A soft switch 134 providing wireless PBX voice services to a local area
network (WLAN) is used to extend PBX functionality to the cellular
domain. A dual mode remote unit is capable of receiving signals both in
the cellular system as well as the WLAN. The cellular system is comprised
of a data-bearing path and a voice-bearing path. When the dual mode
remote unit is within the WLAN, it communicates both voice over IP (VoIP)
signaling as well as session initiation protocol (SIP) control signaling
over the WLAN. When the remote unit is outside the WLAN, it communicates
voice signaling over the voice-bearing path of the cellular network using
a standard cellular voice channel. In parallel, it uses the data-bearing
path of the cellular network to transmit SIP control signaling.