Nokia 6301 Cell Phone - Why Wi-Fi?

Despite the elegant and attractive exterior, it's on the inside that the phone gets really interesting. Alongside the array of standard applications, user-configurable settings, and the intuitive third edition Series 40 software, can be found the 6301's true reason for existing: Wi-Fi. But what, you may ask, is Wi-Fi doing in a cell phone? Actually, that's not an unreasonable question at all. Given that until now only a handful of phones have offered this feature, very few people will have encountered it, so it's worth offering a detailed description of the purpose of this addition to what is already a powerful communications device.

Essentially, by following phones such as Samsung's Katalyst and SGH-T409 and their own 6086 in adding Wi-Fi capability to the 6301, Nokia have reinforced their belief in a future in which cell phones will increasingly take the place of fixed-line and PC-based handsets. According to that line of thinking, Wi-Fi is a natural step in the right direction, since it offers you the ability to use your cell phone to make VoIP and data calls over any local wireless network. No more dedicated Skype phones; just connect your 6301 to your wireless network and start dialing.

And unlike many of the cutting-edge features that have been introduced to cell phones over the years, Nokia has gone out of its way to make sure it's easy to use. It is literally as simple as turning on the feature in the appropriate menu, scanning the available networks and choosing one. The technology that drives this capability is called UMA - Unlicensed Mobile Access - and it's something to watch. An increasing number of phones are sure to incorporate this glue that binds cell phones to IP networks in the near future, but if you want to be at the forefront of this new communication revolution, the 6301 would make a fine choice.

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