Details emerge on T-Mobile's Hotspot @Home "Talk Forever" setup
[Thanks, anonymous tipster]
Use this page to describe and/or answer questions about the HotSpot@Home Talk Forever Home Phone service.
IMPORTANT: As of 02/14/08, the HotSpot @Home Talk Forever Home Phone service is in the test market phase ONLY and is available in Seattle and Dallas.
Guidelines
* The HotSpot @Home Talk Forever Home Phone service provides digital calling (also known as Voice over IP or VoIP) to T-Mobile customers. The Talk Forever Home Phone plan provides customers unlimited nationwide calling for one low price.
* The HotSpot @Home Talk Forever Wireless Routers are exclusive to T-Mobile; no other Wi-Fi routers provide customers with Talk Forever Home Phone service.
* Customers may use their existing home phone unit with the HotSpot @Home Wireless Router with Home Phone Connection.
* For maximum voice quality, it is recommended that customers use a wired phone or a cordless home phone that does not operate at 2.4 GHz.
* Cordless phones that operate at 2.4 GHz may experience interference with Wi-Fi routers.
* The Wireless Router is capable of handling up to two SIM cards and two separate home phone lines.
* Customers MUST provide a valid 911 address due to FCC regulations, see HotSpot @Home Talk Forever Home Phone 911 Addresses for more information.
* During the test market period, customers may purchase the service at:
o T-Mobile retail stores
o Retail Partner sales
o Best Buy
o 1-800-T-MOBILE (Telesales).
o CIHU: Care reps can only upgrade customers via CIHU if those customers wish to convert one of their existing GSM lines to a Talk Forever Home Phone line.
* Customers who have purchased equipment at one of these channels may activate their SIM by contacting Activations.
Save money
* Cheaper than most landline bills from other carriers
* Stop using wireless minutes at home
* Less expensive than other VoIP carriers, such as Vonage
* Other carrier services average $48 monthly
* 27% of wireless minutes are used in the home
* Vonage plans start at $14.99 but only provide 500 minutes, Vonage Unlimited residential service is $24.99, and business plans through Vonage are even more expensive
Great connectivity
* Connect worry-free from home
* Turn your home into a HotSpot
Stay connected to those who matter most
* Have up to 2 separate home phone lines
Packed with features
Available Features Included
* T-Mobile voicemail
* Voice mail indicator
* Call forwarding (unlimited)
* Conference calling
* Star codes (such as 411)
* Caller ID
Optional
* Caller Tunes
* Discounted Dialing to Mexico
* Discounted Dialing to Canada Unavailable Features:
The below are not available for Talk Forever Home Phone, since these are mostly dependent on mobile handset functionality
* Self-Help Codes (such as #MIN#, #BAL, #MSG#)
* GPRS
* Data services & SOCs (Web browsing, Blackberry SOCs, etc.)
* SMS/MMS
* Downloads
* Ringtones
* Java
* Fax
Convenience
* One convenient bill for both mobile and home phone service
* Keep your existing home phone number (it can be ported to T-Mobile)
* Can use your existing home phone unit
* "Big-phone" Feel
* No need for a separate answering machine
Choice It's your choice:
* Mobile service
* Home phone service
* Both
NOTE: Customers who have DSL and home phone through another carrier, such as Verizon, can port their home phone number to T-Mobile while keeping their Internet service with the current Internet service provider (ISP)
Easy to set up yourself
* No installation fee
* No need to have a technician come to your home
* No need to modify home wiring
T-Mobile support
* Supported by T-Mobile's award-winning, world-class customer service
Cost:
* Monthly charge: TBD
NOTE: Customers who wish to have Talk Forever for their mobile must also add the optional, separate Talk Forever Mobile SOC to one of their wireless lines.
* Standard fees apply:
o Activation fees
o ETF
o Add-a-line fees
Exception: We treat customers on a pooled plan who convert one of their existing GSM lines to Talk Forever Home Phone service as an upgrade with no activation or additional add-a-line fees.
