NNSquad - Network Neutrality Squad
[ NNSquad ] Wi-Fi Calling!
[ This is not a Samsung-specific feature. T-Mobile reportedly
rolled out similar functionality for a variety of their
high-end smartphones (including the HTC-built G2) a couple of
months ago I believe. I've been meaning to look into the
security of the protocols being used.
-- Lauren Weinstein
NNSquad Moderator ]
The T-Mobile Samsung Vibrant upgrade has a very interesting feature =
=E2=80=93 a Wi-Fi calling application. This means you can use your =
T-Mobile account even if you don=E2=80=99t have T-Mobile coverage as =
long as you get Wi-Fi access. This dramatically improves the ability to =
make calls.
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Admittedly you=E2=80=99re warned that you will be using =E2=80=9Cplan =
minutes=E2=80=9D which is a separate policy issue. Almost by accident it =
renders femto cells moot. For those traveling in Paris near a park for =
example you can use the available Wi-Fi coverage. The application allows =
you to set preference for cellular vs. Wi-Fi as the preferred means.
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The upgrade itself is interesting =E2=80=93 I only found it by searching =
the web rather than navigating from the T-Mobile home screen and I only =
know about it from having a helpful store manager.
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http://forums.t-mobile.com/t5/Samsung-Vibrant/Samsung-Vibrant-software-up=
grade-to-Android-2-2-Froyo-now/td-p/678871
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You can=E2=80=99t do it over the air =E2=80=93 you must use their Kies =
software which, despite Samsung=E2=80=99s claims, does not work on =
Windows 7. But I did scrounge up an XP machine and on the second try got =
it to work =E2=80=93 hint =E2=80=93 do a hard reboot first.
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Why not OTA? I=E2=80=99d like to know. Is T-Mobile charging Samsung for =
=E2=80=9Cair minutes=E2=80=9D. With Wi-Fi calling you=E2=80=99d think =
that they would want people to upgrade their phones. Perhaps =
it=E2=80=99s nothing nefarious and the fact that I had to do a hard =
reboot is part of the issue of Samsung vs. software. I have software =
upgrade problems on my Samsung TV too and each model has a different =
version of the software (see http://rmf.vc/ces2011.nn for more on this).