montee4
Premium
join:2004-02-15
Chicago, IL
| reply to Authority
Re: [Equipment] T-Mobile UMA (VoIP) BlackBerry Amazing!
T-Mobile has released an upgrade to the Blackberry Curve (»www.t-mobile.com/bbupgrade/). I updated my Curve and I am getting a more stable UMA connection now. Plus, it seems to switch from GSM to UMA faster when it finds an available Wi-Fi network.
One thing to look out for, once the update is done and the phone restarts, you see an hour glass icon for about 15 minutes. Don't try to shut the phone off. I almost did since I though it was stuck, but just wait it out and it will start up fine. |
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wadonoel
Premium
join:2004-11-16
New York, NY | reply to Authority
How's battery life? My Nokia 6086 drains the battery rather fast when I talk over Wi-fi. |
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voip_user
join:2006-06-14
Middletown, CT
 ·VoiceStick
| reply to montee4
said by montee4  :said by TMobileMan :said by montee4 :Once you accept it via the browser, the UMA connection kicks in and you can start placing free calls. Not exactly true. The calls are only "free" if you pay for their "hotspot@Home" feature, otherwise they're taken out of your normal minutes. Do you still get a UMA connection though the WiFi if you haven't puchased the hotspot @ home service? I assumed the phone wouldn't connect. Even if you don't sign up for hotspot@home service you will get an UMA conneection BUT ONLY the minute would STILL be counted against your cell plan minutes.
The hotspot@home service only makes your UMA minutes not count against your cell plan minutes it does not add ability to make WiFi call (that is already there if you have a phone uma enabled phone with your t-mobile service)_ |
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montee4
Premium
join:2004-02-15
Chicago, IL
4 edits | reply to TMobileMan
said by TMobileMan :said by montee4 :Once you accept it via the browser, the UMA connection kicks in and you can start placing free calls. Not exactly true. The calls are only "free" if you pay for their "hotspot@Home" feature, otherwise they're taken out of your normal minutes. Do you still get a UMA connection though the WiFi if you haven't puchased the hotspot @ home service? I assumed the phone wouldn't connect. |
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Authority
Obama Biden '12
join:2000-03-29
Beverly Hills, CA
 ·AT&T Yahoo
·Packet8
·magicjack.com
| reply to mq8
said by mq8 :Thanks for the replies Authority & montee4 ... I'm seriously considering switching from AT&T since most of my calls take place from home or the office. FYI AT&T did an RFP last year for a similar service though i dont think they're close to offering it.
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Canada = economically, militarily, politically, and culturally irrelevant. |
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Authority
Obama Biden '12
join:2000-03-29
Beverly Hills, CA
·AT&T Yahoo
·Packet8
·magicjack.com
| reply to stufried
said by stufried :Yes, I mean "like" a Starbucks, but TMobile USA. I know that HS @ Home automatically works on a TMobile Hotspot. For example, could you sign up on an ATT Hotspot or a Concourse one? Easily yes. |
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mq8
join:2007-08-17
Orlando, FL
| reply to Authority
Thanks for the replies Authority & montee4 ... I'm seriously considering switching from AT&T since most of my calls take place from home or the office. |
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stufried
Premium
join:2003-10-13
1 edit | reply to Authority
Yes, I mean "like" a Starbucks, but NOT TMobile USA. I know that HS @ Home automatically works on a TMobile Hotspot. For example, could you sign up on an ATT Hotspot or a Concourse one? |
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Authority
Obama Biden '12
join:2000-03-29
Beverly Hills, CA
·AT&T Yahoo
·Packet8
·magicjack.com
| reply to montee4
said by montee4 :The phone is already configured to join T-Mobile Hotspot locations as well as the T-Mobile branded routers they offer. Mine wasn't. I has to login at Starbucks. |
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TMobileMan
@sbcglobal.net
| reply to montee4
said by montee4 :Once you accept it via the browser, the UMA connection kicks in and you can start placing free calls. Not exactly true. The calls are only "free" if you pay for their "hotspot@Home" feature, otherwise they're taken out of your normal minutes. |
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montee4
Premium
join:2004-02-15
Chicago, IL
1 edit | reply to Authority
said by Authority :said by stufried :With the UMA Blackberry, can you successfully navigate your way through an ordinary hotspot portal and onto the net? I've only had it for a day, but so far connected via a corporate portal with no problem. You mean like Starbucks where you enter user and password through a browser right? The phone is already configured to join T-Mobile Hotspot locations as well as the T-Mobile branded routers they offer.
