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nycityny
Premium
join:2005-08-09
New York, NY | T-Mobile is currently offering a great calling plan - one that I got three years ago and had not seen available since. It's 1,000 anytime minutes with free nights and weekends for $39.99. This would go very well with their new wi-fi feature. | |
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dublus
join:2000-08-24
Moorpark, CA
1 edit | I understand the implication of * with MyFavs but I think t-mo would notice all your calls going to the same number.
What does "buying the VOIP package" do ?
I'm guessing it just changes the way the minutes are counted - but that implies the wifi calls going through the router are using t-mobile VOIP.
Would there be a way to use your own router with your own VOIP service ? Couldn't this be accomplished with third party firmware in the router or are the VOIP settings hard-coded into the phone ? | |
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 | nycityny
Premium
join:2005-08-09
New York, NY
 ·PHONE POWER
·VoicePulse
 ·RCN CABLE
·ViaTalk
| Re: T-Mobile UMA does VoIP + said by dublus  :I understand the implication of * with MyFavs but I think t-mo would notice all your calls going to the same number. What does "buying the VOIP package" do ? I'm guessing it just changes the way the minutes are counted - but that implies the wifi calls going through the router are using t-mobile VOIP. Would there be a way to use your own router with your own VOIP service ? Couldn't this be accomplished with third party firmware in the router or are the VOIP settings hard-coded into the phone ? There was an article in last week's NY Times about the new service. I asked a T-Mobile rep about it in one of their stores today.
All calls to domestic US numbers are free and unlimited when initiated under the wi-fi service. If you initiate a call while within a wi-fi hotspot, leave that hotspot and the call continues on a normal cell tower the call continues to be free and unlimited. Conversely, calls initiated with normal cell service continue to use minutes even if you roam into a hotspot.
Further, even calls initiated outside the USA in a wi-fi hotspot are free when made to USA numbers. So you can be in Tokyo and call someone in New York and talk for free.
The $10/month charge is only available for July - it goes up to $20/month thereafter.
The special I mentioned above of $39.99/month for 1,000 anytime minutes and unlimited nights/weekends is not available in stores anymore. The salesperson said it expired on June 30. I still see it on their website. | |
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| maartsen
join:2007-07-16
Fredericksburg, VA
| said by dublus :Would there be a way to use your own router with your own VOIP service ? Couldn't this be accomplished with third party firmware in the router or are the VOIP settings hard-coded into the phone ? Yes, you can use any WiFi router that does not require a login. Mine worked with my Belkin router straight out of the box, took two minutes.
menno
»aartsen.net | |
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| mazilo
From Mazilo
Premium
join:2002-05-30
Lilburn, GA
| Re: T-Mobile UMA does VoIP + said by cbrain :I can start a call over LAN, move out of range and the call switches to cellular network and back. Was the switching subtle?
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Mazi (UK Non-Geo Phone: +44-703-194-2574) | |
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| cgigate
join:2003-05-12
Fort Worth, TX
1 edit | said by cbrain :The phones and wireless router arrived today. Simple setup and everything works. I can start a call over LAN, move out of range and the call switches to cellular network and back. I need to do some reading and testing to determine how to best use my new toy. Do you need to add $10 home@hotspot plan to make Wi-Fi calls ? | |
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| | acmeco
join:2002-01-25
Phoenix, AZ
| Re: T-Mobile UMA does VoIP + I was told by a rep that you do NOT NEED THE $10 add on plan to make wi-fi calls....however they wifi calls you make will take minutes out of your "bucket"....
So, if you have enough minutes, but have bad coverage at home, work, etc, then you can do this with the right phone.
If, however you want unlimited wi-fi minutes you must do the add on plan for it to not take your airtime minutes.
Adam N.
Acme Photography.net
Recent Images on Flickr
MY BLOG | |
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hfrisch
join:2007-02-13
Holmdel, NJ
| T-Mobile is using UMA technology - which is (more or less) GSM sent via a VPN tunnel over WiFi/IP. They seem to be set up with all of the IP connected calls going into one "cell". In that environment, handing over should work fine, provided that you are somewhere that they are expecting a hand over.