No stand-alone lines
* Available only to customers who have at least one GSM line with T-Mobile
* Customers cannot choose to have a stand-alone Talk Forever Home Phone line
* Customers new to T-Mobile must activate at least one GSM line in order to be able to add the Talk Forever Home Phone service.
Minimum monthly access charge (GSM)
* $49.99 (non-pooling, may be regional)
* $69.99 (FamilyTime pooling plans, must be nationwide)
NOTE: Access charge minimum is not cumulative, and does not include other add-on features or services.
Example: A customer with two single GSM lines of $29.99 each does not qualify to add Talk Forever Home Phone service.
Internet Service
* Broadband connection via cable or DSL required
* Minimum bandwidth 70 kbps
* Dial-up and satellite connections are not compatible
Plans Eligible
* Postpaid plans ONLY
* SmartAccess, Take Control, T-Mobile To Go, kidConnect, and FlexPay plans are NOT eligible
Equipment
* A HotSpot @Home Wireless Router with Home Phone Connection is required. This router is only available from T-Mobile.
* Current wireless routers without a home phone connection, even if sold by T-Mobile, are NOT compatible.
911 Address
We REQUIRE a validated 911 address. Customers cannot have the Talk Forever Home Phone service without a validated 911 address.
myFaves
Compatible with myFaves rate plans, however, the myFaves user interface is only compatible with myFaves wireless handsets.
Even though it is suitable for many customers, this product is not a total landline replacement for everyone.
* A valid 911 emergency address is needed for service.
* Broadband Internet service is required (DSL or cable). Dial-up and satellite are not compatible.
* An alternate connection will be required for devices that use modem dial-up.
* If power is disrupted from router or high-speed modem, the home phone will not function.
* If the Internet connection is not available (due to ISP reasons), the home phone will not function.
* The HotSpot @Home Talk Forever Home Phone does not support collect calling (inbound or outbound).
* Some cordless phones that operate at 2.4 gigahertz may have less than optimum quality.
* An alternate connection may be required for home alarm systems. (customers must check with their alarm provider)
* The Talk Forever Home Phone cannot serve as a fax line. An alternate connection would be required for fax machines.
Filed under: T-Mobile
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
e-v@n @ Jan 22nd 2008 4:57PM
But there is more! Here is list of some tmo events: http://www.tiltyourworld.com/calendar/list.asp
jhoward415 @ Jan 22nd 2008 5:45PM
Does this mean no more unlimited UMA service with other open WiFi networks?
I was having fun talking on the Apple Store's open WiFi network with my T-Mobile Blackberry Curve. :) Kinda threw the iPhone fanatics off balance...
jhoward415 @ Jan 22nd 2008 5:51PM
Also, will I need to spend more $$$ to replace my current T-Mobile Linksys router?
Kurtis @ Jan 22nd 2008 10:08PM
No offense, but did you not read all of the article?
"* Current wireless routers without a home phone connection, even if sold by T-Mobile, are NOT compatible. "
jhoward415 @ Jan 22nd 2008 5:54PM
Also, hopefully T-Mobile and RIM will fix the current partial incompatibility between the Curve and T-Mobile's UMA, which results in my never getting more than 2 bars of UMA reception, anywhere under any conditions.
My Nokia 6086, as limited as it was, at least got all 5 bars in UMA mode
Minhua @ Jan 22nd 2008 11:01PM
have you applied the latest handheld OS from T-mo's website for your Curve yet?
As for the website, it's already been removed and replaced with the GoDaddy parking page.
John H @ Jan 23rd 2008 8:55AM
Kurtis - thanks. I missed that part.
John H @ Jan 23rd 2008 9:10AM
Minhua:
Yes - I have the latest handheld OS - 4.2.2.180
Tito @ Jan 23rd 2008 3:33PM
Did everyone miss the "Home Phone" Part of this?
T-Mobile has three different services that apparently for which couldn't think of other unique names.
HotSpot = Internet service through Wi-Fi at specific locations (Starbucks, Borders, Airports, etc.)
