T-Mobile HotSpot @ Home Hands On
- October 25th, 2006
- Read 2028 times
- 3 Comments
Just launched (only) in Seattle, T-Mobile HotSpot @ Home is a service that lets you switch your call from cellular to WiFi both seamlessly and invisibly. The service comes with a T-mobile Linksys Router and a Samsumg UMA (Unlicensed Mobile Access) phone which allows you to use WiFi for calling when you’re at home.
The plan costs $19.99 a month on top of whatever you’re paying for your regular plan, so why is it worth your time? Because any call over WiFi will be free and excluded from your regular minutes. Also, if your cellular reception is poor at home, using WiFi would be a great step up from not calling at all. A third bonus is being able to make free calls at T-Mobile Hot Spots like Starbucks, Airports, and Fedex/Kinkos. We’re not sure whether you have to have already signed up for T-Mobile Hot Spot access or whether that’s included in the $19.99 a month plan. You’ll also have to pay $49.99 for the dual-band phone.
Stay tuned for more news as the service rolls out nation-wide.
T-Mobile launches HotSpot @ Home service in selected areas [ZDNet]
Constance Reader (Who am I?)
1 year ago
Actually, bonuses number 1 and three are not bonuses at all, because the phone will only work on T-Mobile hotspots. The phone will stay on the cellular network in the presence of any other wifi signals. And the second bonus is not a bonus because you have to buy the T-Mobile router to use the service. The site says that router is free “after rebate”, but does not say how much you have to pony up front before you can apply for the rebate, or how long the rebate takes.
My question is — why have the rebate at all? Just give it away for free in the first place.