The F-1000, Vonage's first WiFi handset
By Peter Rojas 
posted Jan 4th 2005 12:00AM
posted Jan 4th 2005 12:00AM
It feels like a million years ago that they gave us a sneak peek at the prototype for this, but they finally formally announced their new WiFi phone today. The F-1000, which'll let you make VoIP calls from any WiFi hotspot using your Vonage account, is made by UTStarcom and should be available sometime around spring or summer of this year. (We'll have a pic for this soon).
UPDATE: Found one! [Thanks, Jacob]
"they gave us a sneak peek at the prototype"...link?
Authentication to the hotspot is an issue. Vonage was doing trials with Boingo--not sure if that helps with authentication on the phone?
Wait. Previous vonage link said there'll be a softphone version for the Treo 650. Any word on that?
dukes
i can see this basically being useful for your home wifi set-up or maybe your office. that is... only places you already know the password too. i can't see it being useful in most the public hotspots that you pay for... i mean they all *let you connect* to the network just fine and without a password. just when you first try to use a browser you need to load some lame page and enter a code... or credit card info. can't see this phone being very useful in situations like that.
This is great, but doesn't Vonage let you forward your calls for free to another number, like your cell phone?
Only benefit I see is saving wireless minutes, or giving you a signal in large office building's basement.
Is USB included?
It's not the now that's exciting. When WIMAX rolls out nationally, cell service will be useless. You can just use wifi voip.
Where are the Wi-Fi/GSM combo phones?? Apple come to the rescue stat....
Is it just me, or is this the ugliest phone in history?
Design awards are not likely. How about some pricing, and are we looking at softphone style monthly?
How much is it going to cost? Five dollars? $50? $500? $5000?
Broadvoice has been shipping a WiFI phone for $150 plus $20 a month for unlimited calling for many months now.......
Word was that the price will be around $50. Some additional pictures are posted here: http://www.sip.org/von/2004/boston/ .
Is it possible to get unlimited long distance service using a dish or direct tv?
Looks like a GTEK wifi phone which is made in malaysia by http://www.gtek.com.tw this phone also has two GMS sim sockets and is triband GSM
Looks like a GTEK wifi phone which is made in malaysia by http://www.gtek.com.tw this phone also has two GMS sim sockets and is triband GSM
WiFi VoIP phones are a useful alternative to cellular for millions of people in developing nations who cannot afford US$50 per month for a mobile phone contract. The low-cost WiFon 1000 (introduced at CeBIT 2005; www.wifon.com/homeproducts.php) allows the user to connect to public WLAN networks amd make VoIP calls anywhere in the world at the lowest possible rates. The phone is based on open standards and will work with any VoIP service provider.
I have a perfect application for the WiFi phone at my summer cabin that has a public WiFi hotspot available for internet. I plan to take my ATA with me and connect through a laptop. The F-1000 would be handier, but that is only if Vonage doesn't decide to get agressive with somekind of rate plan. I tried the softphone, but we need the user friendliness of a telephone instrument. The F-1000 should overcome that problem.
one on ebay: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=5197964158