HotSpot@Home = UMA on your cell phone through Wi-Fi
HotSpot@Home Talk Forever Home Phone Service = way too long of a name but gives you your landline service through Wi-Fi/VoIP but on a T-Mobile bill instead of your current carrier.
They're 3 distinct product offerings with unfortunately similar names. The main difference according to the information above is that unlike Hotspot which is available either without a T-Mobile mobile phone line (aka "GSM line") -or- on the bill as a T-Mobile mobile phone line, HS@HTFHPS is not available stand-alone - it's only available as an add-on to an already-existing mobile subscriber account.
This isn't just a HotSpot@Home on steroids. It's a totally different product with a different phone # other than your mobile #. The SIM Card "support" in the router is because that's how it stores your information.
The SIM Card for the "Talk Forever" line goes *IN* the router. Your phone plugs *IN* to the router. You use it like you would use your regular landline - at your home. You're NOT using your cell phone. You're NOT using your cell phone number. It's a separate phone line entirely.
"Customers may use their existing home phone unit with the HotSpot @Home Wireless Router with Home Phone Connection." (i.e. NOT your cell phone)
"The Wireless Router is capable of handling up to two SIM cards and two separate home phone lines."
For example, if I have my landline through comcast (say 555-555-1212) and I have my mobile phone through T-Mobile (say 555-555-1313), I can port the 1212 number to T-Mobile, get this service, and have 2 lines through T-Mobile - one landline through VoIP with unlimited calling (like Vonage) and one mobile phone through GSM. Now the GSM line may be able to use UMA if the phone supports it, but that's through the @Home service, not the Talk Forever Home Phone service.
A good way to think of this is like getting Vonage (they even compare it in the info above) but only available to T-Mobile customers.
John H @ Jan 24th 2008 10:48AM
Tito:
Your analysis is much appreciated. But what this tells me is that this plan is complex to the point of being unintelligible to the majority of subscribers.
Suppose I want to keep my Verizon landline (which is independent of my ISP and not VoIP-based). Will these new routers allow for that? I keep a low-budget Verizon account because there is NO internet service ANYWHERE that does not occasionally go down.
Tito @ Jan 25th 2008 7:02PM
John, the answer to your question is a resounding "Maybe" - LOL.
The "New routers" that allow for the Home Phone part, if you want to keep your landline with Verizon, would not be something you would want to purchase - instead you would just purchase the standard HotSpot@Home router like you currently can today, and continue to use your UMA-capable cell phone.
Although it's tough to tell from the specs given above, I would imagine that the new router would still allow for the standard @Home service as well as the new Home Phone service. Otherwise that would force a person to have 2 routers, which seems a bit excessive. Just like with standard UMA @Home service you don't have to have a GSM phone and a UMA phone, it's one phone with both capabilities. But you would need to get a UMA-capable phone instead of an existing GSM-only phone. In a similar way, I would imagine that the Home Phone routers would still allow the standard @Home service along with the Home Phone service, but if you didn't want the Home Phone service you wouldn't have to buy one of the new routers.
UMA @ Jan 24th 2008 2:59PM
New WI-FI router is no special than regular WI-FI AP except it has capability of UMA client.
So with this AP, whoever has hotspot@home plan will be able to make a call just like before.
On top of that, the new AP will have two sim card slots and two pot slots for regualr phones.
You may think of linksys vonage AP. However the new AP will replace VoIP part with UMA.
Nikolaus @ Feb 6th 2008 3:11PM
I just called T-Mo to ask about this, since I'm in the Dallas area. The Rep (Sarah) knew about the Hotspot@Home Talk Forever change from the traditional Hotspot@Home, but didn't know anything about VOIP home phone part. She said it was just a price change down to $9.99/month for @Home. She didn't know of any new router other then the current two (linksys and D-link). I specifically told her it was also for VOIP home phones, and she read to me what she had, and it only mentioned WiFi for UMA. What's going on here?
BTW she was super nice and back dated my update to HotSpot@Home Talk Forever for the whole billing cycle, so for all of Februrary I'll pay $10 rather than $20 for my family HotSpot@Home. Not bad.
