Call me a skeptic, but doesn't this make the premium carriers no different than Republic Wireless? If calls are going to be offloaded to wifi or (eventually) automatically on an AT&T wifi location, how secure is the phone call from being intercepted over a public wifi network? There will need to be some sort of encryption of the call audio, with traffic priority on the network to ensure call quality. (prioritized traffic/QoS.. sound the NN crowd to complain that tier 1 voice carriers get priority over NetFlix)
Then take into the equation that AT&T's wifi typically only has 500K upload max, and less than 1mb downlink, and high latency for carrier provided hotspots, mostly at McDonalds.
From T-Mo's website re: WIFI Calling. It's using an encrypted connection so there should be no worry about eavesdropping on your calls.
Quote:
Unlicensed Mobile Access (UMA) technology provides access to GSM and data mobile services over the internet. It uses Wi-Fi (802.11b/g) to connect a mobile handset to a broadband internet connection. Using UMA technology, T-Mobile can enable subscribers to freely move between cellular networks and public and private unlicensed wireless networks (Wi-Fi) using dual-mode mobile handsets. With UMA, you receive a consistent user experience for your mobile voice and data services as you transition between networks.
How UMA works
The first thing a UMA enabled handset does when entering range of a Wi-Fi network is attempt to connect to that network’s Wireless Router (WR) in order to get internet access. Once connected to the internet, the handset sets up a secure tunnel all the way to T-Mobile's network (the Security Gateway). If the subscriber is authenticated and authorized for UMA service, the handset is connected to T-Mobile's network, via the UMA Network Controller or UNC and is ready to provide service to you.
How UMA is different from GSM
The difference between this connection and a standard GSM connection is that the UMA handset does not route calls through our GSM radio towers. Instead the phone creates a virtual GSM connection over the internet. By routing calls over the internet instead of through our towers it helps manage network congestion and capacity related issues.
There are a thousand things that a company has to take into account before implementing new technology. It is never as simple as it looks.
If they'd been working on it for years like T-Mobile has (rolled out in 2007), then it could just be used right away once Apple adds it in iOS8. Instead, like with many features, they're being practically forced to do it by having to compete with other providers.
AT&T and Verizion reacted to T-Mobile's HD-Voice launch in 2013 saying they'd have it "shortly" - it finally showed up more than a year later. Verizon apparently has either just launched it, or it is still "almost" there: http://www.engadget.com/2014/08/26/verizon-volte-launch/
So if they're saying 2015 - who knows *when* it'll actually be available.
This article says it's an iPhone 6 feature, the referenced T-Mobile article says it's an iOS8 feature.
Which is it? I'd really love to have this, but it's a problem if my 5s is already obsolete in that regard.
The article says T-Mobile will for now be the only carrier that will support this feature on the iPhone 6, when running iOS8. It does not imply that the iPhone 5 or 5s won't support this feature when iOS 8 rolls out. After all, T-Mobile announced this support in June, long before the iPhone 6 was a gleam in your ISP's eye.
Call me a skeptic, but doesn't this make the premium carriers no different than Republic Wireless? If calls are going to be offloaded to wifi or (eventually) automatically on an AT&T wifi location, how secure is the phone call from being intercepted over a public wifi network? There will need to be some sort of encryption of the call audio, with traffic priority on the network to ensure call quality. (prioritized traffic/QoS.. sound the NN crowd to complain that tier 1 voice carriers get priority over NetFlix)
Then take into the equation that AT&T's wifi typically only has 500K upload max, and less than 1mb downlink, and high latency for carrier provided hotspots, mostly at McDonalds.
No the call starts in Wi-Fi when inside a building with good Wi-Fi service and lousy to nonexistent cell reception. I'm going to benefit as my lab and office are buried in this huge university building with enough equipment and structure that I get zero to small cell reception. But the place has been seeded with great WiFi so they don't have to drag cable to service the computers. So like the repeaters in subways the WiFi base stations will grab the phone calls and pass them on through to the cell service. Neat idea.
That Ralph de la Vega sounds like the poster boy of douchebaggery. He's the kind of guy that gets his face punched in at a cocktail party for a complete moronic dickhead.
This article says it's an iPhone 6 feature, the referenced T-Mobile article says it's an iOS8 feature.
Which is it? I'd really love to have this, but it's a problem if my 5s is already obsolete in that regard
iOS beta testers report that the 5s works, but only if you have a T-Mobile postpaid account. I don't see any reason why the 4s and above would not also have wi-fi calling when iOS 8 GM comes out next week.
Comments
Of course there will be. Data prices would be legally known as extortion in any other industry. People won’t accept it.
I get 400 minutes, text and data and my roll over minutes are at around 4000. I don't think I'll run out of talk time. LOL
When they start using Wifi calling I will drop my plan even lower.
