In order to use either of these phones, you need to have an account with that provider, just like you need a service plan from a cell phone provider to use a particular phone. Either you or your service provider will configure the phone to work within the network.Other phones work with a protocol rather than a particular network or provider. For example, ZyXEL and Linksys both make WiFi phones that use Session Initiation Protocol (SIP).rom their user interface to how they work, WiFi phones are a lot like cell phones. Like a basic cell phone, a WiFi phone has a printed circuit board (PCB) that connects: 1  A processor. 2  A speaker and a microphone.