In the international use case (Japan is not a great choice as there is no GSM there), the phone will seem to be USA local so long as it is in a WiFi covered place that you can use, since you would be reaching T-Mobile USA via public internet. On the other hand, if you leave the hot spot, for example in the UK, the UK GSM network is not expecting a hand over from a New York phone as it would not likely be administered with New York as a neighboring switch. In that case, the call would drop -- which is probably a good thing, since I would expect that T-Mobile would go to their more traditional $2/minute for international roaming if you actually used a roaming GSM network.
On the question of using "any other" VoIP service - with these phones and this technology, you can't. To do that, you would need a SIP/GSM phone, though those would be less likely to have anything like a seamless hand over as that would require cooperation between different VoIP and Cellular carriers - which is not too likely. | |
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| Quattrohead
join:2005-02-09 | Re: T-Mobile UMA does VoIP + Any way of connecting your home phones into this system and have them use your t-mobile account ? | |
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| | cgigate
join:2003-05-12
Fort Worth, TX
1 edit | Re: T-Mobile UMA does VoIP + said by Quattrohead :Any way of connecting your home phones into this system and have them use your t-mobile account ? No, you can not! unless you have a equipment of UMA with home phone adapter
It is UMA . it is GSM on Wi-Fi. | |
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| | maartsen
join:2007-07-16
Fredericksburg, VA
| said by Quattrohead :Any way of connecting your home phones into this system and have them use your t-mobile account ? Yes - I am using the Nokia 6086 and Phonelabs' Dock-N-Talk with Bluetooth module, my two line Panasonic cordless PABX has one line plugged into the Dock-N-Talk and I get caller ID, and can dial. Quality is reasonable (no cable available for this Nokia). | |
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montee4
Premium
join:2004-02-15
Chicago, IL
| Re: T-Mobile UMA does VoIP + said by maartsen :said by Quattrohead :Any way of connecting your home phones into this system and have them use your t-mobile account ? Yes - I am using the Nokia 6086 and Phonelabs' Dock-N-Talk with Bluetooth module, my two line Panasonic cordless PABX has one line plugged into the Dock-N-Talk and I get caller ID, and can dial. Quality is reasonable (no cable available for this Nokia). How is your voice quality using both BlueTooth and WiFi? Since they are both the same freuqency, I notice a lot of interference when I am using the Dock n Talk on a WiFi call. | |
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burgerwars
join:2004-09-11
Northridge, CA
·voip.ms
·RoadRunner Cable
2 edits | Re: T-Mobile UMA does VoIP + It would be nice if t-Mobile offered the service on their pay-as-you-go plan. t-Mobile is my backup phone. Does anyone know if Sprint or AT&T have plans for similar services?
I've used t-Mobile, AT&T and Sprint in my home, and cellphone service sucks with them all. Downstairs is worthless. If I'm upstairs, standing on my bed holding my cellphone above my head, I might just get a signal. | |
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| | | | | | CommSoft8086
join:2004-03-12
North Falmouth, MA
| Re: T-Mobile UMA does VoIP + said by cbrain :Check your "menu - settings - Wi-Fi - saved networks - highlight chosen connection - options - edit details - Wireless router handovers" and make sure it is set to Yes. Bzzt! Wrong. The 'Wireless Router Handovers' setting is for AP to AP handoffs, where the APs have the same SSID and same security settings (and are on the same network with the same DHCP server, etc.)
The previous poster may be having handoff problems due to the lack of indoor GSM coverage in his area. If the phone has not oriented itself on T-Mobile's public network (by registering and obtaining the MCC-MNC-LAC), a UMA->GSM handoff will not work | |
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| | | | | | | cbrain
join:2000-05-21
Silver Spring, MD
·VoicePulse for Bus..
 ·Verizon FIOS
·Comcast
·Future Nine Corpor..
·VoiceStick
| Re: T-Mobile UMA does VoIP + said by CommSoft8086 :Bzzt! Wrong. The 'Wireless Router Handovers' setting is for AP to AP handoffs, where the APs have the same SSID and same security settings (and are on the same network with the same DHCP server, etc.) The previous poster may be having handoff problems due to the lack of indoor GSM coverage in his area. If the phone has not oriented itself on T-Mobile's public network (by registering and obtaining the MCC-MNC-LAC), a UMA->GSM handoff will not work OK. Sounds impressive. Should this setting be on or off where there is a single wireless access point and a weak to moderate GSM signal?
