In the last year, interest in phones that combine cellular and VoIP using WLAN technology has grown at a fevered pitch, according to consumer surveys by In-Stat -- A large percentage, 84.6%, of respondents in a new survey were at least somewhat interested in the prospect of using a VoWLAN/Cellular phone, and exactly half of these respondents were very interested or extremely interested in the prospects of such a phone. The survey uncovered the following key points: Better in-building coverage and the prospect of being able to make unlimited local calls while at home had the biggest importance. PBX-type features and the need to only carry one phone at work, home, or elsewhere received very positive responses, but nowhere as high as free local calling at home or better in-building coverage. The survey gives some credence to the ability of cellular carriers to potentially further displace wire-line carriers.
What was once a simple, unidirectional flow of electricity from centralized power plants to passive consumers is evolving into a complex, intelligent network where millions of distributed resources actively participate in grid operations. This transformation, powered by smart grid technologies, represents one of the most significant infrastructure shifts of our time. It promises to reshape how we generate, distribute, and consume energy. At its core, the smart grid represents far more than mere digitization of existing infrastructure. This bi-directional capability is fundamental to understanding why smart grids are becoming the backbone of modern energy systems, facilitating everything from real-time demand response to the integration of renewable energy sources. Smart Grid Market Development By 2030, smart grid technologies are projected to cover nearly half of the global electrical grid, up dramatically from just 24 percent in 2025. This expansion is underpinned by explosive gr...