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New UMA service to offer home and hotspot connectivity

Cellular provider T-Mobile began trials of a new UMA service last week. Customers were equipped with routers and a compatible dual mode Wi-Fi/GSM phone enabling Wifi access from home as well as hotspots. It may also cut costs for the consumer. Calls made from dual-mode phones are routed over the Internet at lower cost. This can also free-up network capacity allowing for more wireless services. T-Mobile, the 4th largest cell provider, and its competitors are facing slow growth with 80% market saturation. New services are the only way to retain market share and stimulate growth. The FCC spectrum auction is also allowing T-Mobile the opportunity to re-position itself, it currently leads all bidders with over $1.5 billion on 41 provisional winning bids.

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Brianv5
Low Level Functionary
Premium Member
join:2001-01-20
Keyser, WV

1 recommendation

Brianv5

Premium Member

Don't see features mattering much

At the end of the day, I think the bulk of people just want reliable service. Who's watching video or downloading music on a phone? That's what I have a computer for.
JBT
Premium Member
join:2002-12-06
Odessa, FL

JBT

Premium Member

Re: Don't see features mattering much

Agreed I don't want more services. I want it cheaper and more reliable.

RadioDoc

join:2000-05-11
La Grange, IL

2 recommendations

RadioDoc

Re: Don't see features mattering much

Ya know what would really be news? A phone that sounded better than a kid's toy and didn't have a quarter second of processing delay and 100% distortion. Or put another way, a phone which concentrated on quality phone service first and the toys second.

Why do people put up with it?

tapeloop
Not bad at all, really.
Premium Member
join:2004-06-27
Airstrip One

tapeloop

Premium Member

Re: Don't see features mattering much

Can't argue with that.

Do you think that the so-called "reduction" in network traffic would result in better quality calls? I would imagine that a great many people would have to sign up for the UMA in order to make a dent on the GSM side.

phattieg
join:2001-04-29
Winter Park, FL

phattieg to Brianv5

Member

to Brianv5
said by Brianv5:

At the end of the day, I think the bulk of people just want reliable service. Who's watching video or downloading music on a phone? That's what I have a computer for.
While I'll admit I don't often use it, having broadband speed capability thru a USB cable has helped me gain internet access when I was faced with tough times. I also enjoy watching the news on my phone at 6am when I'm at work waiting for a call. More services mean more bandwidth, which means faster broadband speeds for phones. It won't be too long before cellular internet will be up there with cable and dsl. It's very possible, look at China.
jbskaggs
join:2004-10-15
Hickory, NC

jbskaggs to Brianv5

Member

to Brianv5
UMA offer much more then broadband access. GSM enabled phones have more issues with signal quality and connectivity. In-doors, like my house, provides little to no signal. UMA would allow my phone to operate over my wi-fi service to provide me service. The same applys to being out and about. Take a trip to the local mall. The reception in the lower level offers no reception. Cingular, my carrier, does not have any reception even through the mall. The end result for the technology is to provide custmors better quality service, and at a lower cost. This is win-win. I just wish they would hurry up.

sivran
Vive Vivaldi
Premium Member
join:2003-09-15
Irving, TX

sivran

Premium Member

Re: Don't see features mattering much

Cingular sounds horrible. T-Mobile is the only provider out of the three I've tried (Verizon, Sprint, and Cingular) where I've had more than one bar inside my house. My T-Mo gets full reception in my house, which is a good thing considering it's almost always closer to me than my actual house phone, which I often don't hear ringing.
IanR
join:2001-03-22
Fort Mill, SC

1 edit

1 recommendation

IanR

Member

I think this is really useful

The user who has a home WiFi network effectively gets to use his/her cellphone at home w/o using up minutes. Plus when travelling (especially overseas) one can utilize the WiFi connection to makes calls back into the USA.
Most of all it makes the POTS phone much less necessary as you have both the cell network and home WiFi network to fall back upon.
FLA05
join:2006-01-11
Panama City, FL

FLA05

Member

Re: I think this is really useful

I agree! Now, if Cingular catches on and offers similar products, I'm going to do a happy dance!
nater351
join:2006-06-08
Modesto, CA

nater351

Member

Does anyone know where we can get this trial?

I am very very interested in this because I have T-Mobile and I dont get service at my house. I would love it if I could get in on this trial. Does anyone know how to go about doing that?

mr sean
Professional Infidel

join:2001-04-03
N. Absentia

mr sean

Re: Does anyone know where we can get this trial?

said by nater351:

Does anyone know how to go about doing that?
»gizmodo.com/assets/resou ··· home.pdf (pdf)
smogrady
join:2003-06-17
Chicago, IL

smogrady

Member

Gizmodo had this 2 weeks ago

Gizmodo covered this 2 weeks ago:
»www.gizmodo.com/gadgets/ ··· 2149.php