The Wi-Fi Alliance has announced the launch of a new certification program for voice-capable Wi-Fi devices. The Wi-Fi Certified Voice-Personal program will test the performance of voice-capable WI-Fi devices used in homes and small offices to determine that the products provide good voice quality over Wi-Fi links.Edgar Figueroa, executive director of the Wi-Fi Alliance said, “Wi-Fi enabled devices are increasingly used for data and also multimedia applications. Our certification programs deliver interoperability and quality of service between Wi-Fi certified devices. Now, the Voice-Personal program goes to the next level, helping to ensure good voice quality for calls made over a Wi-Fi network.”Wi-Fi Alliance to Certify Voice-Capable Wi-Fi Devices to Ensure QualityVoice over Wi Fi is typically used in mixed voice and data environments where multiple data streams compete for the available network resources. Products that successfully achieve Voice-Personal certification prioritize voice communication over data, audio, or video traffic, and also have met strict performance levels for key metrics that ensure a quality experience in voice applications: packet loss, latency and jitter.Experts predict shipments of Wi-Fi/cellular converged phones will reach between 250 and 350 million within three years. In a converged Wi-Fi/cellular phone, Wi-Fi connectivity can offer significant throughput to support bandwidth-intensive applications. By allowing subscribers to utilize Wi-Fi for voice as well as data on converged phones, carriers can manage licensed spectrum resources better, as subscribers make and receive calls using a combination of licensed and unlicensed Wi-Fi spectrum. Additionally, voice over the Wi-Fi network can mean improved indoor coverageWi-Fi Certified Voice-Personal Testing Program”We are seeing increasing expectations from wireless subscribers that handsets include Wi-Fi technology to handle both voice and data, and carriers are responding in kind with an interesting array of offerings combining Wi-Fi and cellular service,” said Victoria Fodale, manager, Market Data/Intelligence for In-Stat. “Delivering a high-quality user experience with voice over Wi-Fi will be critical to the success of converged service offerings, so the Wi-Fi Certified Voice-Personal testing program is an important step for the industry.”

More: continued here