T-Mobile Launches 'Wi-Fi Unleashed' Campaign, Pledges Support for Wi-Fi Calling on All New Smartphones

[tjl3]

Meh, unless you are dead zoned at home or at work, public wifi has terrible connectivity. For me, I seem to only have terrible TMo service in areas where there is no reliable or public wifi.

Question: What's the point of buying a GSM iPhone 6, if CDMA iPhone 6 has support for GSM as well? And with the new congressional allowance for changing carriers post-full-purchase, why choose GSM-only iPhone 6?

Should be 1 iPhone except in China, no?

 

[aajeevlin]

Because he's trying to push their routers.

If every T-Mobile user gets one of these it will greatly improve their coverage.

Haha, somebody did ask that question. Unfortunately they are not opening it up for everybody right now. You'll have to stick with your own wireless network.

It's kind of annoying though, it's fine that you are pushing your own stuff. But it's rather annoying to not clear up the technical details. Also from the video demo, I can tell you that router looked like the Asus Nighthawk.

 

[yeah]

A big blow to the other guys... again.

 

[eroslws]

So when is their "replace edge with 3G and filling in the service partner holes coverage" event?

With Band 12 supposedly, but the kicker is that iPhone 6 doesn't support B12. Now, my theory is that they scheduled this event just in case Apple added B12 support, but had this WiFi gimmick as a backup plan.

Sprint needs to up their game though, Apple is basically handing them free customers by making the Sprint iPhone the best one to buy (check out those bands) while also bringing in Spark.

 

[boshii]

Haha, somebody did ask that question. Unfortunately they are not opening it up for everybody right now. You'll have to stick with your own wireless network.

Really? I thought I read somewhere that you could connect to private or public access points for calls. I could have read wrong.

 

[HenryDJP]

They'll likely offer it financed, spread out over 24 months (and possibly with a bit of discount for a short time).

Oh yes, forgot about the installment billing. Decisions decisions. It's been almost 3 years since I have had a choice on which carrier to be with and get the latest phone. I better figure it out by tomorrow night.

 

[teabonesteak]

did att already do this with m-cells? i am using one at my house at it gives me full bars for outgoing calls.. also unlimited minutes for outbound.

forget about incoming though.. terrible reception.

 

[dagamer34]

One thing that is confusing me is about the need for the router. So he said a new router is required to get this done, then he mentioned that you can do wifi calling around the world. Is that mean I would need a router whoever I need to go? This makes no sense to me.

The new router is because most people have crappy routers and this one does QoS so that someone streaming Netflix hogging a bunch of bandwidth doesn't win out over a voice call. If you've got plenty of bandwidth anyway, it's not going to matter, but the reason to have a solution that T-Mobile knows will work is to cut down on support calls.

 

[HenryDJP]

A big blow to the other guys... again.

I wouldn't agree with that. Sprint's been offering this to their customers that have poor reception in the home. They just don't advertise it. They will now after T-mo's promo.

 

[aajeevlin]

Really? I thought I read somewhere that you could connect to private or public access points for calls. I could have read wrong.

Unless I'm mistaken. Somebody asked about the backlash of a similar previous attempt to open up for public access. He said they are not doing that just yet.

 

[boshii]

I have the Apple tower router so I don't really need this but I will get one because it's free and will increase my reception.

 

[Breaking Good]

Because he's trying to push their routers.

If every T-Mobile user gets one of these it will greatly improve their coverage.

This is how Verizon's personal cell spots work. You can program it so that your phone number will always have priority, but anyone who is in range of your cell spot, and on Verizon, can connect through it and make a call or send a text.

So they basically end up charging you for the "privilege" of making a call through your own Internet connection.

 

[aajeevlin]

The new router is because most people have crappy routers and this one does QoS so that someone streaming Netflix hogging a bunch of bandwidth doesn't win out over a voice call. If you've got plenty of bandwidth anyway, it's not going to matter, but the reason to have a solution that T-Mobile knows will work is to cut down on support calls.

I see, thanks. That was a good explanation.

 

[boshii]

Unless I'm mistaken. Somebody asked about the backlash of a similar previous attempt to open up for public access. He said they are not doing that just yet.

Yea I misread. It was saying you can make wifi calls on a private or public access point, not the T-Mobile router specifically.

 

[aajeevlin]

Yea I misread. It was saying you can make wifi calls on a private or public access point, not the T-Mobile router specifically.

But that would be a good idea if they can figure out a way to safely open up for public access. Maybe they can limit to voice calling and offer people incentives for opening it up for public access. Haha.

 

[Populism]

Just today I called at&t and gave up my unlimited plan. After 5GB it is throttled to 2G speed:-( Now I have 10GB share plan (for hotspot device is 2nd line) and unlimited minutes now (had 450) for $5 less a month.

I used around 4-8GB a months so the 10Gb plan with no throttling is better.

I keep eying T-Mobile but will see their connection in Colorado. I'm out of contract Oct 18th this year.

