This is news? When I had several generations of Blackberrys with Cincinnati Bell many many years ago, I used UMA (voice over internet via WIFI), a technology supported by Blackberry, from my home, which was outside of Cincinnati Bell's cell tower range ... even though we're in a heavily-populated well-to-do neighborhood within city limits near downtown -- that's another story. Easier to enable UMA than build cell towers?
1
I've been using FreedomPop for 2 years now and could not be happier. I have great coverage in my area and have been using a variety of their hotspots and cheap internet and mobile phones. Just bought my kids their S3 phones and put them on the free plan. Definitely recommend these guys since they have saved me a lot of money and allowed me to opt out of Verizon.
Great article! This is a disruptive business process, and while it may not be "new" in the purest sense, these guys are Lewis and Clark, and on behalf of all the later pioneers, thank you! Wi-fi networks in Europe have been doing this stuff for awhile, and are getting more active with each passing season, and in the world of technology, that is a good thing. However, I think that the thought leadership of these two guys, now supported by big dogs like Google and Cablevision, makes the case for a fresh look at the mobile market, because between web injection, data services, better security, and a variety of authentication options...the times they are a-changing.
2
What this discussion misses is that wifi is only a short hop. Once over that hop, all voice or data is carried by the majors. That does not change in any way, or put major carriers in any compromised position.That's why major carriers express no worry.
2
The giant monopoly kluge organizations who have gouged the hapless consumer for many years will do anything possible to stifle this competition. Look for their lobbyists and corrupt politicians to enact consumer protective legislation or some other anti-competitive barrier to competition..
3
Why isn't this reporter also telling us about hackers. Use of Wi-Fi opens you up to all kinds of hacking and security issues, especially in public spaces. It is a mistake for most of us. And these companies can do nothing to increase the security when using Wi-Fi.
It's one thing if you don't care about security, but with more and more people using their phones and tablets like computers, it is negligent not to have this discussion.
It's one thing if you don't care about security, but with more and more people using their phones and tablets like computers, it is negligent not to have this discussion.
2
Simply use VPN. You can get that for $5 a month.
2
I have been a Republic Wireless customer for 2-3 years, I have since been joined by my wife and daughter as their Verizon contracts expired. Our $75/month with Republic gives us 3 phones with unlimited voice, texting and 3 G data.
5
I'm for anything that hurts the current giants in the cell phone industry. From it's inception it's been one of betrayal illegal contracts and the very worst and the most expensive service in the world made even worse with their hateful contracts. Not to mention that the voice "quality" is abysmal. So anything that helps us get away from them is a good thing.
10
I have been a Republic Wireless customer since the Moto X(first gen) release...I LOVE it and will never ever ever switch back. EVER!
11
The phone's gotta work before you can talk about the price. We've been using FreedomPop for several months now, and it has been nothing but problems. It would get snagged in non-functioning wifi and the phone would stop working. I finally resorted to turning off wifi when outside. But then, it wouldn't work anyway because it often loses the LTE data connection. (It appears to place the calls over data rather than cellular bandwidth they buy from Sprint). When working, the voice quality is just terrible.
Imagine not being able to reach loved ones or call someone in emergency. I want FreedomPop to be successful and even willing to pay some money. But it needs to work first. If it doesn't, it's expensive even if it is free. We moved on to $19/mo Ultra Mobile and we are infinitely more happy since. Now, only if we can get rid of the FreedomPop phone that we spent $200 on..
Imagine not being able to reach loved ones or call someone in emergency. I want FreedomPop to be successful and even willing to pay some money. But it needs to work first. If it doesn't, it's expensive even if it is free. We moved on to $19/mo Ultra Mobile and we are infinitely more happy since. Now, only if we can get rid of the FreedomPop phone that we spent $200 on..
4
We got T Mobile's WiFi router and phones after reading David Pogue's article of July 5, 2007. I had hoped they would work in Europe but only once did I get a call through and it flamed out at hello.
3
Have been using skype for much the same thing, but more nodes would be very helpful. It's economical but not as perfect as dialing a land line, though.
2
I live in a place with no cell phone coverage. I have to drive 20 minutes before I can get it. I do have wifi at the house but it is very, very slow (through an ATT phone line). Just to be able to use a cell phone in the house would be beneficial. Many rural areas are being left behind; we have to pay for a landline and very poor internet service. If we have cell phone service, it's only usable when we are in town...
4
Understand your pain, but rural life is not about excellent service, phone or otherwise. And I'd think the pros outweigh the cons.
2
Wonder if reporter tested a Freedom Pop or Republic wireless phone and talked to anyone using the service outside of his San Francisco/Silicon Bubble? "Obscure" is an awfully strange word to describe Republic Wireless -the tech world has been buzzing about these guys for several years as they are breaking almost every barrier there is to the old school cellular only model. I've used them as primary phone and have never looked back - never realize when I am talking on WiFi - or if I do it's because calls aren't dropping or warbling.
