GSM / WiFi handoff is a brilliant idea in theory -- but to be usable, it's gotta be seamless, unnoticeable, and virtually effortless for the user. So far, the national carriers have failed to deliver
any solution -- let alone a usable one -- so how does T-Mobile stack up? The Phone Fairy recently dropped off a Nokia 6086 and Linksys WRT56G-TM router to have a go with T-Mobile's just-announced
HotSpot @Home service, and our initial impressions are fairly positive. In brief: setup was a snap, the phone's basic but well-designed, GSM / WiFi handoffs were hit or miss, and for ten bones a month, it seems like a square deal. Read on for more, and don't forget to peep the gallery!
Though we suspect T-Mobile intends to take HotSpot @Home to every market segment, the launch phones are relatively basic devices. The Nokia 6086 offers up a VGA camera, a fairly low-res 160 x 128 primary display, and monochrome external display, for example -- but on the plus side, we get goodies like a microSD slot, music player, FM radio, Bluetooth, and of course WiFi. The phone seems extraordinarily well-built -- one of the most solid flips we've handled recently -- and features perhaps the best keypad in a small flip we've ever used. Seriously, it simply isn't possible to press the wrong number.
Like we alluded to, setup was a breeze. T-Mobile provides a carrier-branded version of the ubiquitous Linksys WRT54G; besides offering one-touch pairing with the phone (pictured), it's apparently configured in such a way to maximize the phone's battery life when on WiFi. That being said, the 6086 is perfectly happy to roll with your own router, too -- just select your SSID, enter your security key and you're done.
We weren't in love with the incoming voice quality on the 6086, but we discovered that it didn't have anything to do with using WiFi. Indoors and out, voices seemed tinny and flat, though callers reported that we sounded pretty darned good. Not a showstopper by any means, but we'd probably want to try the Samsung t409 in store before deciding which @Home handset to take... well, home.
Otherwise, we were impressed -- particularly for a first-generation effort on T-Mobile's part. GSM / WiFi handoffs didn't always go down the way we'd like; there's a noticeable pause of a second or longer when transitioning, and pulling the power on our access point dropped the call ten times out of ten. We were also a bit surprised to find that data (t-zones) still seems to use GPRS even when connected to a WiFi hotspot; why not take advantage of the fast connection? Ah well, with a 160 x 128 screen in there, data's not the focus. For saving voice minutes and bypassing a sometimes-flaky cell network in the home and around your friendly local Starbuck's, though, HotSpot @Home's just the ticket.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
chuck @ Jun 27th 2007 8:20AM
Starbucks doesn't have an apostrophe.
Just sayin' ;)
Nando @ Jun 27th 2007 9:02AM
Neat!
Dan @ Jun 27th 2007 9:50AM
I guess that is the other way to expand your network if you don't want to actually invest in a network.
Kevin @ Jun 27th 2007 10:24AM
What if I want to use my own router??
Adam @ Jun 27th 2007 10:37AM
You missed this part ...
"That being said, the 6086 is perfectly happy to roll with your own router, too -- just select your SSID, enter your security key and you're done."
PeterFromSFW @ Jul 17th 2007 12:57PM
I just got the service, Nokia 6086 and the T-Mobile router - it all works fine, BUT when I try to use the router at work I get all kinds of errors. The phone specs state that the phome would work with 'b' or 'g' connection, so the 'b' router at the office should have worked, but no luck. Even the tech support from T-Mobile flatly refused to help me with connecting to anything that is not ptovided by them.
I will give it a try for couple of more days and if unsuccessful I am cancaling the service... :(
Luke Lundeen @ Jun 27th 2007 10:57AM
Maybe this will also be part of the iphone coming to t-mobile and using your wifi at home on the phone.
adam @ Aug 14th 2007 3:32AM
not likely seeing that at&t has an exclusive deal with apple, over the iphone. thus, no tmobile iphone for a very long time.
chris fredette @ Jun 27th 2007 11:19AM
what if I want to use a regular POT's line phone like Vonage? Is there that ability? What does the back of the router look like?
Jon Graft @ Jun 27th 2007 12:00PM
Any idea if Verizon is going to try to copy this idea? Not much of a T-Mobile fan...
nephroth @ Jun 27th 2007 12:18PM
I would judge that the chances of this are pretty slim. Verizon is always slow to embrace new technologies, and they tend to overprice everything. T-Mobile is a European company, and as the market is much more competetive in Europe than in the US, they have to operate accordingly. We don't feel the full affects of that competition, but we do get some of them, like GSM phones, cheap data service, and a fairly open policy on phones purchased outside of their stores. I think wifi connectivity is just another item on that list.
J @ Jun 29th 2007 5:33PM
Expect it from Verizon.... "soon". I work with both VZW and Cingular and their labs are abuzz testing this stuff.
