T-Mobile cellular service - T-Mobile Tests Dual Wi-Fi and Cell Service

Author

T-Mobile Tests Dual Wi-Fi and Cell Service

Andromedan

2006-10-24, 4:33 am

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/24/t...y/24mobile.html
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

October 24, 2006

T-Mobile Tests Dual Wi-Fi and Cell Service
By KEN BELSON

Yesterday T-Mobile became the first major mobile phone carrier in the United
States to begin selling service that allows a single handset to communicate
over both cellular networks and Wi-Fi hot spots.

The first phones, which are available to consumers in Seattle on a trial
basis, link to T-Mobile's cellular network outdoors and to Wi-Fi routers at
homes, in offices and in other locations like airports and hotels. This lets
customers avoid using some of their cellular minutes and increases coverage
in places where signals are typically weak, like basements and rooms without
windows.

To gain access to the service, called T-Mobile HotSpot @Home, customers must
buy a phone that works on both networks. T-Mobile is selling a choice of two
handsets that cost $49.99 for customers who sign up for a two-year rate plan
for at least $39.99 a month. Subscribers are charged $19.99 a month in
addition to their regular cellular plan fees.

Customers also need a wireless router, which is free with a rebate. The
router is then connected to any available broadband line for home or office
use. The phones connect not just to the wireless router, but also at any of
7,000 Wi-Fi hot spots that T-Mobile operates at Starbucks coffee shops,
Hyatt Hotels and other public locations.

T-Mobile has set up a Web site, www.theonlyphoneyouneed.com, for customers
who want to sign up for the service.

Since customers can make unlimited calls using their broadband connections,
the service represents a threat to Vonage, SunRocket and other companies
that offer phone plans over high-speed Internet connections. The service
also gives T-Mobile a leg up in competing with Sprint and other cellular
carriers that are trying to develop similar services.

The dual-use phone service may appeal most to younger consumers who do not
have a traditional phone line and rely solely on cellular phones and
broadband lines.

"For the below-30 age segment, it's a no-brainer," said Roger Entner, a
wireless industry analyst at Ovum, a consulting firm. "This is also a threat
for other wireless carriers because it fixes the problem of poor coverage
inside homes."

Though consumers conceivably will use fewer cellular minutes with these
phones, Mr. Entner said T-Mobile still benefits because consumers have to
buy some kind of rate plan. T-Mobile can also lower its costs because some
phone traffic that would otherwise travel on its cellular network will move
to a competitor's broadband network.

T-Mobile may also avoid having to build as many base stations and antennas
to reach inside homes and offices.

A company spokesman, Peter Dobrow, declined to say how long the trial in the
Seattle area would continue, or on T-Mobile's plans to introduce the service
elsewhere.

Earlier this month, however, Robert Dotson, the chief executive of T-Mobile
USA, said his company would develop services that would eliminate the need
for traditional phones.

Sprint has been working with cable companies to come up with services that
integrate its cellular network with the broadband and video services offered
by cable companies.

---------------------------
Copyright 2006 The New York Times Company

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J Figueredo

2006-10-31, 4:33 am

Sounds interesting, but the extra charge for the Hot Spot plan seems to be a
bit pricey, at least for my taste....

"Andromedan" <andromedan@galaxy.universe> wrote in message
news:453d9926$0$1961
6$88260bb3@free.teranews.com...
> http://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/24/t...y/24mobile.html
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> October 24, 2006
>
> T-Mobile Tests Dual Wi-Fi and Cell Service
> By KEN BELSON
>
> Yesterday T-Mobile became the first major mobile phone carrier in the
> United
> States to begin selling service that allows a single handset to
> communicate
> over both cellular networks and Wi-Fi hot spots.
>
> The first phones, which are available to consumers in Seattle on a trial
> basis, link to T-Mobile's cellular network outdoors and to Wi-Fi routers
> at
> homes, in offices and in other locations like airports and hotels. This
> lets
> customers avoid using some of their cellular minutes and increases
> coverage
> in places where signals are typically weak, like basements and rooms
> without
> windows.
>
> To gain access to the service, called T-Mobile HotSpot @Home, customers
> must
> buy a phone that works on both networks. T-Mobile is selling a choice of
> two
> handsets that cost $49.99 for customers who sign up for a two-year rate
> plan
> for at least $39.99 a month. Subscribers are charged $19.99 a month in
> addition to their regular cellular plan fees.
>
> Customers also need a wireless router, which is free with a rebate. The
> router is then connected to any available broadband line for home or
> office
> use. The phones connect not just to the wireless router, but also at any
> of
> 7,000 Wi-Fi hot spots that T-Mobile operates at Starbucks coffee shops,
> Hyatt Hotels and other public locations.
>
> T-Mobile has set up a Web site, www.theonlyphoneyouneed.com, for customers
> who want to sign up for the service.
>
> Since customers can make unlimited calls using their broadband
> connections,
> the service represents a threat to Vonage, SunRocket and other companies
> that offer phone plans over high-speed Internet connections. The service
> also gives T-Mobile a leg up in competing with Sprint and other cellular
> carriers that are trying to develop similar services.
>
> The dual-use phone service may appeal most to younger consumers who do not
> have a traditional phone line and rely solely on cellular phones and
> broadband lines.
>
> "For the below-30 age segment, it's a no-brainer," said Roger Entner, a
> wireless industry analyst at Ovum, a consulting firm. "This is also a
> threat
> for other wireless carriers because it fixes the problem of poor coverage
> inside homes."
>
> Though consumers conceivably will use fewer cellular minutes with these
> phones, Mr. Entner said T-Mobile still benefits because consumers have to
> buy some kind of rate plan. T-Mobile can also lower its costs because some
> phone traffic that would otherwise travel on its cellular network will
> move
> to a competitor's broadband network.
>
> T-Mobile may also avoid having to build as many base stations and antennas
> to reach inside homes and offices.
>
> A company spokesman, Peter Dobrow, declined to say how long the trial in
> the
> Seattle area would continue, or on T-Mobile's plans to introduce the
> service
> elsewhere.
>
> Earlier this month, however, Robert Dotson, the chief executive of
> T-Mobile
> USA, said his company would develop services that would eliminate the need
> for traditional phones.
>
> Sprint has been working with cable companies to come up with services that
> integrate its cellular network with the broadband and video services
> offered
> by cable companies.
>
> ---------------------------
> Copyright 2006 The New York Times Company
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> --
> Posted via a free Usenet account from http://www.teranews.com
>

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