NNSquad - Network Neutrality Squad
[ NNSquad ] Re: Wi-Fi Calling!
The App does seem to be T Mobile. They've had specialized phones in the past
but I hadn't been aware that it's an app. I wonder if it's downloaded for
other Android 2.2 phones.
I knew about the phones; the question is why isn't the app itself better
known.
The app is another reminder that we don't really need to have a layered
dependency on a special cellular phone system. It also makes the "charging
for minutes" thing harder to justify. When will this be simply the default
for all (cell) phones or, for that matter, devices?
[ Justification for time-based usage charging in this case
is not entirely eliminated simply by Wi-Fi connectivity,
since the call is still normally being terminated on
the conventional POTS network.
-- Lauren Weinstein
NNSquad Moderator ]
-----Original Message-----
From: nnsquad-bounces+nnsquad=bobf.frankston.com@nnsquad.org
[mailto:nnsquad-bounces+nnsquad=bobf.frankston.com@nnsquad.org] On Behalf Of
Bob Frankston
Sent: Saturday, January 22, 2011 18:35
To: nnsquad@nnsquad.org; dewayne-net@warpspeed.com
Cc: 'Esme Vos'
Subject: [ 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.
=20
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.
=20
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.
=20
http://forums.t-mobile.com/t5/Samsung-Vibrant/Samsung-Vibrant-software-up=
grade-to-Android-2-2-Froyo-now/td-p/678871
=20
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.
=20
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).