I think the problem is mostly business related and not technology related. This comes down to: 1) how do they make money on it 2) will it be a market differentiator. Notice that 1 and 2 are related.
Paul @ Mar 31st 2008 11:34PM
http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/03/30/verizon-hub-headlines-carriers-2008-initiatives-devices/#comments
Scott @ Jun 27th 2007 12:11PM
Does anybody know how this will work with international long distance? I know products like Vonage have different rates to different countries, but has T-Mobile announced any "calling rates" or is this device not capable of international calls?
Brian @ Jul 18th 2007 1:33PM
I spoke with t-mobile customer service about this the other day; It's supposedly free of charge since you're using the internet to make a call. Pretty sweet deal. Going to try it out in the next day or so and check on the next phone bill.
Dr. Droo @ Jun 27th 2007 12:19PM
T-mobile is offering this as an extension of their cell service. There isn't any 'different rates' compared to talking on the cell, with exception to the unlimited 10$ a month on WiFi deal domestically.
However, that would be rather cool if they did something like that in the future.
Also, it does not work with Vonage, at least not directly. You would have to plug your Vonage device into the back of it. It does not have Voice ports, it's just basically a software-modified version of the Linksys WRT54G you can buy at CC, BB, etc.
It will work with any router, but the T-mobile one packet shapes for its own traffic so that mid-day download doesn't mess up the T-mobile service. It's rumored to give better battery life to the phone as well.
ZombieInvasion @ Jun 27th 2007 2:01PM
I have a question...If I already have T-Mobile service with Unlimited Data Plan. Can I add this router to my account enabling wifi internet access to my Home CPU?
Right now I do not have an internet connection, I'd like to use this router to enable internet with my wifi card on my laptop...IS THAT POSSIBLE?
Anyone know?
scooterboy @ Jun 27th 2007 2:21PM
Hot Spot @ Home requires a DSL or higher connection.
Qayin @ Jul 1st 2007 7:44PM
Yes its a rea router . I have my laptop, 360 ,DS , and my @home phone all connected at once . Oh and it works very well Iwent to the hospital and and jumped on their wifi and used my phone and any wifi connection that is availible you can use!
Joey @ Jul 15th 2007 11:53PM
No, this is not a mobile WAP program. I daren't set one of those up with GSM, anyways. You're thinking of of one of these:
http://www.dlink.com/products/?pid=524
ZombieInvasion @ Jun 27th 2007 2:30PM
That blows.
Is it possible to use my Sidekick 3 and Unlimited Data plan as a modem and access point for a wifi signal?
I mean for god's sakes, there has to be a way to take the wireless GPRS connection that's being sent to my phone and relay it to my pc's wifi card...Isn't there?
Badonkadonk @ Jun 27th 2007 2:53PM
Theoritically you could set up your SideKick (which I assume has WiFi) and PC in Ad-Hoc mode instead of infrastructure mode, and then you would be able to send data back and forth between the two... though most mobiles with WiFi don't really support Ad-Hoc mode (though it is in the standard).
However, the simple question I have to ask is why in gods name would you want to pair two devices at 54Mbps to then send data at 14.4kbps over GPRS (or ~80kbps or whatever it is at EDGE) - you should ook at either USB tethering or BT tethering for DUN (dial-up networking) - most smartphones will support at least one of these for road-warrior types who need to use their laptops when not near WiFi. That's actually one of the big things driving HSDPA adoption in mobiles (because seriously, you don't *need* 3.6Mbps to your mobile for email or browsing)
sr @ Jun 27th 2007 11:57PM
Yeah Bluetooth. Been doing it since 2002.
Badonkadonk @ Jun 27th 2007 2:44PM
Here's a "random" test for you to try - start a call on your Bluetooth headset on GSM, then switch to UMA, and report back on what the voice quality is like, especially when you're not standing with your phone next to the AP, or if you leave your phone on a coffee table and walk away with the BT headset.
LH @ Jun 28th 2007 1:36PM
There shouldn't be any difference in sound quality between wifi and gsm. And if there is, it is UMA that sounds better as it uses either a/-law (same as pstn) or gsm codecs. And if a bluetooth headset affects sound quality, it has nothing to do with either uma or gsm.
And about the sound quality when going further away from wifi base station. Gsm codec takes 9,6 kbps and law 64 kbps (+ ip overhead ~20%) of your precious bandwith and wifi can deliver that as long as there is any connection no matter how shitty between your phone and ap.
