Microsoft Introduces Vi-Fi (Vehicle Wi-Fi) for Seamless Internet Connectivity and VOIP Calls on the Road

In collaboration with University of Massachusetts and University of Washington, Microsoft has developed a new Wi-Fi wireless technology that is suitable to be used in vehicles internet and VOIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) calls. Named as Vi-Fi (Vehicle Wi-Fi), it is an improved version of existing Wi-Fi technology that is claimed to be able to provide stable signal for seamless connectivity on the move.

In existing Wi-Fi networks, the coverage for each base station is limited and as you travel across different zone (or coverage area), there will be “hard handoffs” happened from time to time that cause signal fluctuation depending on the environment condition as well as how fast the vehicle moves. With the new Vi-Fi wireless technology, Microsoft claimed that the network client in the vehicle is now capable to hop to multiple base stations simultaneously for improved network stability. It is based on complicated algorithm that can calculate the received signal strength to identify if it is main base station or auxiliary station so that the hoping issue can be resolved with few ‘back-up’ auxiliary base stations at the same time.

Microsoft has deployed and tested this new wireless technology and so far seems to be satisfied with it. Hopefully this will be a good alternative solution replacing existing cellular broadband network and change the way on how people surfs net while traveling on the road.