Wouldn’t it be cool if the cordless phone in your home or office could pass VoIP packets over its wireless connection to the base station? Just imagine: true end-to-end VoIP connectivity from your cordless phone to other VoIP devices, resulting in crystal clear sound quality, not to mention far greater range and advanced functionality never before found in cordless phones working in the 2.4 Ghz, 5.8 Ghz or 700 Mhz spectrums.

Although there is currently a limited number of DECT (News - Alert) phones available on the market which can facilitate true mobile VoIP, the technology is beginning to see wider adoption as IP phone manufacturers are now introducing new models. Yes indeed, the DECT (Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications) standard, developed by the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI (News - Alert)), is revolutionizing the cordless phone industry and will no doubt continue to do so in the years to come. In addition to facilitating cordless VoIP calls with superior signal quality, DECT also facilitates seamless hand-off of calls between mobile operator and local networks, as well as true desk phone functionality via an organization’s IP PBX -- thus making it a very attractive technology for the enterprise and SMB markets. Basically, a DECT phone linked to a corporate phone system can deliver all the functionality of a regular office desk phone, such as three or four digit extension dialing, access to voicemail, “presence” and other features leading to enhanced collaboration and worker productivity. In fact, DECT has a wide range of uses, as it can also support broadband data and audio streaming; video telephony; HD audio streaming; even home monitoring, door phone, baby monitor, and mailbox alert systems.

Other advantages inherent to DECT technology include “plug and play” functionality of all components, as well automatic device detection and configuration.

This past November, IP phone maker snom technology AG introduced the snom m3, its first cordless DECT phone offering. Geared for mainly for the enterprise and SMB markets, but also suitable for home use, this slick-looking phone (designed by Sebastian Stroschein of Stroschein Product Design) has a really cool 128x128 pixel, 65536 color, backlit screen; a Li-Ion battery pack offering up to 10 hours of calls or 100 hours standby; and a range of up to 50 meters (160+ feet) indoors and 100 meters (300+ feet) outdoors. This expandable DECT phone system also offers multi-line functionality for up to eight handsets, allowing for up to three parallel calls at time. Other features include three-way conference calls, call transferring, music while on hold, call forwarding, and speed dialing with an address book allowing up to 100 entries. The snom m3 menu is easily configurable to meet each user’s needs and allows the option to configure remotely.

Other features of this DECT phone include 12 numerical keys, 5 navigation keys, 2 function keys; a speakerphone on mobile handset; polyphonic ringtones; and a separate charging cradle for handset. You can register up to eight handsets per base station – plus the system can handle up to eight SIP registrations with different servers/registrars. In addition the snom m3 offers three-way conference calling and remote setup with password protection.

But the really big advantage of the m3 is that office workers no longer need to be "tethered" to their deskphones -- nor do they need to place callers on hold when moving from one desk to another. Now, they can simply answer on the m3 and move about the office freely.

So, if you want to discover all of the advantages that DECT technology can bring, you owe it to yourself to check out the new snom m3. With this amazing IP phone you’ll get all the features and cost savings afforded through mobile VoIP, but in a handsome, easy-to-use mobile device that delivers premium “landline” audio quality.

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Patrick Barnard is Assignment Editor for TMCnet and Associate Editor for Customer Interaction Solutions magazine. To see more of his articles, please visit Patrick Barnard’s columnist page.

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