LG's new CL400 UMA WiFi phone

For those of you not yet familiar with UMA, it's the rather perplexing and even somehow paradoxical standard being espoused by handset makers and shockingly enough even some carriers, that allows WiFi-enabled cellphones to move calls off cellular and onto WiFi (and back again) in real time. Well, it looks like that's a bandwagon LG wanted onto, and their new tri-band WiFi-enabled CL400 features—you guessed it—UMA. No, it's most assuredly not coming out here, but every handset maker and every device that's got UMA is another step toward a world where WiFi and cellular calling aren't heavily differentiated—one we're looking forward to immensely.

[TIMMAH! @ Dec 19th 2005 1:06AM]

Actually there's a large market for this in the healthcare industry where you can't use cellular inside a hospital but Wifi is okay.

[Eric @ Dec 19th 2005 1:06AM]

Acutally this phone is 850/1800/1900 and phonescoop is reporting that the demo phone is actually Cingular branded...

[Jason @ Dec 19th 2005 1:06AM]

Hey Engadget seems like a correction is in order. This phone IS comming to the US.

[Andy @ Dec 19th 2005 1:06AM]

UMA puts all the call routing control in the hand of the carrier. There is no guarantee that it will be free VoIP calls (carrier can rate calls minutes like any other call). This is only solving the poor in-home coverage issue for the carriers that is all too common in the states. We need an independent VoIP call stack to get the free calls over the data connection - but it is tough to get that to work with seamless handover.

[Cherubim @ Dec 19th 2005 1:06AM]

it only corrupts the weak minded, and it looks like it's gotten to you

this phone looks like my 8100 in black.

[Jay Contonio @ Dec 19th 2005 1:06AM]

Oh man I want this. I was going to switch to Verizon and get the 8100 but now I might stick with my T-Mo...any suggestions?

[atomb @ Dec 19th 2005 1:06AM]

Rogers, GSM provider in Canada, has publicly stated that their goal was to merge 'in-house calling' with cellular in the near future. They're going after Bell Canada's monopoly. In the article i read there was reference to a phone like this and the fact that Rogers is now offering VOIP makes me think it's coming this way. Sign up for Voip and Cellular with Rogers and they'll be able to track your calls either way!

[Hal @ Dec 19th 2005 1:06AM]

So does anyone know where (or should I ask - HOW) to purchase this phone?

[iulia lodoaba @ Dec 19th 2005 1:06AM]

Hello!


We are looking for a mobile phone, the phone that is on the link bellow, CL 400

thak you