| Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP) service | | | | hybrids. A hybrid user traveling outside their |
| offers two types of telephone communication | | | | cellular service can switch to VOIP. |
| over the Internet: computer to computer and | | | | Early versions were fraught with problems such |
| telephone to telephone. The most popular VOIP | | | | as hybrid users having to manually switch from |
| services are telephone to telephone | | | | cell phone service to VOIP service. In addition, |
| communication. A telephone adapter is plugged | | | | there has been limited wireless service |
| into a DSL or cable modem and then into an | | | | areas—called hot spots. However, access to |
| analog telephone. | | | | hotspots is on the increase and some |
| Recent developments in VOIP service are the | | | | manufacturers have already released improved |
| wireless fidelity (WiFi) phones. WiFi phones send | | | | versions of dual mode hybrids that will |
| out signals like cell phones but on a different | | | | automatically switch from cellular mode to VOIP |
| frequency (Wilson); the signals are intercepted and | | | | mode when a hybrid user has traveled out of |
| routed to the Internet. | | | | cellular range without disrupting a call. |
| WiFi phones were first developed for limited | | | | Cellular companies are also looking to cash in by |
| network communication. For example, employees | | | | making their systems compatible with VOIP |
| within a large office building could communicate | | | | service and possibly offering both cellular and |
| with each other over their own network without | | | | VOIP service in one package. |
| being tied to their desk phones. More recently, | | | | WiFi phones for VOIP are a relatively new |
| WiFi phones have expanded beyond the | | | | development. As with all new advancements in |
| boundaries of a limited network to include the | | | | technology, the bugs will have to be worked out |
| largest network in the world: the Internet. | | | | but progress in WiFi technology is being made at a |
| Cellular phone manufacturers have jumped on the | | | | fast pace. Soon VOIP may not just take over |
| bandwagon to develop phones that will work both | | | | the market from phone company giants but from |
| as a WiFi and cellular phone—called dual mode | | | | cellular phone companies as well. |