Link: T-Mobile Hotspot @Home Service Available Nationwide (MobileBurn)
Following a trial in Seattle last October, T-Mobile have today rolled out their Hotspot @ Home service across the US.
The service, which relies on a handful of branded Wi-Fi compatible phones from Nokia and Samsung, allows customers to seamlessly roam between their home wireless network and the T-Mobile GSM network – and also gives unlimited free nationwide phone calls when in range of a compatible hotspot.
The handsets currently retail for $49.99 on a two year contract, and come bundled with a modified Linksys or D-Link wireless router. There’s a monthly charge of $19.99 for users on a standard plan, or $29.99 for family plans.
What’s not quite clear is whether T-Mobile are planning to launch a similar service here in the UK. Considering their current stand-off with mobile VOIP providers Truphone, it could be interesting times ahead.
Problem with UMA phones is that the WiFi standard at UMA does not work with any already existing WiFi access points. So this is a CLOSED solution approach. In addition UMA is very slow and uses a lot of processor time in the phone. Meaning nothing else works. — I would stay away from any UMA phones and go with the long established standard of OpenWiFi.
Installed truphone 6 months ago and love it!!! It is certainly the best applicatioin I have used on my phone!