AT&T is likely to count wifi calls against your plan minutes, just as they count microcell minutes.
So sad. Been calling with Skype, and other wifi/VoIP apps for years. The US finally comes into the 21st century.
There are a thousand things that a company has to take into account before implementing new technology. It is never as simple as it looks.
Which is it? I'd really love to have this, but it's a problem if my 5s is already obsolete in that regard.
"We don't have a burning desire or need for coverage,"
LOL!!! Until everyone has LTE there is a burning need for coverage.
Call me a skeptic, but doesn't this make the premium carriers no different than Republic Wireless? If calls are going to be offloaded to wifi or (eventually) automatically on an AT&T wifi location, how secure is the phone call from being intercepted over a public wifi network? There will need to be some sort of encryption of the call audio, with traffic priority on the network to ensure call quality. (prioritized traffic/QoS.. sound the NN crowd to complain that tier 1 voice carriers get priority over NetFlix)
Then take into the equation that AT&T's wifi typically only has 500K upload max, and less than 1mb downlink, and high latency for carrier provided hotspots, mostly at McDonalds.
From T-Mo's website re: WIFI Calling. It's using an encrypted connection so there should be no worry about eavesdropping on your calls.
Unlicensed Mobile Access (UMA) technology provides access to GSM and data mobile services over the internet. It uses Wi-Fi (802.11b/g) to connect a mobile handset to a broadband internet connection. Using UMA technology, T-Mobile can enable subscribers to freely move between cellular networks and public and private unlicensed wireless networks (Wi-Fi) using dual-mode mobile handsets. With UMA, you receive a consistent user experience for your mobile voice and data services as you transition between networks.
How UMA works
The first thing a UMA enabled handset does when entering range of a Wi-Fi network is attempt to connect to that network’s Wireless Router (WR) in order to get internet access. Once connected to the internet, the handset sets up a secure tunnel all the way to T-Mobile's network (the Security Gateway). If the subscriber is authenticated and authorized for UMA service, the handset is connected to T-Mobile's network, via the UMA Network Controller or UNC and is ready to provide service to you.
How UMA is different from GSM
The difference between this connection and a standard GSM connection is that the UMA handset does not route calls through our GSM radio towers. Instead the phone creates a virtual GSM connection over the internet. By routing calls over the internet instead of through our towers it helps manage network congestion and capacity related issues.
There are a thousand things that a company has to take into account before implementing new technology. It is never as simple as it looks.
If they'd been working on it for years like T-Mobile has (rolled out in 2007), then it could just be used right away once Apple adds it in iOS8. Instead, like with many features, they're being practically forced to do it by having to compete with other providers.
This is without using a 3rd party app.
So if they're saying 2015 - who knows *when* it'll actually be available.
This article says it's an iPhone 6 feature, the referenced T-Mobile article says it's an iOS8 feature.
Which is it? I'd really love to have this, but it's a problem if my 5s is already obsolete in that regard.
The article says T-Mobile will for now be the only carrier that will support this feature on the iPhone 6, when running iOS8. It does not imply that the iPhone 5 or 5s won't support this feature when iOS 8 rolls out. After all, T-Mobile announced this support in June, long before the iPhone 6 was a gleam in your ISP's eye.
Call me a skeptic, but doesn't this make the premium carriers no different than Republic Wireless? If calls are going to be offloaded to wifi or (eventually) automatically on an AT&T wifi location, how secure is the phone call from being intercepted over a public wifi network? There will need to be some sort of encryption of the call audio, with traffic priority on the network to ensure call quality. (prioritized traffic/QoS.. sound the NN crowd to complain that tier 1 voice carriers get priority over NetFlix)
Then take into the equation that AT&T's wifi typically only has 500K upload max, and less than 1mb downlink, and high latency for carrier provided hotspots, mostly at McDonalds.
No the call starts in Wi-Fi when inside a building with good Wi-Fi service and lousy to nonexistent cell reception. I'm going to benefit as my lab and office are buried in this huge university building with enough equipment and structure that I get zero to small cell reception. But the place has been seeded with great WiFi so they don't have to drag cable to service the computers. So like the repeaters in subways the WiFi base stations will grab the phone calls and pass them on through to the cell service. Neat idea.
This article says it's an iPhone 6 feature, the referenced T-Mobile article says it's an iOS8 feature.
Which is it? I'd really love to have this, but it's a problem if my 5s is already obsolete in that regard
iOS beta testers report that the 5s works, but only if you have a T-Mobile postpaid account. I don't see any reason why the 4s and above would not also have wi-fi calling when iOS 8 GM comes out next week.
sweet
$%$&*@#% and up your &*^!#$R$$^#$ AT&T!!
(Pardon my French)
ATT said the same thing about tethering ... then took more than 3 years to finally "allow" it.