Why pay for has-been shock jocks and aging rocker DJs on satellite radio when you can access literally thousands of stations over IP just as easily? The Phoenix IP Radio puts a decades-old hardware face on new age Internet radio. The 802.11b/g device streams online stations, playlists, and even RSS feeds from a Wi-Fi hotspot or your home router. The Phoenix IP Radio weighs 2 pounds and includes rechargeable batteries for total portability. The eight preset keys can tune into most of the major audio formats at very high sample rates.

And, of course, what would a radio be without a clock and alarm so you can rock the neighbors at 6 a.m.

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Voice on Internet Protocol (VOIP) Phones are referred to as just Broadband Phones. The main function of a Broadband phone using VOIP is to convert voice data (analog) into digital data for transmission over the Internet. They are connected to the high speed internet through computers to enable voice communication. By this innovation VOIP Broadband Phones have turned internet into a carrier for free phone calls, by going around the normal phone companies.

VOIP Broadband phones are a product of revolutionary technology which can change the entire way people speak to each other around the world. There are many VOIP service providers who are growing by the day now, and major phone companies are busy setting up shop in various markets around the world with different calling plans with free VOIP Broadband phones bundled in. FCC and other regulatory bodies all over the world are fervently busy investigating and predicting the ramifications and future risks in usage of VOIP Broadband phones and their prevention.

We will look into the basic technology of VOIP Broadband phones working and it’s potential in replacing the traditional phone systems.

The most intriguing feature of VOIP Broadband phones is that they look just like their predecessors with cradle, buttons and handsets. A normal telephone is connected to wall socket using a RJ-11 connector, whereas VOIP Broadband phones are connected to your computer or router using a RJ-45 connector. All VOIP Broadband phones come with preloaded software to handle any IP calls. Technology is already moving towards Wi-Fi VIOP Broadband phones which can used to make calls from any Wi-Fi hotspot. Are you thinking of replacing your cellular phone?

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It’s easy to get sucked into the habit of heading for the nearest McDonald’s or Starbucks when you need to find a Wi-Fi hotspot but at $5 to $10 per connection, this quickly becomes expensive. Why pay latte prices for Wi-Fi when you can get it for nothing?

Free public hotspots are proliferating in city parks, libraries, independent coffee shops, universities, and airports (including those in Las Vegas, Orlando, and Sacramento). The problem is finding free hotspots when you’re offline. The solution: Download hotspot directories before you travel.

Free hotspot locators are available from AnchorFree and JiWire. AnchorFree has a version for iPods, and both companies let you access their online directories from cell phones using a WAP browser.

Alternatively, you can use Wi-Fi Finder.

Unfortunately, wi-fi hotspots are not always secure. Whether you’re using a public Wi-Fi connection at a coffee shop, a hotel, or some other public place, each time you log on, you’re sending your ID and password over open airwaves. Nefarious Wi-Fi opportunists can set up pirate SSID names similar to what you expect to receive from the Wi-Fi router, such as ‘wayport’ or ‘t-mobile’, and then capture your private data.

Outfox the would-be thieves by encrypting your data and e-mail, and by using a virtual private network (VPN). Many employers provide VPNs to their mobile workers, so check with your IT manager first. Casual hotspot users can opt for a paid VPN service such as Boingo’s Personal VPN or WiTopia personalVPN, both are simple to install and use. Microsoft is beta-testing its new Windows Live WiFi Suite, which will include VPN service.

JiWire, noted for its free Hotspot Finder service, offers solid Wi-Fi security and e-mail encryption with its Hotspot Helper software. The free download automatically encrypts your inbound and outbound Internet traffic, and adds a firewall to prevent unauthorized access to your PC. The program protects e-mail no matter which client you’re using. Hotspot Helper incorporates JiWire’s on-demand Hotspot Finder and is free for the first 10 days of use; it costs $25 annually for unlimited use.

Who needs GPS when you have Wi-Fi?

The Loki service has mapped out the Wi-Fi networks in most major U.S. cities, letting you use your Wi-Fi equipped PDA, smart phone, or notebook to pinpoint your location. Loki installs as a toolbar in Internet Explorer or Firefox, which allows you to look up nearby movies, stores, restaurants, weather, traffic, and other information. My two favorite Loki services are driving directions and the location of Wi-Fi hotspots. Other channels provide Amtrak train schedules, a radio-station finder, apartment rentals, and real-estate values.

A nice touch: At the press of a button, you can send an e-mail or SMS with your location to a friend, who then clicks a link to look at a map and get directions to join you. Another way-cool feature lets you create “geotags” to attach to blog entries, Flickr uploads, and other Web-based content, showing the location at which it was created. Best of all, Loki is free!

Any device with an ethernet port can be untethered via a simple Wi-Fi-to ethernet bridge, which lets you move it around the house or place shared peripherals in a central location. The bridges cost about $50 to $100 and are available from Belkin, D-Link, Netgear, and other vendors. They’re used primarily as wireless game adapters for GameCubes, Play Stations, and Xboxes, but they work with other ethernet-equipped products, such as printers and external hard drives.

If your Wi-Fi network is configured to use DHCP, there’s a good chance that your wireless bridge will work right out of the box. Otherwise, you’ll have to connect the bridge to your PC, and then as sign it an IP address manually by opening the machine’s network settings. Some older game consoles need a separate network adapter with an ethernet port. Also, the Xbox 360 has a USB port, for which Microsoft sells a Wi-Fi adapter.

Take your digital media collection on the go with the Archos 604 Wi-Fi. The fully loaded portable video player features a 4.3inch touch-screen display, a 30GB hard drive, a PDF viewer, and voice recording. The device natively handles formats such as AVI, MPEG-4 ASF, WMV9, and protected WMV video, as well as protected WMA tracks from music-subscription services.

And if that’s not enough, a built-in 802.11b/g Wi-Fi radio lets you wirelessly download media content from the road.