Reporter missed point. It's about technology, but also about the entire equation ... For the WiFi phone phenomenon to take off WiFi phones need to mimic experience of cellular only phones. Republic's phones have WiFi calling built in ...it looks and works almost exactly like an iPhone. The do something to seamlessly connect calls between WiFi and cellular. Sure T-Mo offers WiFi calling -not seamless /calls will drop if you move out of WiFi. AT&T and Sprint have both announces plans to roll out WiFi phones later this year, but they can't promise seamless connectivity either. "Verizon and AT&T" not concerned - it's a safe bet they are watching this very, very carefully ... Today's price wars aren't because these guys suddenly decided consumers deserved lower prices.
The bottom line is the only thing holding Republic back is phones other than Motorola. Hope Samsung will get in mix soon - it would be a great opportunity for them to retake Apple.
Reporter missed point. It's about technology, but also about the entire equation ... For the WiFi phone phenomenon to take off WiFi phones need to mimic experience of cellular only phones. Republic's phones have WiFi calling built in ...it looks and works almost exactly like an iPhone. The do something to seamlessly connect calls between WiFi and cellular. Sure T-Mo offers WiFi calling -not seamless /calls will drop if you move out of WiFi. AT&T and Sprint have both announces plans to roll out WiFi phones later this year, but they can't promise seamless connectivity either. "Verizon and AT&T" not concerned - it's a safe bet they are watching this very, very carefully ... Today's price wars aren't because these guys suddenly decided consumers deserved lower prices.
The bottom line is the only thing holding Republic back is phones other than Motorola. Hope Samsung will get in mix soon - it would be a great opportunity for them to retake Apple.
5
I agree. I have used Republic for several years for two reasons: 1. I live in the mountains outside Denver where I would otherwise not have any cell phone coverage and 2. I travel a lot overseas and Republic allows me to make calls back to the US and Canada free of charge over wifi. In fact, my wife and I just got back from Asia. She too has a Republic phone and while over there, we could call each other over wifi for free even though both of us were in Asia at the time. I'm surprised this article didn't mention that service of Republic. It's a great little company at a low cost, and I have rarely experienced any problems. I'm surprised more people haven't switched from the ridiculously high priced major carriers.
7
...this is a target-rich environment for hackers...
http://www.zdnet.com/article/16-million-mobile-devices-hit-by-malware-in...
http://www.zdnet.com/article/16-million-mobile-devices-hit-by-malware-in...
1
What about data? Voice doesn't require a lot of bandwidth and even fairly slow public WiFi connections of the sort one often finds in crowded places like cafes, airports and parks are usually fast enough for it.
But if you consume a lot of data outside your home and workplace (where I assume most people get fast WiFi), relying on public WiFi might not cut it, where data speeds are often glacial compared to modern cellular-based 4G LTE speeds that sometimes approach home or work WiFi speeds.
If you're just doing some casual browsing or email, or even streaming audio, public WiFi is probably ok. But if you're streaming video, especially 2-way as with Skype, you're often going to be disappointed, especially if you've gotten used to LTE speeds.
I agree that WiFi-based voice with cellular backup increasingly makes sense, especially in urban areas. But WiFi-based data is a whole other matter. What kinds of experiences have you cellular "cord-cutters" had with data using WiFi-based phone services?
But if you consume a lot of data outside your home and workplace (where I assume most people get fast WiFi), relying on public WiFi might not cut it, where data speeds are often glacial compared to modern cellular-based 4G LTE speeds that sometimes approach home or work WiFi speeds.
If you're just doing some casual browsing or email, or even streaming audio, public WiFi is probably ok. But if you're streaming video, especially 2-way as with Skype, you're often going to be disappointed, especially if you've gotten used to LTE speeds.
I agree that WiFi-based voice with cellular backup increasingly makes sense, especially in urban areas. But WiFi-based data is a whole other matter. What kinds of experiences have you cellular "cord-cutters" had with data using WiFi-based phone services?
1
You're either misinformed or an employee of AT&T or Verizon. WIFI isn't perfect. An ethernet connection is better. But the bandwidth from cell towers is miniscule compared to what's being offered on cable. Cell phone audio or any cell band width is inferior to what's already being offered by cable in many areas. Cell phone call clarity is inferior to even landline clarity. Cable bandwidth is superior by far to puny cellphone bandwidth. The cellphone people always ran their towers on the cheap and will not catch up with terrestial cable and fiber optic anytime soon. There's a race underway. AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile and DISH TV are buying all the abandoned TV bandwidth the FCC put up for sale once tv broadcasters mostly abandoned it for UHF HD bandwidth. But the race to decide who will control driverless cars and all the wireless future outside cities is far from decided, with Cable and far sighted companies like Google way ahead of everyone else, Google having long ago seen the future and begun THEN to prepare for it.
1
Depending on what kind of wifi service you have, data speeds can actually be much faster over wifi than over the cell network (not the case with my slower than slow DSL line, but certainly the case with cable internet).
2
In other words, provided that one never leaves home, one is assured of always having really fast data speeds using a WiFi-based "cell" phone.
For the other 99% of us, who would be relying on public WiFi to get data using these phones, cellular data will likely continue to be reliably faster in most places. Only when public WiFi data speeds approach cellular or even fixed line data speeds, and is available everywhere cellular data is, will the two be able to compete on DATA, which is what I was referring to.
Translation: if you spend all day streaming YouTube videos from your cell phone or tablet in the local Starbucks, at HD quality, you'll have a happier experience using your phone's LTE internet connection and not Starbucks' free WiFi internet connection. All the more so if you stream data while on the move.
