T-Mobile to Offer Low-Cost UMA (Unlicensed Mobile Access) This Year

[Ekkie Tepsupornchai]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1895,1923274,00.asp' target='_blank'>http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,189...,1923274,00.asp</a><br /><br /></div><i>"Chipmaker Royal Philips Electronics confirmed that a U.S. cellular carrier will launch voice-over-Wi-Fi technology this year, based on Philips' new Nexperia 6120 chipset. Callers should be able to make calls on their home Wi-Fi networks for 'a couple of bucks a month, flat rate,' according to Philips' Carsten Schimanke."</i><br /><br />Are you tired of T-Mobile lagging behind the other carriers when it comes to advanced data capabilities? How about using any accessible wireless access point for your VoIP needs? How about only paying a few dollars a month to get that service? Sound too good to be true? It certainly does to me. The technical capability for mobile phones to make VoIP calls using WiFi was not news to me; what was a surprise to me is that one of the major service carriers is actually planning to support it. Your thoughts?

[rickmahn]

Now what would be nice is if they offered a softphone to their SDA, MDA and other customers with Windows Mobile devices to take advantage of this type of service - that would be great!

[cubed]

Way to go T-Mo!!!

I'm not sure how long it will take to see this in place, but I think T-Mobile has the right idea...offer it cheap and it will be hard to complain if there are some difficulties.

[TheZodiac]

Im with Mr Max Headrome up over there on this one. This is one of those things that might make me take a change from the Sidekick.

I just wonder what a "few bucks a month" means.

For that, we have to examine what exactly "a few" is numerically.

A few is more than a couple - a couple is 2, you cant have more than two people in a couple, or else its a 3some, or more. (whos complaining about that?)

Now, Once you go over the 5 threshold, you are on your way to ten, so I dont think a couple qualifies for 5 or more.

So, I am thinking anywhere from $3.99 ro $4.99.

Your thoughts are welcome.

[Ekkie Tepsupornchai]

I just wonder what a "few bucks a month" means

Well... to be fair, the article stated a "couple bucks a month"... I'm the one that said a "few".

We'll see. A "couple" seems way too low, but who knows?

[adamz]

$2 sounds right. Using UMA over WiFi means you're not using the network's infrastructure as much as you would over GSM. So really you're just paying for having the call routed to you over UMA and you're responsible for your own infrastructure... and that should be quite inexpensive for T-Mobile.
I also hope there'll be a program T-Mobile can add to their Windows Mobile WiFi phones that will add support for UMA.

[advantagex]

From my understanding and a very reliable source, that it is supposed to cost almost nothing, if anything at all. T-Mobile is really trying to improve there service. I have been impressed