Let me preface the rest by stating I work in T-Mobiles Operations and Engineering Department, and helped alpha test this device. =)
When making a Wi-Fi call, the handset creates a GSM tunnel allowing it to maintain the same security used on any normal cellular call you make. So if you're still afraid of people tapping your calls, I recommend that you don't use a cell phone at all.
No releasing it at the same time as the iphone doesn't seem like the best bet, however I'm not in marketing;)
One of the major advantages of this over a normal wi-fi phone, is that it will hand over between GSM and Wi-Fi and maintain the call. No other Wi-Fi call provider can offer that at this time (AFAIK).
If you buy the phone but not the service, you can still use Wi-Fi but it will use your minutes as normal, the feature just give you unlimited Wi-Fi calls.
Will it make calls for T-Mobile cheaper to process? Maybe if enough people start picking it up, but there was an investment in time and added hardware to the network that would need to be paid off first. But in the long run, yes t-mobile should save money as people route calls over IP, however, this savings is passed on to the customer in that they can make all the calls they want for $10 a month. (It's up to the customer to decide if they will use it enough to warrant that cost)
Working for T-Mo I think this feature is great, but my opinion is of course biased.
ECH... once more with formating.
Let me preface the rest by stating I work in T-Mobiles Operations and Engineering Department, and helped alpha test this device. =)
When making a Wi-Fi call, the handset creates a GSM tunnel allowing it to maintain the same security used on any normal cellular call you make. So if you're still afraid of people tapping your calls, I recommend that you don't use a cell phone at all.
No releasing it at the same time as the iphone doesn
Yes, GSM will hand off to Wi-Fi, and Wi-Fi will hand off to GSM. The billing is based on where the call originates however. That means when you get home and come in range of your wi-fi, to get the unlimited calling rates, you would need to hang up, and then reconnect the call from wi-fi. However if you walk down the street and accidentaly leave your wi-fi area, it works the other way, the call will be free untill you disconnect and make a new call.
Hey there chief. I've been a loyal T-mobile customer since 2001 (old Voicestream customer). Do me a favor and pass this wislist along to your ops team:
1) Don't bill based on what network the call starts on. Bill based on minutes used on each type of network. My understanding of @Home is that if the call starts while you're on the cellular network, and then you get home to the Wifi network, you still eat into your bucket of minutes since the call started on the tower.
1) Don't bill based on what network the call starts on. Bill based on minutes used on each type of network. My understanding of @Home is that if the call starts while you're on the cellular network, and then you get home to the Wifi network, you still eat into your bucket of minutes since the call started on the tower.
I disagree. I prefer the current approach - billing on where the call initiates - because otherwise, there's too much guesswork. I can know for a fact that I will either be billed for minutes
1) Currently the technology of our billing system does not allow for this. If it did I think there are people that would prefer it both ways, and no matter what we chose someone would be upset. As is, this means that if you are at home and something causes your net connection to bog down, your phone should switch to GSM, but your call will continue to process as UMA.
2) I'd love to! This is really new technology to allow for switching between the network types. I agree, having this on a blackberry, or
What about legality? I mean, since the device "seamlessly" connects to a hotspot, what if it "accidentally" connects to my neighbor's hotspot or another unsecured hotspot and they noticed and then I was charged with illegally trespassing on their network? People have been charged with using hotspots. Just wondering if there's anything to prevent that. Not that it would prevent me from using it, mind you.
No. People have not been charged for using hotspots. They have been charged with tresspassing (like the case of the coffee shop guy). Please don't spread rumors and false information.
Don't be so pessimistic! (Score:5, Insightful)
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Let me preface the rest by stating I work in T-Mobiles Operations and Engineering Department, and helped alpha test this device. =)
When making a Wi-Fi call, the handset creates a GSM tunnel allowing it to maintain the same security used on any normal cellular call you make. So if you're still afraid of people tapping your calls, I recommend that you don't use a cell phone at all.
No releasing it at the same time as the iphone doesn
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(It's not a moo phone [truphone.com])
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-Rick
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1) Don't bill based on what network the call starts on. Bill based on minutes used on each type of network. My understanding of @Home is that if the call starts while you're on the cellular network, and then you get home to the Wifi network, you still eat into your bucket of minutes since the call started on the tower.
2) Have more phones support this. I'd
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I disagree. I prefer the current approach - billing on where the call initiates - because otherwise, there's too much guesswork. I can know for a fact that I will either be billed for minutes
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Would you guys be able to release something so we can do this with the OpenMoko phone?
Or the Wing?
Looking for a PDA phone, but this only looks like it runs on some older models.
I'm tired of not having good cell signal in my house, and WiFiVoIP sounds like a good solution...
-Thor