T-Mobile launching nationwide UMA this summer
What happened? Did T-Mobile, like, forget to launch this? Yeah, it happened in Seattle, but we're imagining there are plenty of people across the whole country that are down with rocking calls over WiFi while in the privacy of their own homes -- and they've had this thing in the wings for a long time now. Anyway, according to a Wall Street Journal piece, it seems that early problems have been finally ironed out and folks nationwide will be able to get their UMA on for $20 a month on top of the cost of their regular plan. T-Mobile can hook folks up with a compatible router for free after rebate or they can bring their own to the party. Look for it to launch as early as the middle of June (if the stars happen to align in just the right order).[Via textually.org]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
wako @ May 3rd 2007 12:19PM
WTF? I am using my WiFi and my internet connection to cut costs for Tmobile, ALL WHILE I am paying them $20 dollars a month to help them?! WTF?!
Pablo @ May 3rd 2007 12:27PM
while this is a HUGE step forward in terms of technology and carrier attitudes, isn't it really just a stop-gap solution for Tmo's sub-par coverage? Or are they really betting that ppl will think $20/mo is better than upping their plan...and maybe getting rid of their home phones? either way...kudos to Tmo for bringing UMA to the USA
J @ May 3rd 2007 1:17PM
t-mobile@home in seattle only requires you to pay the $20 if you want UNLIMITED calling when you are in the wifi zone. if you dont pay that you can still place calls using airtime minutes through wifi.
J @ May 3rd 2007 1:18PM
Also, this will be a godsend to those in basements or highrises where almost no cellular services work efficiently. No carrier has perfect reception.
Scott @ May 3rd 2007 2:26PM
Yeah, thats about $20 too expensive.
el camino @ May 3rd 2007 2:37PM
UMA technology will improve coverage at home with or without the $20 add on feature. This will not only give me great coverage at my house (at the bottom of a hill), won't it also relieve the network traffic on the site outside my house if my calls are going through my Wifi Network? This means less drop calls. I don't have to sign up to pay $20 extra if all I want to do is improve coverage in my home. i think I just need a UMA enabled phone and a router. Nice work, T-Mobile!
Matt @ May 3rd 2007 4:30PM
I agree that $20 is steep for a service that helps T-Mobile offload traffic from their cell sites, however, they are in the business of selling that traffic for profit. There'd be no sense in offering this service to their customers if it takes money out of T-Mobile's own pockets.
I have some questions:
-Do they do seamless handoffs? (ie Can it switch from cellular to wi-fi networks and back mid-call?)
-What handsets are/will be compatible?
-Could you use it on multiple wi-fi networks, like @ home and @ work?
I have the MDA. When I keep wi-fi on, it drains the battery very quickly. Also, when the MDA is in standby, the wi-fi is off. It only comes on when the pda/screen is on. Would it even work with the MDA?
Sam Rajan @ May 3rd 2007 10:20PM
To further Matt's comments, if someone confirms that TMobile does indeed have seamless handover going from Cellular to Wifi, what sort of handover delay does the user experience? Is it in the order of seconds, tens of seconds?
Also, on these phones, will I be able to use it on ANY Wifi network, or does it have to be a T-Mobile hotspot? I would also like to have the capability of using the Wifi separately while I am home to communicate over Wifi between multiple phones in the same Wifi Zone (at home). Is that possible?
gfella @ May 3rd 2007 10:50PM
Matt, Sam, yes it is seamless, u wont notice unless looking at the phone. And yes any wifi.
gerbick @ May 4th 2007 5:44AM
So... when they say "Nationwide rollout", does this include areas currently set as roaming and thus an expansion of their coverage, or am I just destined to wait for a UMA enabled phone to miraculously pop up in Cingular's network?
I'd rather have a wifi enabled phone, but as far as it goes, it's either 8125, 8525 or iPhone and neither are UMA capable and I'd love for something like this.
chathampa @ May 4th 2007 3:14PM
In regards to gfella's comments he wrote one mistake. You have to be in a T-Mobile HotSpot to make the wifi calls. The only non HotSpot location included is your home wifi network. They're are not going let anyone use any wifi network because that would decrease the value of their HotSpot service that they have spent a lot of money on. Also, their partner venues would be upset. Starbucks would be upset if a customer went to Panera to make wifi calls instead of them...
Terrence @ May 4th 2007 4:01PM
I already rock calls over wifi cheap as you talk free to skype users and for 70 bucks one time charge you talk all year unlimited.
Jo @ May 4th 2007 11:22PM
Cincinnati Bell has UMA for $10 for unlimited call nationwide,they call
it(home run),waiting to see how t-mobile will charge for thier uma
http://www.cincinnatibell.com/consumer/wireless/home_run/
Robbie @ May 5th 2007 3:43AM
forget about the dumb $20
dont look at this the wrong way
we have a us carrier accepting uma and utilizing it
that is awesome