Mobile Phone usage via wireless at home

[C8PPO]

I have consistent problems with my Orange phone at home whereby the signal is at best erratic and more often non-existent. I also have a work O2 phone, which seems to have a fully useable signal wherever in the house I am; in other words, much better!

I've spoken to Orange, who I've been with for 10 years and who I otherwise have no issues with, and said that I'm looking to port to O2 for the reasons above. The person I spole to said that subject to having a suitable handset, I can set the phone to route calls via my home wireless internet whenever I'm in range of the router, and that this doesn't attract any additional cost outside my usual monthly tariff.

Anyone working like this? Does it work? Reliable? Any other issues? I'm considering an iPhone.

Thanks

[Mr E]

Most nokias have built in SIP clients, but you'll be paying for breakout to PSTN.

Unless he's talking UMA, at which point you are limited to a few specific handsets.

What you want, obviously, is a femtocell...

[LordGrover]

I had the same issue - it works really well with Orange. SIP trunking and/or VOIP or something they call it. Once your mobile's been paired with your wifi it routes calls seamlessly over t'interweb.

[LordGrover]

SHould've said, I had to have a Nokia phone to use it which was a bit basic but better than no calls at all while at home.

[MonkeyBusiness]

Would this help? http://shop.orange.co.uk/shop/show/offer/uma

[C8PPO]

MonkeyBusiness said:

Would this help? http://shop.orange.co.uk/shop/show/offer/uma

Interesting, Orange didn't mention that page when I spoke to them.

I think you get 7 days trial with Orange anyway so I guess I could go for it and make sure it works before committing.

[MonkeyBusiness]

C8PPO said:

MonkeyBusiness said:

Would this help? http://shop.orange.co.uk/shop/show/offer/uma

Interesting, Orange didn't mention that page when I spoke to them.

I think you get 7 days trial with Orange anyway so I guess I could go for it and make sure it works before committing.

They didn't mention it to me either when I spoke to them!
I think I spotted the link on a forum (possibly this one). I'd be interested to hear your views if you go for it.

[clonmult]

MonkeyBusiness said:

Would this help? http://shop.orange.co.uk/shop/show/offer/uma

These things are pretty good, and getting better by the day.

I'm currently working at a telco, and all the mobiles (thousands) have been moved from Vodafone to Orange, every office has a few femtocells setup. Works absolutely perfectly.

I'm just wondering how well tied down they are - you can in theory pick one up, plug it into a network point somewhere else, say India, Australia, USA, and make "local" calls. That can be stopped, but it isn't necessarily always done ....

[Mr E]

clonmult said:

I'm just wondering how well tied down they are - you can in theory pick one up, plug it into a network point somewhere else, say India, Australia, USA, and make "local" calls. That can be stopped, but it isn't necessarily always done ....

Certainly mine wouldn't work if you did that. I suspect our competitors have similar safeguards in place.

[Stevenj214]

Interesting. Are there any cost savings to be made making outbound calls over your wireless network? Any cost savings for people calling you (i.e. landline costs instead of mobile costs)?

[clonmult]

Stevenj214 said:

Interesting. Are there any cost savings to be made making outbound calls over your wireless network? Any cost savings for people calling you (i.e. landline costs instead of mobile costs)?

None at all - it is just a "mini" cellular base station. Intended to improve coverage. No savings at all .... apart from the telco themselves, who are saving from having to build a new base station in your area.

[Mr E]

Stevenj214 said:

Interesting. Are there any cost savings to be made making outbound calls over your wireless network? Any cost savings for people calling you (i.e. landline costs instead of mobile costs)?

Completely between you and your mobile service provider. Some operators may chose to run a lower tariff for calls running through the home IP backhaul, some may not.

[The Ben]

Orange are the only network to offer the UMA technology in the uk as far as I know,they have had it for years. I used it on my old Blackberry 8320, but all blackberrys support it, The LG GT505 and Nokia 6303 do also. Its pretty seemless and it re routes all the calls back so it comes off your minutes/texts. Its pretty clever and you are not just restricted to your own home like a femtocell, as long as there is a wfi connection, your fine.