Comments on: Switching from cell to Wi-Fi, seamlessly

T-Mobile prepares service allowing callers uninterrupted shifting between cellular network, consumer Wi-Fi network.

[cary1]

nice idea...

if T-mobile roll outs this service in near future, I will say goodbye to landline.

[Peter Bonte]

Can you say iPhone

I think this is the kind of service Apple has been waiting for.

[robot999]

Brilliant!

This is an excellent deduction. I'll rumor it out even more...Apple
buys T-Mobile, expands network to thousands of locations
worldwide.
; ) too cool.

[robot999]

I'm interested...

in seeing how this will work. I am a T-Mobile customer now (and i
love the service). I will be transitioning to a work-at-home
scenario and this will cause me to dramatically increase my cell
minutes. If I could use my wifi network @ home, that would be
sweet!

[j_d_mayo]

Could be cool...

Does this mean that that companies like Vonage would be taking a beating? Or would T-mobile still require some type of VOIP service to be able to use? For instance, I live in an area that is Cox Communications only and has not yet introduced digital phone. But I am able to get broadband cable internet. Will I even need the digital phone service or can T-mobile cut out the middle man? I am also a happy t-mobile customer.

[Maggie Reardon]

T-Mobile Wi-Fi Voip service

From what I understand of the service, customers would not need a separate VOIP line. T-Mobile will provide the Wi-Fi router and enable the dual mode phone. Then users will pay for their usual cell phone service and likely pay an additional $10 or so a month to get all unlimited calling over the home Wi-Fi network using the dual-mode phone. So this defninitely is a service that could replace cable's home phone offering and VoIP services from Skype or Vonage.

[j_d_mayo]

WiFi phone takes out VOIP

Awesome!!

[zanzzz]

The Begining Of The End

Hopefully this is the begining of the end of the current inadequate mobile cell services in the US. While the carriers continuously dangle shiny new multidevices with yet more bells and whistles basic service remains subpar. If these companies are really smart they would be investing in wimax networks with the capacity to offer superior cell and broadband services. This would render the current cellular systems and anticompetitive cable ISP's obsolete.

[kieranmullen]

Unlimited cell service is already available

Most cell phone companies are greedy. My plan is $40 a month +Tax for 1000 min. This still is not a great deal. Fortunately flat rate unlimited cell service has been out for several years. www.mycricket.com I see the market headed in this direction.

However if companies are going to offer WIFI service then they should lower the price to a skype level like .01 per min without monthly fees.

Otherwise people are going to just get their own unlocked dual mode GSM/WIFI phones and do it themselves.
KieranMullen

[disco-legend-zeke]

Once 802.11n blankets the city, no cellphone needed.

The emergance of WI-FI branded 802.11 handsets moves us closer to the day when we can drop or cell phone carrier completely.

While the cell companies are buying spectrum like crazy, a bigger and bigger portion of bandwidth is being carried on FREE unlicensed spectrum.

T-mobile is probably the first carrier to understand where this is taking us.

[chuck_whealton]

Re: Once 802.11N Blankets The City, No Cellphone Needed...

Well, I'd have to agree with you there, that it's going in that direction, but it's not there yet. Plus, let's face it, even when it is there, networks will be locked down.

I don't see the need for cell access going away anytime soon, but it is nice to have the ability to seemlessly switch between 802.11 and cellular connectivity.

T-Mobile does a lot of good things. The unfortunate part is that the coverage of their (cell) network still isn't where Verizon's is YET.

I still continue to keep my eye on them and I absolutely won't rule out switching to them in the future.

Charles R. Whealton
Charles Whealton @ pleasedontspam.com