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Vonage and UTStarcom Launch Portable WiFi PhoneTMCnet VoIP Minute Watch Columnist
Vonage and broadband phone company UTStarcom Inc. launched the F1000, a portable WiFi handset manufactured by UTStarcom and configured with Vonage's VoIP phone service today, right in time for the holidays. The device, which will offer mobility across 802.11b networks and is currently available online, retails for $129.99 with a $50 instant rebate for a total of $79.99.
"Recognizing the need for consumers and small businesses to have numerous options when communicating with family, friends and business associates, Vonage is excited to offer its subscribers the UTStarcom F1000 WiFi handset, which will enable them to make unlimited local and long distance calls from any open access WiFi hot spot," said Louis Holder, executive vice president of product development for Vonage Holdings Corp. "With the rapid increase of open access points around the world, this is a great opportunity for anyone who wants to take advantage of the affordability of VoIP service and also enjoy the convenience of mobility. The UTStarcom WiFi handset bundled with Vonage's service represents the leading-edge of VoIP service worldwide." The F1000 WiFi handset is configured with Vonage's standard call features including three-way calling, call waiting, repeat dial on busy, call forwarding to user assigned number, call hold/resume, voicemail, call rejecting/redial/mute and Caller ID based on phone book entries. It also includes phone book favorites with distinctive ring options including silent, vibrate and selectable ring tones. Users will be able to also configure and save WiFi profiles. The device carries a battery with up to 5 hours of talk time, 50-100 hour standby and the ability to recharge in 2-3 hours.
"We collaborated very closely with our partners at Vonage to customize our F1000 WiFi handset to look and feel Vonage subscribers are accustomed to," said Bill Huang, chief technology officer and senior vice president of engineering at UTStarcom. "We believe the affordable price point and extensive features of the UTStarcom F1000 offered through Vonage will be a disruptive force in the telecommunications service marketplace. Consumers with Wi-Fi access in their home can replace their traditional home phone with the F1000 and start reaping the benefits of wireless VoIP phone service right away."
Vonage made news back in October when it announced that Sixth Avenue Electronics was selling the company's VoIP-based telephony starter kits in all of its New Jersey retail locations and on its online store. Customers with high speed Internet connections will now be able to walk into a one of Sixth Avenue Electronics stores and purchase a Vonage starter kit to sign up for any of the VoIP provider's calling plans. Vonage will offer customers a choice of devices, including voice gateways bundled with routers from Motorola starting at sixty dollars. Fifty dollar rebates will also be offered after 60 days of service.
"The roll out of Vonage's broadband telephony products at 6th Avenue Electronics presents a great opportunity, which will allow us to further develop our retail sales base," said Phil Giordano, vice president of sales and business development for Vonage Marketing back then. "We are looking forward to a successful sales growth with one of New Jersey's top local electronics retailers."
Vonage Holdings Corp.
UTStarcom, Inc.
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Johanne Torres is contributing editor for TMCnet and Internet Telephony magazine. To see more articles by Johanne Torres, please visit Johanne Torres' columnist page.
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