So what happens if you move outside the WiFi coverage during a call? Handover between 3G networks and GSM should be possible, but is it possible to switch from WiFi to normal GSM without disconnecting the call? I believe this requires support from the network as well, meaning that the operators will have their say, too. Correct me if I'm wrong here.
Continuing the VoIP traffic over GPRS data could be possible without new features to the network or disconnecting, but that does not sound very tempting, since the rates for standard GPRS are counted in Euros/MB where I live...
(it doesn't matter if you heat your apartment with oil power, electric radiators, light bulbs or a computer - the total amount of energy required for heating will still be the same).
True for your house, yes. But not necessarily for the total amount of energy. If you heat your house with oil, almost all chemical energy in the oil is used to heat the house. But if you use electricity (be it through the computer or whatever), it takes much more energy to produce the same amount of (electric) energy, if it's produced in a fossile fuel power plant. A coal plant that only produces electricity has, what, 50% efficiency maximum(?). The rest of the energy is wasted in the process. If the electricity is produced in, say, a hydro plant, that's another story
It's the same thing where I work. Currently, all engineers are allowed to install whatever programs they want without consulting with anyone, but the management is considering a change to this. Personally, I think it should be as it is; we should be able to assume that professional software engineers know how the licensing works. However, the greatest concern is not that people might listen to pirated mp3s, but that someone by mistake would use GPL'd stuff in the release code. As the company makes proprietary software, this could be Very Bad, so I understand their concern. But I still think companies should trust the common sense of their developers.
The odd thing is that they recommend still keeping a normal phone line.
One reason I can think of is power outages. Normal phones and cell phones usually work during power outages, while you need an UPS to be able to use VoIP when the power is out. I would never rely on VoIP alone when it comes to emergency calls.
For emergencies, GPS is good to have if you're out in the wilderness where there are not so many base stations nearby. I can't see a solution that would only use GPS though, since it's practically useless in cities with tall buildings. This is based on my own experience with a Benefon Esc (GSM+GPS phone).
You are right about the antennas, there are two of them, one for GSM and one for GPS. I don't think there will be phones with GPS enabled all the time anytime soon, not if you want the phone to stay on for weeks without charging the battery anyway. Don't know what the power consumption of GPS receivers is today, though, my Esc is rather old.
I absolutely agree that he should be tried in some internationally recognized court. If he gets tried in a court that even appears to be picked out by the coalition, chances are he'll just become a martyr and the guerillas loyal to him will continue their fights.
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So what happens if you move outside the WiFi coverage during a call? Handover between 3G networks and GSM should be possible, but is it possible to switch from WiFi to normal GSM without disconnecting the call? I believe this requires support from the network as well, meaning that the operators will have their say, too. Correct me if I'm wrong here.
Continuing the VoIP traffic over GPRS data could be possible without new features to the network or disconnecting, but that does not sound very tempting, since the rates for standard GPRS are counted in Euros/MB where I live...
(it doesn't matter if you heat your apartment with oil power, electric radiators, light bulbs or a computer - the total amount of energy required for heating will still be the same).
True for your house, yes. But not necessarily for the total amount of energy. If you heat your house with oil, almost all chemical energy in the oil is used to heat the house. But if you use electricity (be it through the computer or whatever), it takes much more energy to produce the same amount of (electric) energy, if it's produced in a fossile fuel power plant. A coal plant that only produces electricity has, what, 50% efficiency maximum(?). The rest of the energy is wasted in the process. If the electricity is produced in, say, a hydro plant, that's another story
It's the same thing where I work. Currently, all engineers are allowed to install whatever programs they want without consulting with anyone, but the management is considering a change to this. Personally, I think it should be as it is; we should be able to assume that professional software engineers know how the licensing works. However, the greatest concern is not that people might listen to pirated mp3s, but that someone by mistake would use GPL'd stuff in the release code. As the company makes proprietary software, this could be Very Bad, so I understand their concern. But I still think companies should trust the common sense of their developers.
The odd thing is that they recommend still keeping a normal phone line.
One reason I can think of is power outages. Normal phones and cell phones usually work during power outages, while you need an UPS to be able to use VoIP when the power is out. I would never rely on VoIP alone when it comes to emergency calls.
For emergencies, GPS is good to have if you're out in the wilderness where there are not so many base stations nearby. I can't see a solution that would only use GPS though, since it's practically useless in cities with tall buildings. This is based on my own experience with a Benefon Esc (GSM+GPS phone).
You are right about the antennas, there are two of them, one for GSM and one for GPS. I don't think there will be phones with GPS enabled all the time anytime soon, not if you want the phone to stay on for weeks without charging the battery anyway. Don't know what the power consumption of GPS receivers is today, though, my Esc is rather old.
I absolutely agree that he should be tried in some internationally recognized court. If he gets tried in a court that even appears to be picked out by the coalition, chances are he'll just become a martyr and the guerillas loyal to him will continue their fights.