For the other 99% of us, who would be relying on public WiFi to get data using these phones, cellular data will likely continue to be reliably faster in most places. Only when public WiFi data speeds approach cellular or even fixed line data speeds, and is available everywhere cellular data is, will the two be able to compete on DATA, which is what I was referring to.
Translation: if you spend all day streaming YouTube videos from your cell phone or tablet in the local Starbucks, at HD quality, you'll have a happier experience using your phone's LTE internet connection and not Starbucks' free WiFi internet connection. All the more so if you stream data while on the move.
1
We have two Republic Wireless phones -- paid $150 for each Motorola Moto G phone and about $24 total in cell/text service. My wife & daughter have AT&T iphones ("$200") and pay $100 for those two plans. Offered to get them Republic's top-of-the-line Moto X (arguably as good or better than an iphone) to lower our total bill to $48 per month. No deal. Apple has brainwashed our society!
10
This is not a new concept. When I lived in France in 2007, telecom's were switching to an all-in-one "box" concept that provided internet/phone/television for one price. The box was also equipped with a femtocell (mini cellular radio) for the telecom so that they could improve their signal over my internet connection. In Europe, where constructing a cell phone tower is enormously expensive, this was a low cost solution that always ensured you had service at home, regardless of how remote the location.
In North America, these types of solutions haven't really been offered, but there are a couple of workarounds. For those that are seriously cost conscious, a Skype out subscription costs about $3/month for unlimited calling in North America over wifi.
In North America, these types of solutions haven't really been offered, but there are a couple of workarounds. For those that are seriously cost conscious, a Skype out subscription costs about $3/month for unlimited calling in North America over wifi.
2
My nephews wife keeps a Skype connection open to Brazil day and night, with video, to keep track of her family in Rio. Since folks on both side are Skype connected, it costs neither party anything. The video is often stills but its still a lot like being back home.
3
What happens when you want to use your mobile phone outside of your house, though?
Google Voice, combined with Google Hangouts, provides unlimited free calls and text messages to U.S. and Canadian telephone numbers. The Google Hangouts app can be installed on a PC (Windows or Mac), Android phone, or iPhone.
1
I have Republic Wireless, and they are fantastic. $25/Mo for everything when Verizon used to cost me $100/Mo. Their service is impeccable in areas with wifi, and when it's not you're on Sprint, which is okay. Their support actually seems to care about resolving issues as well.
The big carriers need to be disrupted.
The big carriers need to be disrupted.
9
Interesting article. Mobile plans are getting less expensive and more diverse. I've kept up to date reading the weekly Prepaid Phone News http://www.prepaidphonenews.com which does the job of sorting out these plans.
1
And where has everyone been for the last eight or nine years?
GSM carriers, anywhere, have had the option to implement the UMA (Unlicensed Mobile Access) protocol for that long, and perhaps even longer, but I don't know. The word on the street is that ATT will be adding UMA during 2015.
In the US, only T-Mobile and itty bitty Cincinnati Bell have done so. Republic Wireless has tweaked the CDMA firmware to operate their phones first on wifi, then on the Sprint network when needed. They've been around maybe six years.
Be aware that there are flies in the UMA and the other ointments. The original UMA able phones had the implementation in the hardware. With Android 2.2 Froyo it was built into the OS. The latter is vastly inferior in reliability of a quality connection via wifi, and will not hand off when leaving or entering a wifi zone, like the hardware ones will.
I've been using T-Mobile Wifi Calling on and off for seven years with numerous phones. Because my present phone does not have WFC, and the old method is so superior, I have kept my Nokia E73 faux Blackberry for when and if I need such services traveling.
BTW, one of the very cool features of UMS/WFC is that you can be on wifi in Paris, France, and the TM system thinks you are in Paris, Kentucky. All outbound calls are considered local, USA
GSM carriers, anywhere, have had the option to implement the UMA (Unlicensed Mobile Access) protocol for that long, and perhaps even longer, but I don't know. The word on the street is that ATT will be adding UMA during 2015.
In the US, only T-Mobile and itty bitty Cincinnati Bell have done so. Republic Wireless has tweaked the CDMA firmware to operate their phones first on wifi, then on the Sprint network when needed. They've been around maybe six years.
Be aware that there are flies in the UMA and the other ointments. The original UMA able phones had the implementation in the hardware. With Android 2.2 Froyo it was built into the OS. The latter is vastly inferior in reliability of a quality connection via wifi, and will not hand off when leaving or entering a wifi zone, like the hardware ones will.
I've been using T-Mobile Wifi Calling on and off for seven years with numerous phones. Because my present phone does not have WFC, and the old method is so superior, I have kept my Nokia E73 faux Blackberry for when and if I need such services traveling.
BTW, one of the very cool features of UMS/WFC is that you can be on wifi in Paris, France, and the TM system thinks you are in Paris, Kentucky. All outbound calls are considered local, USA
5
It seems that frankly, the only thing that has allowed phone companies to endure so long is people's habit of having/giving out a telephone number.
If we all just got used to giving out a Skype name, Google screen name, Facebook address, or whatever instead, cell companies would be out of business in a month.
