EvelKub
Kitty is crazy
Premium
join:2002-03-17
Phoenix, AZ
2 edits | T-Mobile H@H Promo
T-Mobile has a promo now that adds unlimited calling on their UMA (VOIP) service for $9.99 per month.
»tmonews.com/2008/05/everyone-lov···limited/
This includes unlimited calling in 4 categories: UMA (VOIP), Mobile2Mobile, Nights and Weekends and each person's 5 faves. It requires a Family MyFaves plan. If you already have M2M or H@H as an addon, be sure to remove it so you don't get double charged for that feature. Call 611 to add the feature instead of just doing it online - they can back date the change to the first day of your current billing cycle.
I like this more than the traditional VOIP offers for a couple of reasons. 1) Single voicemail and phone number at home and away 2) T-Mobile allows you to use your phone anywhere in the world with Wi-Fi, while many of the VOIP providers limit you to the USA. |
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cgigate
join:2003-05-12
Fort Worth, TX
1 edit | toooo old news!
I have T-mobile UMA with $9.99 /month since last summer |
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EvelKub
Kitty is crazy
Premium
join:2002-03-17
Phoenix, AZ | This is different from the original plan. This includes M2M and H@H in a single $9.99 addon. |
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cbrain
join:2000-05-21
Silver Spring, MD
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| reply to EvelKub
said by EvelKub  :... I like this more than the traditional VOIP offers for a couple of reasons. 1) Single voicemail and phone number at home and away 2) T-Mobile allows you to use your phone anywhere in the world with Wi-Fi, while many of the VOIP providers limit you to the USA. 3) Single failure point.
It's a great concept, is steadily improving, and still fails regularly. I highly recommend it but would never rely on it as my only number. |
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Usenet1
join:2008-04-07
87100
| reply to EvelKub
My understanding of the program is that it requires a fairly expensive monthly plan, then the additional $9.99 add-on package. The phones seem to not allow configuring an independent VoIP provider via SIP.
Now my question: If a person has a T-Mobile smart phone, couldn't a person load a program like Fring onto the smart phone and simply use the WiFi capabilities of the Smartphone to utilize Fring to make WiFi/SIP phone calls to THEIR choice of VoIP providers? My smartphone doesn't even require a SIM card to connect to any open WiFi service, and I'm thinking that I'd like to be able to use Fring to make WiFi calls to my existing VoIP provider, and completely bypass T-Mobile altogether. Is this possible?
Thanks,
Valentin |
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EvelKub
Kitty is crazy
Premium
join:2002-03-17
Phoenix, AZ
1 edit | This addon requires a MyFaves for Families plan (tho some have reported getting it added to non MyFaves plans) so it would be $79.98 per month minimum for 2 lines. This includes unlimited calling anywhere with WiFi plus unlimited MyFaves, N/W and M2M while out on the cell network.
Yes, you could of course put a SIP software on your phone that would work while on WiFi, but it would not function right once you move to GSM because of latency.
The method that T-Mobile uses is not SIP, but instead a form of GSM over an encrypted network tunnel. |
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Elecconnec
join:2008-02-21
Littleton, CO
| reply to Usenet1
said by Usenet1 :My understanding of the program is that it requires a fairly expensive monthly plan, then the additional $9.99 add-on package. The phones seem to not allow configuring an independent VoIP provider via SIP. Because it's not VoIP, but UMA, or "Unlicensed Mobile Access"- it sends the same GSM packets over the internet that it would've sent over the cell tower. This makes it fairly easy to build into phones, since you're essentially using the same hardware, codecs, etc. right up to the radio.
