Wireless telephone services can support a variety of telecommunications applications, and utilize a range of technologies. Digital wireless telephones use a broadband Internet connection to transmit conversations as data packets. In addition to replacing the PSTN, digital telephony is also competing with mobile phone networks by offering free or lower cost connections via WiFi hotspots. A WiFi enabled wireless telephone device is able to connect to a local area network when near one of the network's access points. The connection is made by radio signals; there is no need to plug the device into the network. VoIP is also used on private wireless telephone services which may or may not have a connection to the outside telephone network.
