Voice Over Wi-Fi’s Dirty Little Secret: - Security and Reliability Require Proprietary Additions

Voice Over Wi-Fi’s Dirty Little Secret:

Security and Reliability Require Proprietary Additions

This Research Brief is part of the Wi-Fi Research Service

With the adoption of a tough security standard for wireless LANs (IEEE 802.11i) and the recent adoption of a standard for quality of service (QoS), it is easy to assume that Voice over Wi-Fi is now ready for prime time. It’s not. There are still gaps in standards-based security and reliability specifications that are large enough to drive a truck through. The dirty little secret is that currently the only way for customers to build a secure and reliable VoWi-Fi network is to use proprietary extensions and, in some cases, add-on products from third party vendors. For early adopters, the trade-off of being locked into a proprietary solution with a single vendor is worthwhile. VoWi-Fi equipment manufacturers need to address several issues to help this market take off:

1.1 Scope of this Report
1.1.1 Voice over Wi-Fi Technology Overview
Section 2 Voice over Wi-Fi Security Issues
2.1 The Race Between Manufacturers and “Black Hat” Hackers
2.2 Denial of Service
2.3 Eavesdropping
2.3.1 IEEE 802.11w
2.4 Viruses and Worms
2.5 The IEEE 802.11x Specification for Security
2.6 The IEEE 802.11i Specification for Security
2.7 Bluetooth and Wi-Fi Means Double Trouble
Section 3 Voice over W-FI Reliability Issues
3.1 Quality of Service (QoS)
3.1.1 The IEEE 802.11e Standard and WMM
3.1.2 Proprietary QoS Protocols
3.1.3 The Limitations of WMM
3.1.4. Higher Bandwidth Will Help
3.2 The Impact of Roaming on VoWi-Fi Reliability
3.2.1 Fast Handoffs and IEEE 802.11r
3.3 Battery Life and VoWi-Fi Reliability
Section 4 A Vendor To-Do List for Greater Security and Reliability
4.1 Meet NIST Guidelines for Security
4.2 Manage All Wireless in a VoWi-Fi Environment
4.3 Identify and Control Security-Challenged Devices
4.4 Emulate Cisco and Offer “Standards Plus”
4.5 Hang Up on Busy Signals
4.6 Simple Is Necessary
4.7 School Resellers to Avoid QoS Glitches

CHARTS

The Growth of Bluetooth Equipment in the Workplace: World Market, Moderate Forecast: 2006 to 2011
Dual-Mode Cellular/VoWi-Fi Handset Shipments by 802.11 Protocol: World Market, Moderate Forecast: 2006 to 2011

Report Code: RB-WIFI-101

Number of Pages:	0

Deliverable Formats:
Price:	Login

Release Date:	3Q 2006

Table of Contents:	HTML


Research Report

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The Voice Over Wi-Fi Ecosystem

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