Badonkadonk @ Jun 28th 2007 4:42PM
"And if a bluetooth headset affects sound quality, it has nothing to do with either uma or gsm." I'm more curious about the effect of having two devices operating in the same frequency band at the same time, and how good the phones launched with the service are of handling that. Professional curiosity. Walking away from your AP while on a BT headset will likely exacerbate the problem as your connection rates drop down and your on-air time for WLAN increases. This is a relatively new use case that has been in development for a few years, so I'm interested to know what a consumer response will be like.
also, why can we only nest one level of replies? :(
frank @ Jun 27th 2007 5:53PM
The thing about T-Zones using GPRS is strange. I think they may have changed how that functionality works. The first time I tried it, maybe 6 months ago, T-Zones was blazing fast and clearly using WiFi (I couldn't help but laugh at the irony of such a useless service using such a high-speed connection). It most definitely doesn't anymore, although it must be getting a GPRS signal. I'll have to try it out in a place that doesn't get any reception at all.
sr @ Jun 27th 2007 11:59PM
T-zones is a GPRS/EDGE service and always has been. Hotspots is Wi-Fi.
Leo Chan @ Jun 28th 2007 4:59AM
This service is enabled by a technology called UMA (Unlicensed Mobile Access) which is a standard protocol stipulated by GSM Association.
UMA allows dual mode phones (GSM/WiFi) to connect via the Internet protocol (IP) to the cellular network's BSC (Base Station Center) as if it is being connected from a regular cellular base station tower. The network essentially creates a "virtual" base station tower (like those 300 feet towers you see in your neighborhood).
Because the access from the phone is not via licensed wireless spectrum, it doesn't cost the carrier any money (well, sort of) and has no impact on the peak usage (you know, when you get busy tone trying to dial a number from you cell phone). The carriers can allow you to conduct a call indefinitely on the WiFi network without having much actual cost incurred.
Cincinnati Bell Wireless launched the UMA service ("Home Run") and Nokia 6086 in May 2007. I believe another Canadian carrier also launched UMA service in May.
PravinK @ Jun 28th 2007 10:23AM
So, in theory, you could hook on to a wifi network in another country and get international roaming for free!! (As long as you remain in one spot)
Mark @ Jun 28th 2007 10:30AM
The poor audio quality kills it for me, I'd buy it otherwise.
Jesse @ Jun 28th 2007 12:15PM
My T-Mobile Wing will list my network service as "Home Service" every once in a while, it would be nice to see this rolled out to WM6 devices as it would only be a software update for those devices.
Dave @ Aug 12th 2007 1:24AM
Um, wrong. It isn't just software. There is a specific hardware chip that handles the switching between UMA and GSM.
Sure, you could have skype-like app that allows calls over wifi and GSM calls over GSM, but no seamless switching between them.
Jason @ Jun 28th 2007 2:29PM
This sounds lame to me... it's not too bad if you have a network, or if you have a lot of access points available. But it seems like a waste. 10 extra dollars on top of the other serivces needed just to have your phone work over a limited wifi network just sounds boosh. I dont see any real benefit...
jeffrey_Bays @ Jul 5th 2007 10:12AM
The benefit is for those people that do not want to pay a VOIP/land line company to have decent service in their home if they do not have a good cell signal. My area works great with Verizon; awful with t-mobile and Cingular. I can't see spending any money getting a phone number just for the home, when all I do is call my wife (cell to cell free) and receive incoming phone calls. You do not have to pay for the service. As long as you have t-mobile, an UMA phone and a router, you can use the service. The benefit of paying for the unlimited access, on a month to month basis, is that your originating calls are all free, even once you leave the wifi. If your home has 0, and occasionally 1 bar of service, then this is awesome. If you like having just 1 phone/number, and make a lot of calls from home/office/unsecured wifi areas, then this beats the pants off of paying another company for another phone number.
Kevin McL @ Jul 6th 2007 1:49PM
My wife is a flight attendant. She flies all over the world. This month, for example, she will be in Seoul, Korea (which is completely covered by free wi-fi) three times. She goes to major cities all over the world.
If I understand this right, she could save hundreds of dollars a month (and a lot of hassles with sim cards and so on)calling home from easily accessible hot spots. $10 a month would be a great investment for us.
Dave @ Aug 12th 2007 1:31AM
The benefit is that you can sit in your house - or Starbucks etc. and talk all day long and not use any minutes. And then of course there are some people that may get weak signals in their house/apartment - even tough they get a good signal leaning out the window.
WeMeanItMan @ Jun 28th 2007 2:44PM
sr says "T-zones is a GPRS/EDGE service and always has been"My MDA is GPRS/EDGE and I had to drop T-zone because it didn't work. As far as WIFI, I was wondering if it would be possible to just get ATT DSL for my PC and enter them as My ISP on the phone and connect to the net that way?