If we all just got used to giving out a Skype name, Google screen name, Facebook address, or whatever instead, cell companies would be out of business in a month.
4
I predict that telephone numbers will eventually be replaced by individual identities, which are endless, while the variety and number of phone numbers available, are limited.
2
If you use Google Voice with Google Hangouts, you can even receive a free telephone number from Google. If you configure the Hangouts app on your Android smartphone or iPhone to use your Google Voice number, you can make and receive calls on your phone. In addition, Google Voice can be configured to also ring your home landline and your business phone when someone calls your telephone number, so you can choose to pick up whichever phone is most handy at the time.
Furthermore, with the Hangouts app installed on your PC, you can place and receive calls on your computer and also send and receive text messages from your PC.
Furthermore, with the Hangouts app installed on your PC, you can place and receive calls on your computer and also send and receive text messages from your PC.
1
I LOVE Republic Wireless!! I've been a subscriber for 2 or 3 years and have had zero problems with lack of access or dropped calls. In addition to the $10 Wi-Fi first/cell back-up plan, they offer a $25/mo. all you can eat call/text/data plan.
If there's a downside to this service I haven't found it -- GO Republic Wireless!!
If there's a downside to this service I haven't found it -- GO Republic Wireless!!
11
two aspects not touched upon in the article:
1. Prepaid cell services by the major players and companies that "resell" their access at lower prices allow people like me to spend no more than $30 or $40 a year for cellular telephone service.
2. The relative security of voice and data content of cell transmission vs wi-fi router based transmissions. I s one superior to the other.
1. Prepaid cell services by the major players and companies that "resell" their access at lower prices allow people like me to spend no more than $30 or $40 a year for cellular telephone service.
2. The relative security of voice and data content of cell transmission vs wi-fi router based transmissions. I s one superior to the other.
4
Your last sentence is not clear, but if you mean "Is one superior to the other?", I don't think one IS superior to the other. The Cable Internet people are way ahead of the cell carriers in re-purposing bandwidth for driverless cars and internet outdoors, than the cellphone folks with their tinkertoy towers are. But you see, the race IS ON! The cellphone people are way behind because their first use was simply to provide voice. Their towers just aren't in the same league with internet and internet broadband. On the other hand, wifi, which has been offered free in some communities, is spotty and doesn't always work that well.
I agree with Tom. We live in a poor cell reception area and have been using wi-fi for years -- something that the other majors haven't really offered. And until recently, Apple didn't even offer the capability. Plus, since Time-Warner now offers free wi-fi to their customers from a lot of vantage points in the area (along with a wi-fi 'finder' app -- this is becoming more prevalent all the time. Nothing new here, folks.
It may not be new to you, but it is new to others and is still somewhat new to the industry overall; hence the reason for the article exploring how these companies and their services are beginning to scale.
3
I have been using Republic for several years now, happily pocketing the money that would otherwise go to a big carrier like Verizon. The only issue is that when I'm out of wi-fi contact and on cellular, I can't use data.
2
Sounds like you're on the $10/month unlimited talk/text plan! You can always upgrade to the $25 plan (which includes cell data) when you need it right from your phone (you can change your plan up to twice a billing period).
Google HangOuts (and its predecessor Google Talk) have been around before T-mobile allowed WiFi calling and the offering is very, very good. It allows nationwide calling, text, IM and video calls for FREE. I have had my kids using it for a long time and has allowed me to hold off on the "I need a cell phone" conversation for a good while.
The app is available on iOS and Android devices.
For myself who is always on the move, I have the WalMart StraightTalk service over AT&T's network. $45/month for unlimited voice, text and 4GB of data which is 7x more than I ever need. Brought my own device that I bought from Google, a MotoG that cost me $140. Great phone with no bloat ware.
There are great deals out there ya just have to be wiling to work for it and be creative.
The app is available on iOS and Android devices.
For myself who is always on the move, I have the WalMart StraightTalk service over AT&T's network. $45/month for unlimited voice, text and 4GB of data which is 7x more than I ever need. Brought my own device that I bought from Google, a MotoG that cost me $140. Great phone with no bloat ware.
There are great deals out there ya just have to be wiling to work for it and be creative.
2
Drop StraightTalk and go for Cricket Wireless instead. Same AT&T network, unlimited talk & text plus 2.5GB data for just $35/month (with autopay; $40/month without).
1
Excellent! I had no idea that AT&T had got more competitive in this MVNO space. Was wondering when they would stop cannibalizing their own markets. I pay $50/mo all-in with Straight Talk. This move to Cricket would save me 25%.
Thank you, "CT Resident".
Thank you, "CT Resident".
2
I do something similar but I bought a BLU phone through StaxMobile.com that's comparable to a Samsung Galaxy 5 for around $250.
1
All competition for cellphone service is good because it forces companies to lower their cost while improving service. That is, until all the cellphone companies decide to band together and agree to charge us the same price no matter which company we choose.