When I first set up this service I dropped the first 3 test calls as I moved from wireless to GSM or back. I changed this setting to yes and I no longer lost the calls. I have not had a transfer problem in the 80 days since. I changed this setting after reading your post and the next 2 tests worked. tonight the first 2 tests failed and next 2 worked. I called T-mobile about my ongoing problem and asked about this. They had the same impression I had. I read them your post and they promised to check it and get back to me.
Since getting this service, 1 to 3 times a week my phone won't connect to any WiFi connection. The phone sees a strong connection but won't auto connect and I get a 1006 error when I attempt a manual connection. The phone will not connect to any WiFi network, even another location, until I remove the battery and reset my phone. I tried both a new phone and simm without improvement. All T-Mobile techs, advanced whatevers and engineers don't have a clue as to what is causing this or how to fix it.
Any ideas? Could this setting make a difference? | |
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| | | | | | | | CommSoft8086
join:2004-03-12
North Falmouth, MA
| Re: T-Mobile UMA does VoIP + said by cbrain :OK. Sounds impressive. Should this setting be on or off where there is a single wireless access point and a weak to moderate GSM signal? If there's only a single access point, it should be off. Turning the setting on will cause the phone to continually look another AP signal, somewhat degrading battery life. This may improve someday with 802.11R. However, since 802.11R is not ratified yet (802.11R structures AP to AP roaming), you won't see better router/AP handovers in this generation of phones.
Since getting this service, 1 to 3 times a week my phone won't connect to any WiFi connection. The phone sees a strong connection but won't auto connect and I get a 1006 error when I attempt a manual connection. The phone will not connect to any WiFi network, even another location, until I remove the battery and reset my phone. I tried both a new phone and simm without improvement. All T-Mobile techs, advanced whatevers and engineers don't have a clue as to what is causing this or how to fix it.
Any ideas? Could this setting make a difference?
Which phone do you have? I have 5 6086's in my household (as well as an "older" 6136), and have found that the phones periodically "forget" about WiFi. My experience has been that the phones tend to behave better if you don't constantly tool with the WiFi application. Constantly manually scanning for networks seems to aggravate the phone to some extent, and appears to cause its 'forgetfulness'... A power cycle (no need for a bettery pull) usually resolves the problem. | |
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| | | sgpyle
join:2007-11-14
Savage, MN
| Curious about whether you had any issues setting up the 6086 Bluetooth to work with the Dock-N-Talk? I sent my Dock-n-Talk in for the firmware upgrade and purchased the Bluetooth module. I can get the 6086 to pair with the Dock-N-Talk. However, after I make or receive one phone call through the Dock-N-Talk, I lose all functionality to dial our answer incoming calls. There is still dial tone, but no functionality. When this happens, the bluetooth module blinks. I can reconnect by unplugging the Dock-N'Talk, which of course is a total pain, and is only good for the next phone call. I am wondering if there is a special setting on the 6086 that I need to update? Any thoughts? | |
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| maartsen
join:2007-07-16
Fredericksburg, VA | Just for completeness' sake, the US phone will not work on a T-Mobile Hotspot overseas. But it will work on ordinary WiFi, for as long as no login is required.
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»aartsen.net | |
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cgigate
join:2003-05-12
Fort Worth, TX
1 edit | That is great if you do not need to add $10 to make/receive Wi-Fi calls.
I have plenty of minutes, I wish I could make Wi-Fi calls when I travel aboard, all Wi-Fi is considered as domestic calls. | |
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cgigate
join:2003-05-12
Fort Worth, TX
4 edits | Also It is very interesting point,
If you initiate a call while within a wi-fi hotspot, leave that hotspot and the call continues on a normal cell tower the call continues to be free and unlimited.
if All calls to domestic US numbers are free and unlimited when initiated under the wi-fi service.
So when I travel aboard and initial a call from Wi-Fi, then walk away from Wi-Fi coverage into roaming GSM network, the call should be "free" forever. | |
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| acmeco
join:2002-01-25
Phoenix, AZ
| Re: T-Mobile UMA does VoIP + I would be very careful about assuming that overseas calls would be 100% free.
