Wifi Calls using 8220 in the UK Question

[wookee]

I'm headed over to the UK next month and had a quick question. I've got a 8220 with the data plan was wondering if it's possible to make calls over wifi there and not get charged the $0.99 a min fee of the normal plan? I'm a little ignorant about how this phone calls over wifi, so if anyone could enlighten me, I'd appreciate it. I'd basically like to call for free over wifi. Thanks!

[bikedogrun]

I'm headed over to the UK next month and had a quick question. I've got a 8220 with the data plan was wondering if it's possible to make calls over wifi there and not get charged the $0.99 a min fee of the normal plan? I'm a little ignorant about how this phone calls over wifi, so if anyone could enlighten me, I'd appreciate it. I'd basically like to call for free over wifi. Thanks!

Any T-Mobile UMA Phone can use the UMA while overseas to call back to the USA.

If you have the Unlimited Hotspot Calling Plan ($9.99 month) then these calls; as well as USA-based UMA calls are FREE. Without the plan, WiFi/UMA calls simply come out of your minutes bucket as if you were in the USA when you make the call.

I do not believe that you can call other countries this way (can someone else comment?) but I have logged my Blackberry 8220 onto an open WiFi network in Europe and in China and made calls back to the USA, the only charges are normal calls (shown as UMA) as if I was sitting at home and making them.

/BD

BTW - Is that you, Tim W?

[Tichondrius]

Hi, can you comment on the call quality when making UMA calls from overseas. My UMA calls here in the US are about the same as regular cellular calls. I haven't yet tried using UMA abroad to make calls but I'm worried about the latency of the internet connection from abroad.

Did you notice any lag or other quality issues when using UMA abroad ?

[CeluGeek]

I'm headed over to the UK next month and had a quick question. I've got a 8220 with the data plan was wondering if it's possible to make calls over wifi there and not get charged the $0.99 a min fee of the normal plan? I'm a little ignorant about how this phone calls over wifi, so if anyone could enlighten me, I'd appreciate it. I'd basically like to call for free over wifi. Thanks!

Yes, you can call via Wi-Fi and on BlackBerrys, you can even turn the GSM radio off and use Wi-Fi only so you can avoid international roaming charges. This "free calling" will only work for calls that are free when you are in your local calling area. This means, if you are in the UK and you make a Wi-Fi call to some number in the UK, you'll still be charged international long distance, but not roaming.

[Tichondrius]

Yes I understand but do you UNDERSTAND THE QUESTION ?
How is the lag associated with internet latency when calling using WiFi from abroad ?

[wookee]

Thanks for all the help guys. I was going to answer this other guys question. But he seems like a real jerk. So I will keep it to myself.

[Agent22]

UMA calls count as domestic calls back to the US so u dont get roaming charges at all

[phillymax]

Are you staying in a hotel in London? I was in London last weekend and stayed at the Intercontinental in central London. Very frustrating experience as they had blocked all IPSEC traffic. Its beginning to get real popular at some hotels. As a result, I could not make any UMA calls while I was at the hotel. Apart from that, it works great.

[Tichondrius]

Thanks for all the help guys. I was going to answer this other guys question. But he seems like a real jerk. So I will keep it to myself.

Incriminating post saved as evidence.

[wookee]

Are you staying in a hotel in London? I was in London last weekend and stayed at the Intercontinental in central London. Very frustrating experience as they had blocked all IPSEC traffic. Its beginning to get real popular at some hotels. As a result, I could not make any UMA calls while I was at the hotel. Apart from that, it works great.

I didn't stay in London, but travelled everywhere else in Britain except for Wales. I stayed at hotels and a couple bed and breakfast. The only problem I encountered was that you need to be rather close to the router or the call will be choppy at best. At the major hotels this was an issue. Other than that, it worked well. I had no real need to make local calls, so I didn't try that.

[hillstrubl]

Any T-Mobile UMA Phone can use the UMA while overseas to call back to the USA.
If you have the Unlimited Hotspot Calling Plan ($9.99 month) then these calls; as well as USA-based UMA calls are FREE. Without the plan, WiFi/UMA calls simply come out of your minutes bucket as if you were in the USA when you make the call.

correct, also most people don't know that the hotspot at home plan is a billing thing, not a technical thing. w/o the plan UMA will still work, it'll just bill you at your regular rate (anytime min, free weekend, mobile to mobile, myfaves, whatever applies at the time of that call). I've used UMA in Germany, UK, Netherlands and Belgium all without any additional charges.

Hi, can you comment on the call quality when making UMA calls from overseas. My UMA calls here in the US are about the same as regular cellular calls. I haven't yet tried using UMA abroad to make calls but I'm worried about the latency of the internet connection from abroad.

Did you notice any lag or other quality issues when using UMA abroad ?

as long as the latency of the connection you're using is up to par (you'll know that in about 2 seconds of trying to use it) its basically identical to GSM call quality

Yes, you can call via Wi-Fi and on BlackBerrys, you can even turn the GSM radio off and use Wi-Fi only so you can avoid international roaming charges. This "free calling" will only work for calls that are free when you are in your local calling area. This means, if you are in the UK and you make a Wi-Fi call to some number in the UK, you'll still be charged international long distance, but not roaming.

x2, all calls on UMA are "billed" the same as if you were in the USA using GSM

Are you staying in a hotel in London? I was in London last weekend and stayed at the Intercontinental in central London. Very frustrating experience as they had blocked all IPSEC traffic. Its beginning to get real popular at some hotels. As a result, I could not make any UMA calls while I was at the hotel. Apart from that, it works great.

wow, haven't heard of that yet, thats really annoying. There are def workarounds (changing ports and/or bringing your own router, etc) but thats crap that they'd block this service.