NNSquad - Network Neutrality Squad
[ NNSquad ] Reminder: Free Wi-Fi Calling from T-Mobile (But you gotta ask!)
Reminder: Free Wi-Fi Calling from T-Mobile (But you gotta ask!) With all the cellular oxygen being sucked up by merger discussions, it's worth remembering some innovative actions T-Mobile has been taking in the interim. I mentioned earlier their reported plan to offer free cellular "repeaters" to weak signal customers as a retention benefit. Another nice T-M feature is their support of Wi-Fi VoIP calling from various newer handsets via UMA. Typically these plans use up your airtime cell minutes on a minute for minute basis (you may not be using their air, but you are using their termination facilities). However, for some months now at least, T-M has been rather quietly offering *free* (no airtime minutes used) UMA inbound and outbound calling for many subscribers *if you ask for it*. Of course you must have a compatible phone, and in the case of Android have downloaded the necessary T-M app. It works very well, by the way. It is not entirely clear which plans and which users qualify for this feature. Some subscribers reportedly have been offered the option on the account plan pages of the T-M site. Other subscribers have seen no mention of free Wi-Fi calling, but reps have happily added it to accounts on request. Not all account plans apparently qualify "as is," but neither is qualification necessarily limited to the plans most frequently mentioned in this context. Bottom line, if you're a T-Mobile sub -- ask, and ye may receive! --Lauren-- Lauren Weinstein (lauren@vortex.com): http://www.vortex.com/lauren Co-Founder: People For Internet Responsibility: http://www.pfir.org Founder: - Network Neutrality Squad: http://www.nnsquad.org - Global Coalition for Transparent Internet Performance: http://www.gctip.org - PRIVACY Forum: http://www.vortex.com Member: ACM Committee on Computers and Public Policy Blog: http://lauren.vortex.com Google+: http://vortex.com/g+lauren Twitter: https://twitter.com/laurenweinstein Tel: +1 (818) 225-2800 / Skype: vortex.com