Cell Phone Calls Via Fixed-line Networks, Via Bluetooth

March 18, 2005

In the future, cell phone users will be able to use Bluetooth to telephone at home via fixed-line networks. At CeBIT, Siemens was demonstrating the solution on a cell phone to show how access to an ISDN fixed-line network is possible via the short-range digital radio standard.
This means cell phone users will also be able to use their mobile terminals at home for more attractively priced fixed-line rates, without having to pay special fees to their mobile communication providers. And it will still be possible to utilize all of the user’s settings and preferences, the appointment list and the device’s telephone book.

Users decide whether they would like to call at home with a cell phone or with the fixed-line telephone. And with the push of a button, users can switch their cell phones over to their fixed-line number, at which they can then accept and place telephone calls. To do this, the cell phone uses the Bluetooth Cordless Telephony Profile (CTP) to establish a connection with a Bluetooth access point. All that’s needed is to connect the receiving device to the fixed line. If the access point has an interface for VoIP and a DSL connection, then Internet telephony is also an option. But that’s not all: Surfing the Internet and using e-mail would also be possible. Siemens Communications is currently testing the software on a cell phone.