I like to call it "GoIP"- GSM over IP. 
said by Usenet1 :Now my question: If a person has a T-Mobile smart phone, couldn't a person load a program like Fring onto the smart phone and simply use the WiFi capabilities of the Smartphone to utilize Fring to make WiFi/SIP phone calls to THEIR choice of VoIP providers? My smartphone doesn't even require a SIM card to connect to any open WiFi service, and I'm thinking that I'd like to be able to use Fring to make WiFi calls to my existing VoIP provider, and completely bypass T-Mobile altogether. Is this possible? Yes. I do it all of the time, using Gizmo Project on the native VoIP client built-into WM6, (as well as with Fring, but Fring is buggy and the GUI stinks.) I have my cell number set to forward whenever "unavailable" to my Gizmo number so if I don't answer, or am out of the service area, calls automatically forward to my VoIP number, which if WiFi on my phone is turned on, will ring automatically. If I don't take the call on my VoIP line, the audio of any message left is e-mailed to the Push account on my phone, just like the iPhone's Visual Voicemail.
This consolidates my phone's cell and VoIP numbers, and my voicemail so I get it delivered to the phone without calling in to retrieve it. And, by using Gizmo's free "area 775" numbers (free numbers in the 775 area code supplied by Callwave), the Visual Voicemail and incoming VoIP is free. I pay a couple of cents a minute for outgoing, but then again, I've never spent $9.95/month on it! This came in VERY handy in Cancun last winter. My hotel had free WiFi, and I could call back home for $0.02/min on VoIP vs. the $1.49/minute T-Mo charges for roaming in Mexico.
I still would like a UMA Windows Mobile phone however- first it's easier to set up and MUCH better sounding that running a VoIP client on a phone. Secondly, there's no cost- the $9.95/month is just for unlimited access- UMA still works (out of your regular minutes allotment) if you don't pay it, so it would still work when in weak cellular reception areas or overseas. |
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Usenet1
join:2008-04-07
87100
| Thanks much for the followup.
You mentioned something about the "Native VoIP client" built into WM6. What is that? I've loaded Fring onto my HTV Hermes (ATT 8525) but my device is WM5. I think it might be time to update the OS on my newly acquired smartphone. I'll also have to go visit Gizmo Project to see what that's all about.
I recently reverted to a PrePaid T-Mobile acct after 5 years of PostPaid, in an attempt to save $$. I don't have any Data Services at all currently, so whatever solution I come accross will have to be strictly WiFi, as I can log into any open WiFi point without paying for T-Mob data charges.
You've given me plenty to research, for which I'm quite grateful.
V. |
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Elecconnec
join:2008-02-21
Littleton, CO
| said by Usenet1 :Thanks much for the followup. You mentioned something about the "Native VoIP client" built into WM6. What is that? Microsoft built an "Internet Calling" feature into WM6. However, it's removed from most carrier-branded devices (for obvious reasons.) The good hackers at xda-developers.com have figured out how to add it back it, or you can flash "generic" ROMs the cookers have built for most devices that re-enable the VoIP function. Essentially, when Internet Calling is turned on, the VoIP line is active whenever the WiFi is switched on, using the same phone app as the cellular portion of the phone- if an incoming call comes in, you'll see whatever you named the VoIP parameters where the carrier name (AT&T. T-Mobile, etc.) is usually displayed. For outgoing, you tell the phone in the Internet Calling setup to never use it for outgoing, whenever available (whenever WiFi is on) or only when cellular is unavailable.
said by Usenet1 :I've loaded Fring onto my HTV Hermes (ATT 8525) but my device is WM5. I think it might be time to update the OS on my newly acquired smartphone. I'll also have to go visit Gizmo Project to see what that's all about. Gizmo's mail attraction to me is the free incoming number (albeit only in the 775 area code, which isn't a problem since Long Distance is "free" on cellular.) Any VoIP will do.
said by Usenet1 :I recently reverted to a PrePaid T-Mobile acct after 5 years of PostPaid, in an attempt to save $$. I don't have any Data Services at all currently, so whatever solution I come accross will have to be strictly WiFi, as I can log into any open WiFi point without paying for T-Mob data charges. You've given me plenty to research, for which I'm quite grateful. V. Actually that's a problem, at least as far as seamless switching from cellular to VoIP is concerned. T-Mo doesn't allow call forwarding on prepaid accounts, so you won't be able to set up the phone to forward to VoIP when unavailable, which kills both "Visual Voicemail" (voicemail audio e-mailed to you) and automatic transfer of cellular calls to Fring or the native VoIP client if you're out of the area. |
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