1
The Cell Carriers were charging the same high prices. But there's no room for all of them without consolidation, which could lead to restraint of trade and violations of the Sherman Act. Cell competition is leading to lower prices, unlocked phones afterward, no contract deals, carriers buying out contracts of other carriers to get the business. Big Cellular intends to dominate radio spectrum,while Cable, Community Internet which hasn't been quite born yet and possibly low hanging satellite, will get into the game too. The big Cell Companies are just jockeying for position, playing musical chairs to see which companies are allowed to sit down 'after the dance!' The Press should be covering the race to dominate the INTERNET OF THINGS OUTSIDE!
WiFi calling enables me to pay only $10/month combined for home phone/mobile phone/tablet phone service using a combo of magicjack and tracfone.
-magicjack home phone service for $3/month
-magicjack app for free mobile calling over WiFi on apple/android smartphones/tablets/ipod touch(I set the app to use my magicjack home phone number)The app also works on 3G/4G.Unlike other apps,you get free calls to landlines and mobile numbers.It will turn your tablet/ ipod touch/unactivated phone into a free WiFi phone.
-limited tracfone cellular talk/text/data for $7/month for when WiFi is not available.The more I use WiFi the more tracfone minutes/data I build up as they carry over when I add the $20 tracfone card every 3 months.The 1 year card also carries over your talk/text/data.
I use the app on an android tracfone and tablet and get free calls wherever I have WiFi,and I get WiFi almost everywhere.The cable co I use for home internet has mobile WiFi hotspots all over my area.I hardly even use cellular minutes anymore.You can get a new android tracfone as low as $20 as well as a magicjack GO with 1 year of service for $50.Great combo for $10/month.
Using the app for free WiFI calling not only saves you money but may cause safer driving habits by making people avoid phone use while driving as WiFi connections are only stable in a car that is not moving.
-magicjack home phone service for $3/month
-magicjack app for free mobile calling over WiFi on apple/android smartphones/tablets/ipod touch(I set the app to use my magicjack home phone number)The app also works on 3G/4G.Unlike other apps,you get free calls to landlines and mobile numbers.It will turn your tablet/ ipod touch/unactivated phone into a free WiFi phone.
-limited tracfone cellular talk/text/data for $7/month for when WiFi is not available.The more I use WiFi the more tracfone minutes/data I build up as they carry over when I add the $20 tracfone card every 3 months.The 1 year card also carries over your talk/text/data.
I use the app on an android tracfone and tablet and get free calls wherever I have WiFi,and I get WiFi almost everywhere.The cable co I use for home internet has mobile WiFi hotspots all over my area.I hardly even use cellular minutes anymore.You can get a new android tracfone as low as $20 as well as a magicjack GO with 1 year of service for $50.Great combo for $10/month.
Using the app for free WiFI calling not only saves you money but may cause safer driving habits by making people avoid phone use while driving as WiFi connections are only stable in a car that is not moving.
1
I tried MagicJack a few years ago and found the voice quality of the service so incredibly poor that I had to drop them at considerable expense. I had to get a new land-line phone number and inform all of my contacts that my number had changed.
You usually get what you pay for!
You usually get what you pay for!
2
WIFI will eventually be stable in moving vehicles. The handover system will be adapted to wifi as well. There's a race on between cell carriers and cable to decide who will dominate the INTERNET OF THINGS OUTSIDE THE HOUSE! The press is way behind and not aware this battle of the titans is already underway. That's why the comments after conservative stories like this one, often contain more information than the articles that precede them.
1
A similar company not mentioned by this article is Truphone. Truphone has a pre-pay GSM service that uses WiFi as the primary source of signals, and does a handover to cellular when WiFi is not available. This is a terrific deal for people who use their smartphones only occasionally for phone calls. Sim cards are sold for as little as $15. It is also possible to select a 'top-up' option so extra minutes are automatically added whenever they are needed.
1
Truphone is just one of many services doing this. But it does not use your "real" phone number. Not Wifi Calling.
There's no reason for one to pay anything for wifi use over a cellphone, except for the internet itself. If you're paying someone, start looking for someone who will provide it free, possibly for a one time charge, or no charge at all. the Cell carriers charge too much for their service, but cable companies will boost their charges to over $200 a month once all radio services move to the net, unless regulators prevent them from doing so.
Competition is good and WIFI could create a viable alternative to provide cheap wireless usage in many situations.
3
Big deal. I have been a T-Mobile subscriber for several years, and use their Wi-Fi Calling application on all my phones (which is a lifesaver, since I live in an area with very weak cellphone reception from all providers). They've done it for several years now; when my daughter was in school in London, we used it all the time to call her for free (both parties using wi-fi calling). It works well for me; but it's nothing new.
2
I think you are missing the point. These new services are primarily Wi-Fi with cellular backup. For that reason, the monthly costs are a small fraction of cellular-first services such as your T-Mobile.
2
Look....I don't care what it is. WiFi. Cellular, whatever. Ultimately the devices, be they WiFi routers, Cell phone towers, etc., aggregate end users...in effect mux them together, over a common back-bone facility to either the larger 'Net, or Voice, world. Your use of WiFi doesn't stop at that router. It's merely a bridge being used. In my view WiFi today is much akin to the AOL (of old) modem farms you'd call into so to connect to the 'Net. WiFi the concept may be much smaller in size and more dispersed, but in effect it is the same thing. And finding available/viable connectivity will be the very same issue, too.
