Voice over IP takes to the skies

WebTel Wireless officials said at the Wireless '99 show last week that the company will launch a voice-over-IP service that also allows subscribers to use their PCS phones.

Using a series of Ascend Communications' gateways in Arizona, WebTel will begin using IP to transport calls from wireless users to other locations around the state. Additionally, the company will unveil a flat-rate voice-over-IP plan that lets users make unlimited calls around the state for $24.95 a month. WebTel has been offering an IP-based call relay service in North Carolina for several months.

"We had the experience in North Carolina, and the testimonials were fantastic," said Alan Ramer, vice president of marketing for WebTel. "People who normally might not call because of cost or would wait until the time of day when rates lowered really liked the service."

The company's initial deployment of wireless voice over IP consists of five operational points of presence (POPs) in Flagstaff, Phoenix, Prescott, Sedona and Tucson, Ariz. Each POP contains Ascend's MultiVoice VoIP hardware and software running on the MAX 6000 platform.

"We're using IP as the transmission layer," said Raj Alur, director of product marketing for Ascend's carrier signaling and management group.

WebTel plans to roll out the service in the Grand Canyon area, where it holds a PCS license, with a focus on international travelers. The company's current backbone, while managed by WebTel, consists primarily of leased routes from Frontier Communications. WebTel also is touting its managed IP network on the wholesale market, allowing carriers to terminate calls in Arizona. The addition of wireless to the network simply expands the number of services it could offer, said Ramer.

Ironically, in its initial test with wireless access and IP transport over the backbone, the company has experienced consistent high quality, he added. "All we can control is the IP network, but it seems like the quality is actually better than the landline network."

GoAmerica Communications Corp. took its first steps into the Internet/wireless gap by announcing at Wireless '99 last week that it will launch a service that brings Web information to mobile professionals through a single, hand-held device for less than $10 a month.

Using the Inter@ctive Pager 950 from Research In Motion, GoAmerica subscribers can access personalized content such as stock, news, travel, sports and weather updates through the Go.Web service. Though initially available only on RIM's pagers, GoAmerica will port the service to other devices as they become market-ready, said Aaron Dobrinsky, president and CEO of GoAmerica.

What makes the service different from the mass of similar services is the ability to customize the type of information that is delivered. "Generally you want to access the type of information you can access while you're at your desk," said Dobrinsky.

However, the company is cognizant of the fact most mobile users aren't looking to Web browse. Instead, they will more typically be looking for specific information or notification of changing events such as stock price movements or flight delays.

"It's a very personal thing," Dobrinsky said.

Beta testing of the Go.Web service will conclude at the end of March.