Paragon Wireless announced it has introduced the first voice-optimized, commercial SIP-based, dual-mode (Wi-Fi/cellular) phone in China. Paragon has created a technology that enables system-wide optimization of power management for dual-mode phones. In fact, the company's power management technology provides 72-hour stand-by time and 4-hour talk time, even when both radio interfaces are active.

Paragon focuses on a growing area in telephony that merges wireless networks with Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), in which phone calls are routed over the Internet. Paragon has performed Interoperability Tests (IOT) with over 30 operators and infrastructure vendors. The GSM/WiFi dual-mode phone allows the user to make phone calls through their regular GSM network or when in WiFI 'hot spots" the user can make regular VoIP through the WIFi interface on the same phone.

The technology is called VoWLAN, for Voice over Wireless Local Area Networks. It has been identified by analysts as one of the next big steps in telephony, since it combines the best of cell phone technology with the price and bandwidth advantages that come with routing calls over the Internet. The benefits of VoWLAN technology include reduced costs, use of broadband networks, media-rich features such as e-mail, Web surfing, MP3 playback and high-quality photo and video streaming.

The Paragon Wireless dual-mode smart phone offers all the functionality of a world-class cellular phone with additional advantages including:

• Simultaneously active tri-band GSM/GPRS and WLAN radio interfaces. 
• Inter-access point roaming - less than 50 milliseconds. 
• A unified user interface: same phonebook, email, applications, etc.