Vertical Handoff Technology

The structure of communication networks has markedly evolved to comprise a complex interaction between wired and wireless networking systems. Wired networks are often implemented when the mobility of the communicating user is not a primary concern. On the other hand, the development of the model of traveling professionals has emphasized the popularity of the wireless models of networks that are rather convenient to this type of roaming users.
Researching various innovative wireless technology models is steadily aimed at catering the demands of the growing sector of roaming users. Restriction of the mobility of roaming users within confined zones is no more attracting users; accordingly, connecting users as they roam across different wireless service providers has increasingly gained popularity.
The most pivotal factor that guarantees uninterrupted call connectivity is that a user's call session shouldn't be influenced as he/she traverses various wireless networks. The construction of wireless networks today should be based on the concept that today's designs have to be formulated to blend with emerging technologies and networks to cope with an increasing user's demands. The technology that is utilized to hand over a user from a wireless network to another smoothly without markedly disrupting the service is known as vertical handoff. Handover is a term that is occasionally used instead of handoff.
Technically speaking, despite vertical handoff technology, roaming from a wireless network to another will usually be accompanied by minor disruptions to the services conveyed to the roaming user. These disruptions are due to many administrative, technical and other factors that are unique for each one of the various access technologies utilized in deploying wireless networks. Nevertheless, handoff technology is aimed at delivering a service with minor disruptions that is often referred to as a "seamless service".