Aruba Networks and snom announce that the wireless snom 820 and 870 VoIP Desktop Phones have been certified interoperable with multi-use Aruba 802.11n wireless LANs. Multi-use networks share wireless infrastructure among different voice, data, and video applications, and are increasingly popular because they eliminate redundancy, enhance user mobility, and significantly lower deployment and operating costs. Cost savings come in part from scaling down -- or rightsizing -- expensive wired Ethernet infrastructure in favor of low-cost, more energy-efficient Wi-Fi networks. Desk phones have traditionally been tethered to wired Ethernet connections, but the new wireless snom phones allow these connections to be rightsized, too.

Network rightsizing is a three step process in which the utilization of existing wired Ethernet infrastructure is assessed, unused or underutilized ports and switches are consolidated to lower recurring costs and energy usage, and mobile users and devices are migrated to 802.11n Wi-Fi networks. The cost savings and carbon footprint reduction obtained from network rightsizing have been demonstrated in projects large and small. Migrating desk phones from wired to wireless connections promises to boost rightsizing savings even further, while delivering the freedom to locate and move phones at will.

Industry analysts report an advancing wave of SIP-capable equipment, and the technology is the clear choice for new phone deployments. Major UC/PBX vendors now offer SIP connectivity on the station side, avoiding the need to implement multiple proprietary signaling protocols.

The snom 820 VoIP phone has been compliance-tested by Avaya for compatibility with Avaya IP Office 5.0, and features a large high-resolution TFT color display, integrated XML browser, speakerphone with interference noise suppression, secure VPN, 5-way conferencing, multiple ringtones, and up to twelve different SIP identities. The 870 VoIP phone includes a larger touch-screen display, larger address book, and additional security features.

Aruba uses wireless snom phones in its Sunnyvale HQ facility and new Rockefeller Center offices in New York City. The latter is a completely wireless VoIP deployment anchored by an Avaya IP-PBX in Sunnyvale.