You do not need to pay for Hotspot service to get your phone to work on their Wifi network, it automatically connects. I tried it last night at the FedEx Kinkos near my house.
The blackberry, under the wifi setting section, has a "WiFi Hotspot Login" option, this launches the phone browser which takes you to the login page that you get when you first open a browser at most hotels and places like Panera. I just tried it at Panera. It just asks you to agree to the terms and conditions of Panera's wifi. Once you accept it via the browser, the UMA connection kicks in and you can start placing free calls. |
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montee4
Premium
join:2004-02-15
Chicago, IL
| reply to mq8
said by mq8 :Can it automatically use wifi/VoIP for incoming calls even if there is a signal? e.g. when I'm in my office, can it automatically be set to use my wifi for all incoming calls? If you have a WiFi connection, all calls will use Wifi regardless if you have a GSM signal. Once the Wifi signal starts to weaken the phone switches over to GSM. You can always turn off Wifi if you want to force calls on the GSM network.
I just got my Blackberry thursday and love it. I am using it with a Dock 'n Talk and it is now my main phone line.
The cool part about this phone is that while you are driving, just go near a starbucks, the phone picks up the T-Mobile Hotspot, start your call, then drive a way. THe call will be free since it was started via a WiFi connection even though it switched over to the GSM network as you drive away. |
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Authority
Obama Biden '12
join:2000-03-29
Beverly Hills, CA
·AT&T Yahoo
·Packet8
·magicjack.com
1 edit | reply to stufried
said by stufried :With the UMA Blackberry, can you successfully navigate your way through an ordinary hotspot portal and onto the net? I've only had it for a day, but so far connected via a corporate portal with no problem. You mean like Starbucks where you enter user and password through a browser right?
--
Canada = economically, militarily, politically, and culturally irrelevant. |
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Authority
Obama Biden '12
join:2000-03-29
Beverly Hills, CA
·AT&T Yahoo
·Packet8
·magicjack.com
| reply to mq8
said by mq8 :Can it automatically use wifi/VoIP for incoming calls even if there is a signal? e.g. when I'm in my office, can it automatically be set to use my wifi for all incoming calls? Yes! In fact you can turn off cellular, or wifi, or both.
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Canada = economically, militarily, politically, and culturally irrelevant. |
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stufried
Premium
join:2003-10-13 | reply to Authority
With the UMA Blackberry, can you successfully navigate your way through an ordinary hotspot portal and onto the net? |
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Sopper
Premium
join:2000-11-02
Rochester, MN | reply to Authority
Lets see a picture of you with your new phone authority...  |
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voip_user
join:2006-06-14
Middletown, CT
·VoiceStick
| reply to Authority
said by Authority :I just got my new BlackBerry 3820 - the first Hotspot@Home (VoIP) BlackBerry. Its awesome! I believe you meant BlackBerry 8320 -- Can you please correct the typo? |
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mq8
join:2007-08-17
Orlando, FL | reply to Authority
Can it automatically use wifi/VoIP for incoming calls even if there is a signal? e.g. when I'm in my office, can it automatically be set to use my wifi for all incoming calls? |
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Authority
Obama Biden '12
join:2000-03-29
Beverly Hills, CA
·AT&T Yahoo
·Packet8
·magicjack.com
| reply to mazilo
Apples and oranges. The new 8320 voip uses the same phone number, works on wifi, etc. It has two key advantages:
1 it solves the problem of low signal strength (just add wifi)
2 it reduces the need for anytime minutes (up to half in my case)
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Canada = economically, militarily, politically, and culturally irrelevant. |
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mazilo
From Mazilo
Premium
join:2002-05-30
Lilburn, GA | reply to Authority
Older version BB Pearl 8100 can also run VoIP using the Gizmo mobile softphone. |
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