And I look askance at the "lower cost" idea. Yeah...in start-up mode this may be true, to a degree. They're trying to garner business. But longer term? Longer term all that dispersed infrastructure needs maintenance and support, just like any other telecom infrastructure. Costs (to the end user) will most certainly begin to reflect this fact as this telecommunication segment matures..
Just some thoughts.
John~
American Net'Zen
And I look askance at the "lower cost" idea. Yeah...in start-up mode this may be true, to a degree. They're trying to garner business. But longer term? Longer term all that dispersed infrastructure needs maintenance and support, just like any other telecom infrastructure. Costs (to the end user) will most certainly begin to reflect this fact as this telecommunication segment matures..
Just some thoughts.
John~
American Net'Zen
1
Yet another "missing the point".
These new services don't have infrastructure costs because they are essentially relying on infrastructure which is already in place and paid for/maintained by others.
In fact, once their subscriber management tools are in place, it is possible that their operating costs will go even lower, not higher.
These new services don't have infrastructure costs because they are essentially relying on infrastructure which is already in place and paid for/maintained by others.
In fact, once their subscriber management tools are in place, it is possible that their operating costs will go even lower, not higher.
3
Google Voice capped its voip free phone community in the US and Canada after last May 15th. Supposedly that community had 300,000 phone systems in it at the time. Google left the impression they shut the service down. They didn't. They just started to emphasize hangouts instead. That entire service still running. It is largely run with no human hands at all, just robocall voices and algorithms. Google also stopped some 3rd party operators from using the system to piggyback free calls to and from Europe on the google voice free voip. Recently ObiHai sent emails saying the Google Voice free voip was available again, using the ObiHai modules. Google, however, no longer emphasizes this service.
1
I have been doing this concept for a couple years. I pay $14.95 for Line2 a WIFI service. I make all my calls and text unlimited on WIFI. If WIFI is not available, I have AT&T 10 cent a minute plan that automatically picks my call up on cellular. I buy $10 worth of minutes a month. What I don't use rolls over. I use on average $3.00 a month. My total bill with taxes is $25.50 per month for unlimited everything. Data is only used when WIFI is available. Yes It is an iPhone that I use.. I also have FREETELEVISION by hooking my computer to a 42" TV on WIFI. I am 70 years old by the way.
10
I'd like to talk to you privately. Try to find me on the internet, then contact me if you can by phone.
This is the second time in the past few weeks I've seen an article in the Times' technology section that appears to indicate Times staffers / writers are unaware T-Mobile has offered Wi-Fi Calling (a.k.a. UMA) on many of its handsets since 2007. (I have no affiliation with T-Mobile, other than being a customer, and a happy user of UMA, both domestically and overseas).
3
It doesn't matter.
T-Mobile offers WiFi calling as an "add-on" service and still charges up-the-kazoo for even a basic monthly plan. These new services are primarily WiFi with cellular backup and have a much, much lower operating cost and therefore much lower subscriber fees.
T-Mobile offers WiFi calling as an "add-on" service and still charges up-the-kazoo for even a basic monthly plan. These new services are primarily WiFi with cellular backup and have a much, much lower operating cost and therefore much lower subscriber fees.
2
Be informed before you "speak." TM has NEVER charged for WFC beyond their "up the kazoo" plans. Just because YOU think TM is charging too much (compared to what other national carrier??????) doesn't mean everyone thinks like you do.
And so what if the carriers off load to the internet? Whoopee.
And so what if the carriers off load to the internet? Whoopee.
Every single T-Mobile co-branded WiFi calling phone I've had (this is, from its introduction in 2007, a mix of Nokia, Blackberry and Windows Phone handsets) has been able to be set to use cellular, WiFi, or a mix of the two technologies, with various different settings for preference, allowing the customer to "primarily WiFi with cellular backup" if they so choose. I understand what you mean by "add-on", and we're not comparing apples and pears here, for sure, but it's been important to me to have reliable cellular service from a well funded international carrier, with advanced supported technologies. The ability to use UMA (over the years) from Europe, SE Asia, China, Japan, and all of North America has been helpful in my professional travels. I, again, understand your mention of "new services" and folks with lower operating cost, but to me, a service based on standardized (3GPP) protocols - UMA, interestingly, is being adopted in places like Thailand, Cambodia and India as we speak - with a major multinational carrier may well still be available to me years from now, as it has been for the past 7.
This is the same sort of stuff we heard from the WiMax nuts back in the day, but struggled to really master the art of mobility, which is why i died. The art of mobility is the key issue here as all data based option such as WiMax and WiFi do not support it and this affects voice quality especially. One reason Cisco has not been able to take over the traditional telco vendors, who's starting point was always mobility first.
In addition, using Starbucks or other WiFi hotspots is not as easy as the article makes it sound. Ever try to connect to them without a password ? Unless you control access to all these WiFi hotspost for a seamless connection, it is pointless to try an offer a service supporting voice calls. Try having a call with a gamer using the same access point....
LTE already has the mobility issue mastered with seamless handovers and the high speed infrastructure needed to transport you call to the right person, while on the move without any disruption.
It's worth the extra $70 a month to be able to use your phone as and when you like without worrying about if there is (a substandard for voice)WiFi connection somewhere.
