Any UK phones/networks support wi-fi call routing?

[8bit]

Hi all,

I get really poor mobile reception in my flat, it doesn't matter which network, my own Vodafone one, my work Orange Blackberry and old O2 Blackberry all got really sucky signal at home. I have Wi-Fi on my broadband router and wondered if any of the UK networks support using Wi-Fi for call routing where it's available? If there are any, is it supported by any Wi-Fi enabled phones or are there only certain models that support this?

Cheers in advance,
8bit

[confusingcircle]

One app ive seen recently was Fring for the iphone.. allows you to make Skype calls, to other skype users and skype out (plus use other IM networks) over wifi.

http://lifehacker.com/5058962/make-s...on-your-iphone

Edit: http://www.fring.com/ It seems it does support other mobiles as well as the Iphone, such as the N96 and other symbian devices.

[HSK]

I think the n96 etc has wifi? i dont know whether you can make calls via wifi though (using skype?),

but there are actually skype phones sold by 3.

I wanna get a pair.

[Funkstar]

I wish this was something you could do be default in high end handsets (like windows mobile devices). I would be happy for the network to bill me for the minutes used or to take them from my free allowance.

Local roaming (as opposed to international roaming) would be good too. Like lettimg me use a Vodafone signal when I can't get a t-mobile for instance. Again, I'm happy for them to charge be a premium for this service.

Surely all the networks would make more money out of these two features as it allows people to make and recieve calls and texts in a lot more places, so people will use their phones more. I know t-mobile would make more money from me if this was possible.

[8bit]

I wasn't talking about Skype, I meant actually routing the phone's connection to the network provider through Wi-Fi then over the broadband link. I figured if phones have Wi-Fi anyway then surely one of the networks must have thought of this?

In fact, weren't BT talking about doing something like this a while ago?

[capt_cornflake]

Originally Posted by 8bit

I wasn't talking about Skype, I meant actually routing the phone's connection to the network provider through Wi-Fi then over the broadband link. I figured if phones have Wi-Fi anyway then surely one of the networks must have thought of this?

In fact, weren't BT talking about doing something like this a while ago?

I think the proposed BT project aimed to use bluetooth rather than wi-fi.
Not sure if it ever got off the ground though.

I think the closest you will get at the moment is the Skype option tbh.

[jimbouk]

Originally Posted by 8bit

I wasn't talking about Skype, I meant actually routing the phone's connection to the network provider through Wi-Fi then over the broadband link. I figured if phones have Wi-Fi anyway then surely one of the networks must have thought of this?

In fact, weren't BT talking about doing something like this a while ago?

I believe a Femto cell is what you are after. Not quite available yet but maybe sometime soon once the companies have trialled them (read "figure out how to make the most money from them").

[8bit]

Found what I'm looking for - Unlicensed Mobile Access (UMA) - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unlicensed_Mobile_Access

The BT product apparently did originally do this by Bluetooth but the product now uses wifi. A limited number of handsets support it so far and not all UK networks (Vodafone being the most obvious one missing from the list on the Wiki article).

Time to do some more reading, hope this helps someone else

[davidnewns]

I heard the new Nokia is good for this?

[Funkstar]

Originally Posted by 8bit

Found what I'm looking for - Unlicensed Mobile Access (UMA) - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unlicensed_Mobile_Access

awesome!

I had no idea this technology already existed. Very interesting, I wish more handsets and operators supported this though.

Now, how about local roaming as well?