T-Mobile bringing its UMA services to businesses via BlackBerry

Until now, T-Mobile's HotSpot @Home WiFi calling service had strictly been a consumer venture -- but now, it's time to rope the suits in on the fun. Many of the handsets currently in T-Mobile's HotSpot @Home stable aren't exactly prime workplace material, but a few -- T-Mobile's WiFi-enabled BlackBerrys, to be specific -- fit in rather nicely, and it seems that the BlackBerry line is exactly what the carrier will be using to position the service. There'll be a flat rate that applies to get unlimited calling over WiFi (just like consumers pay) , and considering that businessfolk are probably the last remaining niche of ultra-heavy voice users, this could be a power play for T-Mobile that wins over a few of those lucrative corporate accounts.

[Via Phone Scoop]

[CeluGeek Posted Oct 5th 2009 1:14PM]

Then T-Mobile better release an update to the Curve 8900's firmware. UMA worked like a charm in their original release (v4.6.1.114), yet is quite a disaster in their current release (v4.6.1.231). It drops UMA calls like crazy and sending DTMF tones is a complete nightmare, so forget about checking your voicemail or calling your phone-banking service. Business customers aren't necessarily that open to load leaked or unapproved OS's onto their devices.

[apwinthrop Posted Oct 5th 2009 1:59PM]

I actually think this solution raises as many questions as it answers http://bit.ly/4f3UpI

[SParklingCYaNide Posted Oct 5th 2009 10:05PM]

I Heart UMA SOooo Very Much, as ALways! I think its really great they're allowing Business users this option as well.

I think EVERY phone should be UMA compatible seriously. Even if you don't subscribe to the unlimited calling on the WiFi, you can Still use WiFi to make calls expect they just take them out of your Minutes you already have which is fine for me with Unlimited Minutes!