T-Mobile's HotSpot @Home Talk Forever: same service, lower price

Don't get us wrong, it's great that T-Mobile has lowered the price of its unlimited WiFi calling service both at home and at T-Mobile Hotspots everywhere from $19.99 down to $9.99 per month (forgetting for a moment that it was $9.99 per month as an introductory price, anyway), but in changing the name from HotSpot @Home to HotSpot @Home Talk Forever, we'd been hoping for something just a little more compelling. Previous intel had indicated that we'd be seeing the introduction of T-Mobile's first SIM-sporting routers, allowing the use of traditional landline phones in conjunction with the service -- but at this point, it looks like it's going to be at least a little longer before the hardware launches, and it's unclear whether there'll be yet more trademarked service branding introduced when it does.

[derX @ Feb 12th 2008 2:13AM]

Am I the only person confused about the SIM-supporting routers set up?

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Also, it's great that they're expanding network via WiFi--ingenious, actually--but why not have the phones that support HotSpot @Home be able to use the WiFi for data service, too? Seems like a big missed opportunity to me.

[BlissX @ Feb 12th 2008 2:18AM]

The concept is that you'd port your home # to T-Mobile, they issue that # onto the SIM card that you place in the router (which supposidely supports up to two). So basically, $9.99 gets you unlimited home phone calls, and as for your mobile phone, unlimited UMA calls.

I think it's amazing. $9.99 for mobile alone is great. This should probably hurt Vonage quite a bit if it succeeds.

FYI, I've read that as a T-Mobile customer, even if you don't want to sign up for Hotspot@Home, you can ask them to set you up so your phone can use the UMA technology still. It will use your cellphone's pool of minutes, but if you horrible reception at work or home, might as well right?

[joe @ Feb 12th 2008 2:24AM]

Here's a basic rundown, the custom Linksys branded router takes 2 sim cards, enabling 2 lines of service, or 2 separate numbers. The router has a standard phone jack connection (rj11) on the back. You can plug any existing home phone in there, and basically use it like voip. When the service launches they will be selling a 2 handset pack made by vtech that includes 2 regular cordless phones, one a base station, the other an extension. The handsets offered with it run on 6.X ghz as well, as to eliminate any interference with the router itself.

[derX @ Feb 12th 2008 2:22AM]

Ahhh.

*Very good* explanation, thanks.

*votes up*

[patsy @ Feb 12th 2008 8:29AM]

Except I don't see why the hayell it's GOT to be a router. Why can't it just be a plain old VOIP box like a gazillion SIP boxes out there, which can work with whatever router you have? Some of us bumpkins does love our current routers, ya know? I'm not dumping my dd-wrt-running Buffalo for some generic new Linksys box.

[k @ Feb 12th 2008 3:30PM]

Yes, you can make calls from any hotspot/wifi/starbucks even without the plan, it just uses up normal minutes, but gives you a much better signal coverage. This is what I was told when I signed up for it, hotspot@home package just means it wifi stops using up your normal minutes.

[GetOne @ Feb 22nd 2008 7:08PM]

Just wondering is there anything that I can use on my notebook from t-mobile that i can catch a wi-fi signal from anywhere but the hotspots like if im in the mountains or something like that is there anything out there that i can use?

[NeverSummer @ Feb 12th 2008 2:22AM]

Is good T-Mobile drop the price, but didn't Starbucks and ATT just signed a deal?

[BlissX @ Feb 12th 2008 2:35AM]

That's where it gets complicated. The Hotspot@Home works with any Wi-Fi connection, as long as you're fully connected.

So obviously if you're trying to connect into your neighbors or a hotel's Wi-Fi, most likely it's going to be locked, you'd need the key to get in; no free calls for you.

Starbucks is siding with AT&T, but they stated they will allow T-Mobile Hotspot users free access. I don't know how that works with Hotspot@Home service though. Do you simply connect to their Wi-Fi network and wha-la! Or are you prompted for a key?

[wixostrix @ Mar 21st 2008 5:12AM]

@blissx

"Starbucks is siding with AT&T, but they stated they will allow T-Mobile Hotspot users free access."

how likely is that to stay? Cuz since AT&T and T-Mo are competing, wouldn't be not very beneficial to AT&T?

[FuzzyCat @ Feb 12th 2008 7:46AM]

Is this really unlimited or is it "unlimited" ?

[andy @ Feb 12th 2008 9:50AM]

Here is a clarification for those who are still confused:

You can use any of T-Mobile's UMA-capable phones to make/receive voice calls over any Wi-Fi connection. If you pay for their "Hotspot@Home" feature (now $9.99 again) then those calls become free. Adding the feature simply affects the way it is billed; without it you still have the capability to make/receive voice calls over Wi-Fi but minutes are billed exactly as a cellular call would be. So, using this technology, you can use your cell phone in a complete cellular dead spot as long as you have Wi-Fi. It was useful this last weekend when I was skiing in Vermont and nobody else's phone worked at the cabin (which did have Wi-Fi)

You can also use this out of the country - it actually places your phone on the US phone network no matter where you are.

UMA never required a special T-Mobile router, but T-Mobile does sell their own routers that are guaranteed to work with the service. They have offered a $50 rebate on a $50 router.

UMA-compatible phones are found on T-Mobile's web site if you narrow down the list of phones to those with the "Hotspot@Home" feature. There are two or three feature phones in addition to the BlackBerry Curve 8320 (which I own and love).

T-Mobile Hotspot and T-Mobile Hotspot@Home are two entirely different services. You can use any UMA-capable phone at any T-Mobile Hotspot, though, without any extra signup or subscription.

This latest announcement is regarding new routers that T-Mobile will offer. These new routers have added SIM slots and phone jacks. This means that you can now use a regular corded/cordless telephone for UMA. Just like Vonage or some other VoIP offering. I don't know how it will combine with their current offering. Maybe they'll let your mobile # ring over to a cordless phone. Maybe they'll let any T-Mobile cellular subscriber port their home phone over to use this router. Maybe it'll be completely seperate. Who knows?

[KazO @ Feb 12th 2008 1:34PM]

andy's comment is exactly how I understand it from a conversation I had with TMo last week. One thing that I don't think has been mentioned yet is that a subscriber with Add-on who originates a call on WiFi but gets handed off to the regular network (eg. walks out of their house) will still see that entire call as free, since billing is based on point of origin of that call.

[k @ Feb 12th 2008 3:34PM]

You can. I have used it at my open Airport router at home and on my University's secure network (I think you need the BB to access login pages for secure wifi).

[USAGymnast2000 @ Mar 23rd 2008 9:58PM]

Will the new T-Mobile router being sold be easily compatible with Macs and easy to set up?

[rtcce33541 @ Apr 28th 2008 8:57PM]

You don't have to buy the router it works off any b or g router. I just signed up for the service this weekend and I'm anticipating the arrival of my new blackberry pearl 8120.