I believe that the cell first "talks" to the tower to register to the network. If you were roaming on some other 3rd party carrier (overseas) I'm not sure that the hotspot would always work.
If you were overseas where tmobile (or a division of tmo) has coverage it may work, however you may still need to "flip the switch" on roaming, so that the phone will register on the tower, (even though you would have no roaming charges when dialing from wifi)
I'm sure someone will try it and let us know.
Adam N.
»www.acmephotography.net - Web
»www.flickr.com/photos/acmephoto - Recent Images
»acmephoto.blogspot.com - BLOG | |
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hfrisch
join:2007-02-13
Holmdel, NJ | If you were not roaming into what T-Mobile would have administered as an "adjacent cell", then the call won't hand over. If you call again, you'll be on local GSM - at $2/minute roaming. | |
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| | Quattrohead
join:2005-02-09
·VOIPo
| Re: T-Mobile UMA does VoIP + You may well get free calling outside the US if using WiFi, but I am 99% sure the call will be dumped or you will get charged at international rates once you go out of range of the WiFi. If you do not have international enabled on your cell, the call will end for sure. | |
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hfrisch
join:2007-02-13
Holmdel, NJ
| I think that's right - the call will be dumped as the local GSM cell would not be considered to be a hand over candidate for the WiFi link (not administered as adjacent). If you call again on local GSM, then you'll be roaming internationally. Same for incoming - if you answer on GSM, you're roaming internationally.
I would go for a separate GSM/SIP phone. At least then I can tell which service I'm using and can pick. It also lets me use a local pre-paid SIM when traveling. | |
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cgigate
join:2003-05-12
Fort Worth, TX
1 edit | said by maartsen :Just for completeness' sake, the US phone will not work on a T-Mobile Hotspot overseas. But it will work on ordinary WiFi, for as long as no login is required. Wrong!
you can load internet browser such as "opera" to Nokia phone to use in any hotspots need "login" | |
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hfrisch
join:2007-02-13
Holmdel, NJ
| True - but if you log into T-Mobile in Europe, you'll need to pay separately for the connection - and their daily rates are over $10/day. T-Mobile USA hotspots are "included" in the plan (otherwise, they charge $8/day unless you get a monthly subscription for $30). | |
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cgigate
join:2003-05-12
Fort Worth, TX
1 edit | Obviously, you need pay to access Hotspot that is why they build for.
Many tricks actually work to fool Hotspot to get free access forever! | |
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| acmeco
join:2002-01-25
Phoenix, AZ
| Re: T-Mobile UMA does VoIP + to cgigate...
Yes T-mobile's hotspot service is a pay-per-use or subscription based service....
ALTHOUGH hotspot@home wifi phone service does NOT requre you to pay for tmoobile's hotspot service as starbucks type places.
IT's a freebie to log on thru tmobile is what I was told be tmobile.
Adam N.
Acme Photography
»www.acmephotography.net - Web
»www.flickr.com/photos/acmephoto - Recent Images
»acmephoto.blogspot.com - BLOG | |
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| Quattrohead
join:2005-02-09
·VOIPo
| Re: T-Mobile UMA does VoIP + I signed up for 1 of the 6086 last night too, but had to pay $50 for it. I do have a $50 rebate for it but the T-Mobile store said it will not work. I will try it and see anyway 
Decided to get the Linksys router that will be free after rebate.
My impressions to come. | |
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desi_gizmo
@intel.com
| For those who have the Nokia 6086, can you use the phone to browse the internet? Case a) with $10/mo hotspot plan, or b) without the plan?
I would imagine that the phone would be able to log into the wifi network at home & allow you to browse the net, but the T-mobile rep I talked to said that the wifi was meant only for making VoIP calls. | |
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arbydog
join:2001-02-05
Lawrenceville, GA
| I have it and it works great. I paid for the extra $10 option of unlimited calls with the plan to drop my $50/month land line. It has 911 service so I'm covered on that. The Phonelabs' Dock-N-Talk option looks good except for the up front costs of that thing. Hand off back and forth is seamless. It will connect to any open wi-fi so keep that in mind.
P.S. Call T-Mobiles 800 number and order through the rep. I got the 1000 anytime minutes for $39/month + the $10 unlimitied wifi calls, free phone and free router and only a 1 year contract (I liked that the best). | |
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cgigate
join:2003-05-12
Fort Worth, TX | Wi-Fi drops off is not caused by SIM card!