So does that mean you stayed with AT&T or went to another carrier? Just curious. Thanks.

Edit: Nevermind. I see that you stayed. Yep, that's what I may do, too.

 

[fallenjt]

Me too, have zero cell reception at my house. T-Mobile keeps getting more and more tempting, but hard to give up that AT&T unlimited plan.

MicroCell, my friend. I threatened ATT to close all 3 of my accounts and they sent me a MicroCell for free. So it's 5 bars in my house now.

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I was excited about this until John Legere mentioned that it requires hardware. This may be new for T-mo but it's not a new feature. I already have this with Sprint and have had it for over 2 years. In fact Sprint didn't charge me for it nor am I paying any deposit or monthly fee for it.

Plugs right into my router and I do wifi calling on my iPhone 4S. Can walk right from my house to my car and drive off all on the same call. Well, no T-mo for me. Not compelling enough to leave sprint only to pay full price for a phone.

Sprint is worst one in the US. Yup, their 3G speed is like EDGE and 4G is slower than ATT 3G. They're dying especially in Bay Area.

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I'm not clear on why I would need additional hardware to enable WiFi calling. My 5s does very well on WiFi calling on iOS 8 with nothing besides my normal router. Is this simply for QoS purposes? If so, most any router can do that.

Maybe it's like Micro Cell from ATT.

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Oh, you're not watching the T-mo keynote on CNET right now? That's what they are showing. How does your 5S call directly through Wi-fi? The only way that I know of any phone doing that without hardware is through Skype or another voip service.

FaceTime Audio, but to other iOS device only...

 

[brianbunge]

The benefit (or downside) of these Personal Cellspots is that anyone on the respective carrier's network can connect to the carrier's network through your Internet connection using your Personal Cellspot.

So anyone walking down the street could make a call through your Internet connection.

LOL, this is absolutely not true. At least not with the AT&T Microcells. You literally have to register the device on AT&T's website and then enter the phone numbers you want to have access to it. The limit is 10 numbers with a Max of 5 users at any given time. At least it was when I left the company 2 years ago.

 

[F123D]

Can anyone connect to T-Mobiles personal cellspot or will it work like AT&T's microcell where you can add and remove phone numbers of who you want to be able to connect to your personal microcell?

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LOL, this is absolutely not true. At least not with the AT&T Microcells. You literally have to register the device on AT&T's website and then enter the phone numbers you want to have access to it. The limit is 10 numbers with a Max of 5 users at any given time. At least it was when I left the company 2 years ago.

Still the same today. Registered users can only use your microcell on AT&T.

 

[spinedoc77]

I don't understand the announcement. Don't people usually get free unlimited text messaging these days? I don't know Tmobile plans though but I thought it was pretty standard nowadays.

Also what's the big deal about wifi calling? Other than to bolster your phone versus Tmobiles crappy coverage does anyone worry about minutes anymore? All the plans are unlimited, including the prepaid ones. I thought the last great frontier was data, not minutes or text messaging?

I've wanted to like Tmobile for a while, but their coverage is awful where I live. Even if they had good coverage their building penetration is pretty bad. At my hospital I actually get 5 bars of Tmobile, by the time I get to my office I have no reception.

 

[travis64]

will wifi texting and calling work on the $30 pre paid plan?

 

[markgpearse]

Very Happy with T-Mobile

I switched from ATT to T-Mob about 12 months ago. I have been extremely pleased with their products and their transparent pricing. I am very surprised that I could be very be happy with a cell carrier.

Their customer service is outstanding.

I had a bit of a disappointment a few weeks ago when I learned that they are no longer discounting for employees of the large company I work for.

 

[aajeevlin]

I don't understand the announcement. Don't people usually get free unlimited text messaging these days? I don't know Tmobile plans though but I thought it was pretty standard nowadays.

Also what's the big deal about wifi calling? Other than to bolster your phone versus Tmobiles crappy coverage does anyone worry about minutes anymore? All the plans are unlimited, including the prepaid ones. I thought the last great frontier was data, not minutes or text messaging?

I've wanted to like Tmobile for a while, but their coverage is awful where I live. Even if they had good coverage their building penetration is pretty bad. At my hospital I actually get 5 bars of Tmobile, by the time I get to my office I have no reception.

wifi calling will enable HD voice quality on calls. Have you done FaceTime audio? If you have you will know what a difference it makes. No more of those static noise in the background. Also wifi calling enables you to make phones call back to the US for free when you are out of the states.

 

[fallenjt]

This's BS. WiFi calling should be supported on any WiFi even with public WiFi. T-Mo router allows you to make WiFi call at home only? What if I'm in a place that have internet but no cell signal? I want to use that WiFi to make calls...I guess, I should propose everyone to buy iPhone so that we can just use FaceTime Audio to call them...

 

[DJsteveSD]

Come on AT&T, what are you waiting for!!

they could care less what other carriers offer, with the possible exception of Verizon. They will continue to gouge customers as long as they can.