WiFi should stay where it belongs, in the home as an access point for data connectivity and leave voice communications to those who invented it.
In addition, using Starbucks or other WiFi hotspots is not as easy as the article makes it sound. Ever try to connect to them without a password ? Unless you control access to all these WiFi hotspost for a seamless connection, it is pointless to try an offer a service supporting voice calls. Try having a call with a gamer using the same access point....
LTE already has the mobility issue mastered with seamless handovers and the high speed infrastructure needed to transport you call to the right person, while on the move without any disruption.
It's worth the extra $70 a month to be able to use your phone as and when you like without worrying about if there is (a substandard for voice)WiFi connection somewhere.
WiFi should stay where it belongs, in the home as an access point for data connectivity and leave voice communications to those who invented it.
1
I think you are misunderstanding how these services work. With Republic Wireless, for example, the phone only uses wifi if it's available, with cell as backup. Once you add a network with a password to the phone, the phone signs in and connects automatically when you're in range (it works basically the same as it does with your laptop).
It's actually very easy to sign into public hotspots. They don't require a password; you simply have to accept terms on a browser page and you're in. The phone can also be set up to do this automatically.
Don't want to use the wifi network at Starbuck's? Then, don't. The phone is also connected to the cell network just like any traditional mobile phone.
For many people, the quality of their calls over wifi are actually better than what they experience over cell. This is especially true if you have poor cell reception.
If it's worth it to you to pay $70 more a month for cell only service, that is certainly your choice. Others, though, are happy to pay $10 ($25/month with cell data) instead.
It's actually very easy to sign into public hotspots. They don't require a password; you simply have to accept terms on a browser page and you're in. The phone can also be set up to do this automatically.
Don't want to use the wifi network at Starbuck's? Then, don't. The phone is also connected to the cell network just like any traditional mobile phone.
For many people, the quality of their calls over wifi are actually better than what they experience over cell. This is especially true if you have poor cell reception.
If it's worth it to you to pay $70 more a month for cell only service, that is certainly your choice. Others, though, are happy to pay $10 ($25/month with cell data) instead.
3
They didn't invent it, Hedy Lamarr, the actress, invented the idea of cellphone networks and received a patent. Her estate is collecting royalties on it to this day.
For years, using Republic Wireless for myself, my wife and my college granddaughter, my monthly bill for unlimited voice, unlimited text and, with unlimited data on Wi-Fi, is only $30 a month, total. This problem free cell service, provided by Sprint, is just as good as any of the big carriers. And my phone, the Moto X, can stand up to anything by Samsung and Apple. This is the future.
8
Have used Google Voice the past few years living outside the US. On a smartphone I always had to use a 3rd party app that piggybacked on Google Voice, but was still able to make & receive free phonecalls to the US. Google has now eliminated the need for the 3rd party apps with their own Google Dialer app, which is better quality again. Free calls to and from the USA & Canada, great quality (the only issue Ive noticed is a short delay upon answering, but then the call goes fine), and FREE! I recommend anyone travelling to get a Google Voice number. But you need to do so before you leave- it won't let you sign up for one once you're overseas.
Thank you Google! Just speculating here, but I imagine in a decade or so, we wont even have cellphone plans; just buy/subscribe to a phone, pay a bit of insurance, and we'll all be on free (or almost free) networks.
Thank you Google! Just speculating here, but I imagine in a decade or so, we wont even have cellphone plans; just buy/subscribe to a phone, pay a bit of insurance, and we'll all be on free (or almost free) networks.
2
Try to find me on google and call me, would you. I need to know how you managed this.
I signed up with FreedomPop more than a year ago and if you don't get any extras -- like voice mail -- it is free. (Of course, very few people would consider voicemail a frill. ) Battery life with their app was terrible and voice call quality was very much the same. On the positive side, it was dependable for checking e-mail via 3G. But that was all it could do.
A disruptive technology? I hardly think so.
A disruptive technology? I hardly think so.
There is absolutely no need for anyone to be paying 100 or more per month. You just have to use a bit of strategy and, please, remember that the discount, no contract carriers use THE SAME NETWORKS as the major carriers requiring contracts. Why, oh, why, would you sign a contract if you don't have to?
Unlimited talk and text services are now available for 40 or less. AND, without a contract, the carriers can't add surprise charges which you then have to spend time trying to get taken off the bill. The cell companies probably make a billion or more per yr. slipping in these charges.
It takes a lot of careful research to get the best deal. You have to balance your need for data against talk time. Since most people use 2 to 2.5 gigs of data month, one that offers only 1 gig might be a trap so that you'd wind up paying a lot more. NEVER buy a data plan that only offers 500 megs or less and then sells more at a high price, unless you seldom use data. There are 1,000 megs in 1 gig of data. Anything that works out to more than $20./gig should be considered suspect, perhaps a rip off. (For the math challenged, 20 dollars works out to 2 cents per meg.)
Another way to save money is to sign up a group, family or friends, in a single plan, cutting individual costs down to as little as 25 per person (you'd have to work out how data would be allocated and how to pay for excess use). Still, the discount carriers have the lowest cost deals.
http://terryreport.com
Unlimited talk and text services are now available for 40 or less. AND, without a contract, the carriers can't add surprise charges which you then have to spend time trying to get taken off the bill. The cell companies probably make a billion or more per yr. slipping in these charges.
