BT set to launch Fusion cellphone/landline hybrid
posted Jun 15th 2005 10:40AM
Looks like BT's finally getting serious about its Bluetooth-based system that allows customers to use a cellphone
handset to connect to a landline when they're at home. The service — previously called
Bluephone and now dubbed Fusion — relies on a Bluetooth
access point at home, which automatically switches the phone from Vodafone's cell network to BT's fixed lines. The
system is being tested with 400 customers, with plans for a full rollout in September. Pricing will run from £9.99 to
£14.99 a month, plus charges for calls and a BT Broadband account. Unfortunately, BT has kept the most onerous part of
the Bluephone price plan: charging those who call Bluephone customers at cellphone rates, even when the customer is at
home using the landline hub. Well, at least you won't have to wonder why your friends never call you.
[Thanks, David Edington]
This has got the be the stupidest product of the year if not decade (thus far) ... where's the value proposition ? Monthly fees and still charging when at home and using a land line ? Haven't people heard of call forwarding to a land line ?
This kind of thing was promised almost 12 years ago. It was an interesting idea back then... but now it needs to take things like IM, VOIP and wi-fi under it's wing, bluetooth is only a start.
So you need a British Telecom DSL line, and the phone talks to the DSL router using bluetooth.
Sounds a lot like they'll be using VOIP... but if they are, why are the call charges so high when at home?
Hang on - if you're at home and on a BT plan you don't pay for calls, why is this a step forward??
Ok, now why would anyone pay £14.99 a month to have a bluetooth router to swith your mobile to the landline??
Why not just pick the normal phone up Its less than 10 meters away and chances are you can roam the house with it and not be confined to your 10m bubble!
The technology it's called UMA and enables automatic and seamless voice call handover between the bluetooth and GSM networks. The transport via DSL is cheaper than GSM so it should be sheaper to call from home (even free if you already paid for the DLS line). The idea behind this is to use the same phone all the time.
The Bluetooth Acces point is replacing a GSM Cell conected via Internet to the GSM core network, so that's why they can't charge landline prices in the incomming calls (it is procesed by the Wireless Core, not the landline core)
Any idea who manufactures the hub?
There logo looks a lot like those puzzle balls you get from the quarter machines as a child. Fun-times.
BT is a rip off. This service will have a catch in it somewhere, there always is. Bulldog offer 8 MPS broadband for £29.99 which sounds like a good deal, but then you have a £10 fee from BT per month just to use their lines. OFCOM needs to step up and make pricing fairer and more clear to the customer.
I don't get it. Isn't it a hell of a lot cheaper just to buy a landline phone rather than the hub? Then you don't have to use your cellphone, deplete its batteries, and make your friends get charged a load just to call you.
I think I get it, but doubt if many folks will sign up for it given the cost and the stipulation that you must use BT broadband.
The only real advantage I can see is having a single number (for home or mobile) and a single device with all your contacts etc. Of course as has been pointed you could forward calls between home and mobile phones, but in some places (such as mine) mobile reception can be very ropey.
You know, they DO sell adapters that allow your Bluetooth headset to work with Landlines. I got one off Ebay for $30. Ok, the one I got is a piece of junk (it echoes bad), but for $30 it still works nicely. And NO monthly fees!
How the fixed-line phone can seamless handover to GSM? I heard there are 2 BSC locate at the BT fixed-network.
but I am really dont know the theory.