VoIP phones walking

Nationwide wireless broadband will likely become a reality within a few years. A substantial chunk of radio frequency spectrum now occupied by digital TV stations will be freed up, and Sprint Nextel will have its WiMAX network built out. There will be dead spots--the Grand Canyon, for example--but for the most part broadband connectivity will resemble today's mobile networks.

Mobile VoIP handsets will become the rule instead of the exception. The devices won't even be considered mobile VoIP handsets. Everybody will carry around one device with an iPhone-like interface that allows for every type of communication imaginable while powering SETI@home in sleep mode. It will be powerful enough to dock into a monitor that's both a computer and a TV screen, with remote control and voice-activated interactivity. It will automatically be able to screen calls and answer with preselected responses or bring up a telepresence connection on-screen. It will have an interactive program guide feature that searches for video like a TiVo and directs downloads. It will control the thermostat, the burglar alarm system, the microwave, the coffee pot and the Roomba, it will calculate the odds of every active lottery in North America simultaneously, it will be solar powered, and perhaps most importantly, it will look very, very cool.

We're not there yet. Today, VoIP-compatible handsets are relatively new. We've put together 10 in this issue of FierceVoIP. Check them out, and let us know what features you'd like to see in a handheld comms device. Also, be sure to vote for your favorite VoIP handset. The Nokia E51 is quite nice, but it's a tough call between that and the Hello Kitty Skype. As always, your thoughts and feedback are encouraged at dmcadams@fiercemarkets.com.