Handsets search for other phone handsets when a cellular tower is unavailable.
In an exciting new twist for P2P possibilities, Swedish company TerraNet has created mobile phone handsets that can work without the need for any cell phone towers at all.
TerraNet technology works by using modified handsets adapted to work as peers or nodes for other phones on a mesh network. This means that connected users extend the reach of the entire system as a whole while also enjoying FREE calls between handsets since it’s the handsets and not the network’s towers that are doing all the work.
When a TerraNet phone is switched on, it begins to look for other phones within its 1km effective range. Handsets in between two others can forward calls, allowing the distance to therefore double.
The system can also be used to make calls to other TerraNet mesh networks via a net-connected PC fitted with an inexpensive USB dongle.
TerraNet phones currently only work with a special handset, and it seems is being geared primarily to regions like Africa, South America, India, China, where cell phone coverage is spotty at best.
TerraNet founder Anders Carlius says that large mobile phone companies don’t like the idea of P2P phone calls, no doubt due to all the free calls being made and the fact that they may not even need them altogether once they buy a TerraNet capable handset.
"One of the biggest things against us is that the big operators and technology providers are really pushing against us, saying this technology doesn’t work and it doesn’t have a business model," he said.
"This is fine – just join us in Lund and see how the technology works, and ask our customers how our business model works."
With cell phone juggernaut Ericsson having already invested around £3m in TerraNet, it may just reach stores after all. .
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Hmmmm. Maybe this might eventually work with wireless Internet too? Let us hope that some big company doesn’t buy out the patent and hide the technology away just like the oil companies did with the original electric car.
yes it does sound cool but I don’t think this technology can be hidden for long. I can see maybe cricket using this I know T-mobile in their effort to compete with the Verizon/AT&T/Sprint big boys are doing the free calls when within range of a wifi hot spot and so they might follow suit to give themselves better range since it’s not a secret that Cricket does have range problems. The real big kicker would be if Verizon decided to jump on this type of thing to oust AT&T and Sprint for example the others wouldn’t be able to compete. There’s too much of an edge over competitors to be had with this technology to just buy it just to hide it.