BlissX @ Feb 7th 2008 5:04PM
From Pinstack.
"Talk forever is hotspot @ home. They are just changing the name because they are having some confusion with t-mobile hotspots. But in orlando market and I do believe two other markets have been testing it out for 9.99$ monthly and its has had a great response. So we will be changing the price nation wide.
EXISTING customers on this service need to CALL customer service or you can pm me and get that changed. YOU WILL NOT BE AUTOMATICALLY MIGRATED TO THE 9.99$ PRICING.
Also we are updating the way the service works.it actually gives customers the ability to have unlimited calling through their home phone service. We will have a new router that will support two sim cards one for your home phone and one for your mobile phone. I will post more information as soon as I can."
So basically this service can be used as Hotspot@Home as well, if not, replaces it. You don't NEED to utilize the homeline/router part, unless you want to. Apparently the new router costs $49.99 and you get it refunded after 8 weeks of service.
"I went in2 the store today. The service is a monthly charge of $9.99. The router is $49.99 w/ a full refund in 6 to 8 weeks. Hope it makes my black hole of a condo service improve!! Cross your fingers"
Nikolaus @ Feb 6th 2008 3:23PM
Ok WFT!!! I just called T-Mo sales department, and they didn't know anything about this either. Does this even exist if T-Mo doesn't know anything about it?
SLVR6 @ Feb 7th 2008 10:47PM
It is amazing that some people bother calling T-Mobile about this when it is evident it is still in the testing stages! Cool idea for a service that makes good use of T-mobiles investment in VOIP equipment for the UMA service.
tcuzela @ Feb 14th 2008 4:40AM
I'd have to agree with Tito. This is an additional service they are rolling out. The HotSpot@Home (UMA) service won't (read: I bet money that it won't) be going anywhere; T-Mobile gets to buy more servers, not build more towers. They seem to be pretty gun-ho with VOIP, it's win-win and, for the most part, totally new for the cell industry. Several people I've talked to about HotSpot@Home (UMA) have switched to T-Mobile BECAUSE of HS@H.
The names however, eek. The HotSpots (in Starbucks, Borders, etc) will be phased out in the next 5 years once their contract with AT&T expires. But in the mean time it would be wise for T-Mobile to keep "HotSpot" in Starbucks, etc but changed the "HotSpot@Home" (UMA) to "Talk Forever" while retaining the same features and price, and dub "HotSpot@Home Talk Forever" as "Talk Forever@Home."
There is no reason to keep adding names and abbreviations to an already complicated title--have you every had the voice prompt system with T-Mobile understand the difference between HotSpot and HotSpot@Home? I haven't.
I doubt they would have dropped the HS@H (UMA) back to $9.99 unless they needed room for a pricier HS@HTF package.
Oh and T-Mobile, you have my number, and address to send me my check!
dennyj @ Feb 15th 2008 5:06PM
I just called T-Mobile today and they informed me that this service is launching on February 21st, and it will still be $9.99. That's an amazing price for home phone service that includes all the features such as caller id, call waiting, conference calling, and national long distance! at&t is the cheapest right now where you can get local home service for $20, but it doesn't have long distance. When this launches, I'm ditching at&t first thing.
gmw7501 @ Feb 20th 2008 6:13PM
This @home service has peeked my interest as I am in a location with no cell service at home and very expensive land line service. My bottom line question is this; IF I subscribe to the T-Mobile HotSpot@Home Talk For Ever AND get the Linksys router, AND get a new UMA supported cell phone, can I still use my existing "Wired" phones with this service? I know looking at the routers that there are two phone jacks on the WRTU54G-TM routers. I currently am an existing T-Mobile subscriber.
Thanks!!
mishab @ Feb 21st 2008 1:01PM
Regarding Hotspot@home service.
If I live overseas and use my wireless router at home with a wi-fi compatible phone will i be able to receive calls? How about making calls to the usa? TMobile wont be able to determine where i am, right? If i understand this correctly there should not be any roaming charges when i use wi-fi, correct?