruled that all VoIP companies must make Enhanced 911 services available to customers before the end of this year. Net2Phone plans to comply with the FCC's order, but does not have a specific rollout date yet. For more details about the FCC's ruling and background on emergency service calls, read my June column, "The 411 on 911."
The Drawbacks
Even though I was impressed with Net2Phone's general calling experience (and I also liked being able to listen to voice messages via my account online), things weren't always rosy: For example, after I connected to open networks at certain hotspots, my calls still did not go through. The XJ100 indicated that the connections were successful, but I had to go through the scanning process a few times before dialing again. It's possible that I wasn't close enough to the access point, or the device encountered some weird glitch right at that moment; the Net2Phone tech support rep I contacted wasn't able to pinpoint what happened. And you have to be careful while using the handset: If you walk around while you're talking and venture too far from the access point, the call can end unceremoniously.
To receive calls, you must be connected to a hotspot and remain within range. Otherwise, your incoming call goes into voice mail. To get around this during my testing period, I went into my online account and set up call forwarding to my cell phone, which worked well.
According to Net2Phone, the phone will run for about 3 hours of talk time before it needs to be recharged, which isn't very long for a talk-o-matic like me. Standby time is about 21 hours.
Prices and Plans
After you pay about $175 for the XJ100 handset, you need to sign up with one of Net2Phone's plans. The company has a number of plans up for grabs, depending on your calling patterns.
You have a few options for the U.S. and Canada: You can pay a base fee of $9 per month, then pay as you go for every call you make. It's 5 cents a minute for calls to other numbers in the U.S. and Canada; 5 cents a minute and up for calls to numbers overseas. You could try the $30 monthly plan for unlimited calling to numbers in the United States and Canada--or the $15 plan for 500 minutes. If you opt for a UK- or U.S.-based toll-free number (instead of a regular phone number with a designated area code) you're charged 5 cents per minute for incoming calls.
People who need to call numbers abroad have a dozen choices. For example: $25 per month for 500 minutes of calls to Asia (which includes Australia), Europe, the U.S. and Canada; $35 for unlimited calls to France, the United Kingdom, the U.S., and Canada; $85 for 500 minutes to India. If you go over your allotted minutes, you pay for overage at a per-minute rate, depending on the individual international rate. For example, with the $25 international plan, if you go over your 500 minutes, you'd pay overage of 2 cents a minute for calls to the UK, or 3 cents a minute for calls to Australia.
Note that in almost all cases, Net2Phone's plans apply exclusively to landline phones: Calls to cell phone numbers overseas are charged additional per-minute rates. In the $25 international plan, for instance, you'd pay 22 cents per minute for calls to UK-based cell phone numbers.
Net2Phone's rates are a little more expensive than those of its competitors. For example, Vonage's comparable plan for unlimited calling to U.S. and Canadian numbers costs $5 less per month. If you go with similar plans offered by BroadVoice or Primus Telecommunications' Lingo, you pay $10 less per month--and both companies extend the coverage to landline numbers in many European countries as part of the monthly fee.
If you're looking for a way to bring VoIP with you, wherever you go, and you'd rather not lug a VoIP telephony adapter and its accompanying cables, the portable XJ100 is worth considering. (Of course, you must bring your power cord and recharging station on trips.) If you are traveling, it's a good idea to find out ahead of time if the handset will work with the hotspot in or near your hotel in San Francisco or Singapore, say. If you'd like to use the portable handset at home as well--and you've got a wireless network with WEP in place, or no security protocols--you're covered. But if your network uses WPA, you're seriously out of luck.
If you're looking for an Internet phone to use at home exclusively, I'd opt for a non-Wi-Fi package from another carrier. Most VoIP companies offer one or more residential plans. After you sign up, you receive a telephony adapter that you plug in to your broadband modem or router; this lets you use any conventional telephone handset. Depending on your VoIP provider, the adapter may be free. And because most other VoIP monthly packages are less expensive than the XJ100 and Net2Phone service plan, this route is the cheaper way to go. A good place to start shopping is Vonage, which won PC World's 2005 World Class Award in the Web category.
For more help choosing a VoIP service, read my May column, "Shopping for the Best VoIP Service."
If you've used a Wi-Fi phone at a hotspot or two, Aoife McEvoy would like to hear about your experiences. Drop her a line.
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