Femtocells could pose a threat to Wi-Fi Cellphones.(MARKET INTELLIGENCE)

Wi-Fi Wireless LAN, January, 2007

A report from Strategy Analytics suggests that low-cost femtocells could be a feasible substitute for voice over Wi-Fi (VoFi) in the future. PicoChip has come up with cheap baseband processors for low-cost femtocell base stations to be installed in homes.

The femtocells could drastically reduce requirements for cellphones including Wi-Fi, which is all set to make its presence felt in the next several years by supporting the fixed-mobile convergence (FMC). But Chris Taylor, director of the RF & Wireless Component service, said that femtocells' bill of materials would need to be similar to that of Wi-Fi mobile phones in order to really establish their ground.