Cole @ Jun 29th 2007 12:39PM
This is just proves that T-Mobile Service is absolutely horrible. There would be no need to to have have this wireless router connection to talk in your own home if they could give better signal. Poor signal quality is probably the reason why they offer such cheap plans. And if your into not wasting minutes, there are devices out there that will take your cell phone calls and transfer them to your home phone for local calls or transfer a home call to cell for long distance. Complete waste of money. Drop T-Mobile and get AT&T Wireless. Little more expensive, but you get better coverage, better service in your home, plus more options like 3g service.
Chris @ Jun 30th 2007 12:36AM
LMAO but you miss the point. Its UNLIMITED CALLING for $10 a month, that is the point of having it. WiFI is everywhere, on my square in downtown, all my friends houses, companys have it, how great is it that I now get unlimted calling anywhere I can connect to WiFi? AT&T can't touch that and never will, they still overcharge for everthing they do anyway, and 3G?? Thats a laugh in the few places they actually have it working....
Kara99 @ Jun 29th 2007 11:30PM
That's not really the point. The #1 complaint of ALL companies is lack of signal in the home. It takes months to get a permit to construct a new tower, build it, and make it operational. This gives people instant signal no matter where they are. It even works if you live out in the middle of nowhere and have no service at all.
No one can offer full signal across 100% of the US. If they did, there'd only be one company.
John H @ Jul 7th 2007 8:23PM
For $50/month I get:
1500 nationwide, anytime GSM minutes AND
Unlimited TMobile @home minutes AND
Unlimited TMobile Hotspot minutes elsewhere, such as in Starbucks.
ATT comes nowhere close.
JAS @ Jul 30th 2007 11:02PM
Drop T-Mobile and get AT&T Wireless?? I got T-Mobile in 2002 and have never look back (left AT&T). I just moved in April and am now in a AT&T wireless world way out in the country. But my T-Mobile just roams the AT&T and I pay less for it then AT&T users (I have traveled all over AL. FL. & TN. because work and my T-Mobile works when I need it.) HotSpot@Home is on my list to get soon because my house just does not get any signal in side (T-Mobile or AT&T).
Dave @ Aug 12th 2007 1:39AM
Your statement needs a bit of a correction. Allow me.
"...there are devices out there that will take your cell phone calls and transfer them to your home phone for local calls or transfer a home call to cell for long distance.
miket @ Jun 29th 2007 7:49PM
This service has been available in Seattle for a few months. (T-M's home town.)
It would NOT work w. my old home Netgear router but did work fine w. T-M's supplied dlink router. Also worked fine on office router and on some (but not all)unsecured wi-fi signals in the neighborhood as i walked around.
I thought the service was great - but - the Samsung T709 that they were using at the time did not have Bluetooth. Can't live w.o. my headset. Turned in the phone. Both the Nokia and Samsung models in use now have BT.
I'll probably try it again.
Robert @ Jun 30th 2007 8:32PM
Did anyone get this with the basic $29.99 plan? I think that was an option yesterday, but $39.99 is the minimum today. I'm just curious if I missed an opportunity to save $120 a year.
Bilal @ Aug 3rd 2007 12:35PM
yes you did...(I missed it too....) now I am lookint at paying $50 buckaroos a month in chicago (39.99 for 600 min, and 9.99 for hotspot@home)..plus a 6-7 bucks for taxes.
Suddenly I realize I don't save anything by getting rid of my landline. I'm going to go return this phone today..this is thing is for technology adopters (it does work, I tried it everywhere..it works!)
bottom line: You aren't saving money by taking this phone unless you travel a great deal
John H @ Jul 3rd 2007 11:46PM
I just signed up for TMobile @home. Got the Nokia phone. Got the Linksys router as well because of reported battery saving feature. With the rebate the Linksys is free. Question: My house is already wireless-networked using Apple's Airport Express routers. I want/need to keep Apple network because of wireless music (computer to stereo via iTunes) that Linksys can't do. Can I dedicate my Linksys ONLY to the Nokia (with a different network name) while leaving the Apple Airport for my computers?
jeffrey_Bays @ Jul 5th 2007 10:45AM
YES!
You need to turn the new router into a access point, not a router. Easy to do. in the settings on the new router, disable gateway. This will cause your new router to act like a switch, routing the trafic through the gateway on your apple router.
jeffrey_Bays @ Jul 5th 2007 10:45AM
Yes!
When you plug into your new router, you need to disble the gateway and turn it into an access point. do not run any of your networked computers or devices through the new router. Once your router is configured like the manual shows you, plug it into your existing network. Should work like a champ.
Page 10 in this guide
http://www.linksys.com/servlet/Satellite?c=L_CASupport_C2&childpagename=US%2FLayout&cid=1175232049148&pagename=Linksys%2FCommon%2FVisitorWrapper&lid=4914837314B280&displaypage=nodata#versiondetail