Palm Os /Palm et voix sur IP

Palm et Vo Ip - juin 2003 - (Source business 2)

VOICE OVER PALM. The shift Silver cites already reflects to a significant degree major advances in Web technology. Just 12 months ago, Wi-Fi, which allows for fast, wireless Internet access, didn't even exist in the public consciousness. Today, an estimated 4 million people worldwide use the technology to connect to the Web -- and each other -- from just about anywhere, a number that's expected to grow to 63.3 million by 2007, according to market consultancy Gartner.

In late June or early July, handheld maker Palm (PALM ) will release software that lets users of its new Tungsten C personal digital assistant make phone calls via Wi-Fi networks to other Wi-Fi-enabled devices -- such as the latest generation of phones from the likes of networking giant Cisco (CSCO ). A month or so after that, Palm will release special software that allows those same people to make calls to any mobile or regular phone. They'll simply open their buddy list, click on the icon of the person they wish to call via a Wi-Fi connection, and the PDA's software will take care of the rest, explains Paul Osborne, a senior product manager at Palm.

That's a smart move, because voice-over-Wi Fi and VoIP are taking off because both are cheaper than long-distance calling. The market for VoIP services, such as videoconferencing, should grow from $46 million in 2001 to as much as $36.5 billion by 2008, predicts think tank Allied Business Intelligence in Oyster Bay, N.Y.