I am using 10 years old SIM , it works fine no WiFi drops! | |
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| cbrain
join:2000-05-21
Silver Spring, MD
·VoicePulse for Bus..
·Verizon FIOS
·Comcast
·Future Nine Corpor..
·VoiceStick
| Re: T-Mobile UMA does VoIP + Drops were not my problem. At times, both phones worked on cellular but failed to connect to an available Wifi network. If I looked at the "available networks" sub menu, I could see the network and strength. It would not only fail to automatically connect but if I tried to manually "connect," it would fail and give an error code. Once it fell into this mode, I would need to re-boot the phone at a minimum, and that often did not fix it. This tested at home, office, private networks and Starbucks. In this mode, it would fail on all the above networks until reset. I'm very happy your old SIM works, and don't know why it seemed to cause a problem for me. T-mobile techs suggested this as a solution and it seems to have worked for both handsets.
I want to let anyone that may experience the same problem know it is not a problem you should accept. | |
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| | Quattrohead
join:2005-02-09 | Re: T-Mobile UMA does VoIP + Do you know the size of the old and new sims ? | |
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montee4
Premium
join:2004-02-15
Chicago, IL
| said by cbrain :Drops were not my problem. At times, both phones worked on cellular but failed to connect to an available Wifi network. If I looked at the "available networks" sub menu, I could see the network and strength. It would not only fail to automatically connect but if I tried to manually "connect," it would fail and give an error code. Once it fell into this mode, I would need to re-boot the phone at a minimum, and that often did not fix it. This tested at home, office, private networks and Starbucks. In this mode, it would fail on all the above networks until reset. I'm very happy your old SIM works, and don't know why it seemed to cause a problem for me. T-mobile techs suggested this as a solution and it seems to have worked for both handsets. I want to let anyone that may experience the same problem know it is not a problem you should accept. I am having the opposite problem where when I am on a WiFi call it doesn't switch to the GSM Network when I walk out of range of the Wireless Router, it just drops the call. | |
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Nokia E61i
| I have the Nokia E61i but it is not one of the phones T-Mobile Supports. Does any one know all the setting to configure this phone to work with the VOIP.
Thanks!!!! | |
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| | PCJunkies
join:2007-07-23
Kannapolis, NC
| Re: T-Mobile UMA does VoIP + By default, will the phones always us WiFi if available?
Or does it go by signal strength.
Scenario -
Outside Starbucks in parking lot you get 4 bars strength for Wifi but there is a nearby cell tower that gives you 5 bars. How does the phone handle that?
Thanks in advance.
Clay | |
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| | | cbrain
join:2000-05-21
Silver Spring, MD
·VoicePulse for Bus..
·Verizon FIOS
·Comcast
·Future Nine Corpor..
·VoiceStick
| Re: T-Mobile UMA does VoIP + said by PCJunkies :By default, will the phones always us WiFi if available? Or does it go by signal strength. Scenario - Outside Starbucks in parking lot you get 4 bars strength for Wifi but there is a nearby cell tower that gives you 5 bars. How does the phone handle that? I've had some issues so I can better answer that in a month or so. I your scenario, I think WiFi. If the WiFi drops to 1 bar, not so much. You can disable hand off for a saved connection. Even with my problems, things generally work pretty well. | |
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montee4
Premium
join:2004-02-15
Chicago, IL | T-Mobile just launched the BlackBerry curve as another phone that works with their UMA service. Finally a better phone to choose from! | |
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MODERNMAN
join:2007-09-24
Manhattan Beach, CA
| i have been using the hotspot @home feature on the nokia 6086 for about a week and i like it. I just make an effort to search and connect to available wifi signals when i am near them before initiating calls. seems like a pain for some people but its like playing with toys for me. the phone connects to my stored/saved networks automatically (home/work). cant wait to try it abroad!! oh 1 more thing... i checked up on this. if you and your friends already have unlimited t-mo to t-mo, when u call them it shows up as unlimited wifi minutes on the bill and the party you are calling still gets it free and shows up as t-mo to t-mo for them, assuming they arent on the wifi phone yet. | |
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