First Wifi Cellphone in US launched

[BostonDomainer]

T-Mobile launches the first Wifi Cell Phone which seamlessly jumps from traditional network to any wifi voip network. The other 3 big carriers should follow suit soon. Here's the link:

http://www.engadget.com/2007/06/27/t-mobile-goes-national-with-hotspot-home-wifi-calling/

 

[muris]

-X-: Thanks for the good news. It should force other networks to introduce 3G and flat internet rates too. Otherwise people will switch to WiFi permanently (high speed & low cost).

 

[KaneCo]

works fairly well I tested it out last night....fairly good range around my wireless router. Seemed to be a better then my vonage and other services I have used. Still was hard to use in wifi spots unless I went inside i.e. tacobell etc.

 

[Gerry]

with more and more cities and major metropolitan areas going "free wifi" all around, this could become a very big and a very in thing. If I understand this correctly, this would work also as a phone for VoIP no matter where you are and not be charged for T-Mobile minutes? And if it works with VoIP, then there are no roaming fees and international calls would be pennies?

Or am I reading into this too much.

 

[KaneCo]

not so much making free calls everywhere with the t-mobile, you have to add a $20 feature to your calling plan for unlimited wifi, which does not include international

 

[muris]

if it works with VoIP, then there are no roaming fees and international calls would be pennies?

I think you are right.
Some time ago I was reading analysis predicting VoIP is not only going to hurt "hard line" companies but later mobile operators as well.
It's just the matter of time.

 

[Gerry]

Then there is news like this of Mobile (.mobi) and VoIP being accessed by the cell phone. Is this T-Mobile plan similar?

This is a hurting for traditional land line telephones.

http://voipservices.tmcnet.com/feature/articles/7961-raketus-voip-service-goes-mobile.htm

June 26, 2007
Raketu's VoIP Service Goes Mobile

Internet communications company Raketu announced today that its RakWeb VoIP service now works on mobile devices.

According to a press release, the company's RakWeb VoIP service now works on leading mobile devices running the Symbian operating system - including the Nokia ( News - Alert) E70 - as well as Windows Mobile and Linux Mobile.

Consumers can use this Web-based VoIP service simply by visiting www.raketu.mobi, entering their mobile number and then entering the destination number. Raketu will connect the lines via VoIP at a fraction of the cost of traditional calling rates.

"With the launch of RakWeb for mobile devices, Raketu now offers consumers more ways to access VoIP telephony services than any other VoIP service," said Greg Parker, CEO of Raketu Communications, in a press release. "Regardless of your Internet connection or technical know-how, Raketu offers a way to access VoIP services easily and affordably."

Registered Raketu users can call other Raketu users for free, no matter where they are located (both users need to be running Raketu¹s LaunchPad desktop application). Meanwhile, calls to landlines and mobiles of non-Raketu users are offered at characteristically-low VoIP rates.

Raketu's RakOut dial-out VoIP service offers free calling to locations in over 40 countries, and competitive VoIP rates on all other calls (this requires one user on Raketu, the other on a landline or mobile phone). The Web-based service requires no software downloads and can be used by anyone with access to a Web browser.

For more information, visit www.raketu.com.
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Perhaps this is why AT&T bought Cingular. And Yahoo, instead of starting their own phone service & VoIP service, is looking to form strategic alliances with existing telecommunication companies (particularly in the Far East).

It only seems natural that everyone else is going to have to step up and offer similar services for a flat rate plan.

I think the telephone and mobile communications market is about to turn traditional calling on it's head.

 

[sashas]

good thing I got a good wifi domain!