It takes a lot of careful research to get the best deal. You have to balance your need for data against talk time. Since most people use 2 to 2.5 gigs of data month, one that offers only 1 gig might be a trap so that you'd wind up paying a lot more. NEVER buy a data plan that only offers 500 megs or less and then sells more at a high price, unless you seldom use data. There are 1,000 megs in 1 gig of data. Anything that works out to more than $20./gig should be considered suspect, perhaps a rip off. (For the math challenged, 20 dollars works out to 2 cents per meg.)
Another way to save money is to sign up a group, family or friends, in a single plan, cutting individual costs down to as little as 25 per person (you'd have to work out how data would be allocated and how to pay for excess use). Still, the discount carriers have the lowest cost deals.
http://terryreport.com
5
Republic and Freedompop DO use a major carrier, Sprint. Whether Sprint is good for you or not is whole 'nudder topic.
1
All the more reason for the FCC to regulate the Internet as a common carrier.
Tom Benghauser
Denver Home for the Bewildered
Tom Benghauser
Denver Home for the Bewildered
11
Big Cell has used their dominance in the States to control which phone is used with their service. The Bigs say its necessary because no 2 cell phone companies share the same software. Its not really true though. Cell phone control is critical to the Carriers ability to charge whatever they like for service by controlling which phone you are able to use on the carrier. A regulator could force all carriers to use a common software and carriers that would accept any cellphone, forcing carriers to bargain with their service alone, rather than let them use the phones to control the amount of money they can milk from the marketplace.
As the comments indicate, there are many ways to make phone calls using the internet. Finding the best way for your purposes is important.
Be aware that if you are in an area that doesn't have Sprint coverage, the Republic cell signal will not work for you. Sprint uses a GSM system.
Verizon uses a CDMA system. The phones are as different as AC and DC.
Here in the middle of nowhere rural NY, Verizon is the only signal I get. And a weak signal at that. So..no Republic. A shame.
Be aware that if you are in an area that doesn't have Sprint coverage, the Republic cell signal will not work for you. Sprint uses a GSM system.
Verizon uses a CDMA system. The phones are as different as AC and DC.
Here in the middle of nowhere rural NY, Verizon is the only signal I get. And a weak signal at that. So..no Republic. A shame.
Just to clarify, Sprint and Verizon are both CDMA networks; AT&T and T-Mobile are GSM networks. Republic actually roams on Verizon, so it may work for you (of course, it will work on your wifi network, too).
1
Sprint is CDMA like Verizon and in fact Republic Wireless phones will roam to Verizon towers if no Sprint signal is available (voice roaming, plus very very minimal data roaming)
1
Verizon and Sprint offer gsm too in the largest markets, where they sometimes offer both. Verizon is solely CDMA only in smaller markets. There's a tiny hole in the side of most Iphones before 8, which I haven't looked at yet. Open that and there's room for a sim. The apple people told me you can stick a cheap sim in an Iphone in Europe to speak and receive calls locally but you can't use it for service in the states, except selectively where the CDMA carriers allow you to
This is a perfect opportunity for Microsoft to resurrect itself by producing a portable phone for exclusive stationary Wi Fi connections utilizing it's Skype service. If the devices were made in the USA, I would buy several. Knowing that I would have to remain within range of a single WiFi router using a free service and only having to pay for the WiFi phone is quite attractive to me. After all, once we find a Hotspot with our laptop, we don't move until we are done. I see a market in this. I can make lots of free short phone calls to those on my Skype list and other Skype members for free. People would join up in droves. How 'bout it Bill?
Have been a Republic Wireless subscriber since the new Moto X phone was introduced – about 15 months – and have found it basically a good choice. Phone is nice and service generally acceptable. While there have been glitches and growing pains with the service, particularly the wifi to cellular handover, the service has continued to improve and my sense is that the technical folks at Republic are competent and dedicated to making this service work. Certainly, the Republic service represents far greater value than my prior service as a direct subscriber of Sprint service. But the fact that Republic has chosen to make Sprint its cellular partner is also the biggest drawback to the use of Republic’s service. It is hardly news that Sprint network coverage is generally inferior to that of the other three national carriers, so one wonders why Republic chose to partner with Sprint. Assuming it is a cost issue – other carriers demanding higher fees for the resale of their services, it would seem that many if not most Republic users would happily pay a bit more for having cellular access to one of the better networks. On that score, the news that Google may be about to enter the market for a hybrid cellular/wifi service was quite encouraging, based on a belief that Google will be able to demand and get access to a higher quality cellular service to offer its users.
6
Has anyone heard of Ting? I'm paying less than $30 a month on a conventional cellular connection. Of course I don't spend every dying moment on the phone either. I don't spend more time talking on a phone because I have one. I've always had one it's just that one was tethered to the house.
Same here, and that's for 2 lines. But we make the effort to use very little cell data and we don't use a huge number of hours or texts. It's great for us but probably isn't great for members of the younger generations.
My doubt about this is the wifi service. My Verizon wifi at home is terrible, and they won't be installing FIOS in my neighborhood. I do not want cable, so something has to be done to improve wifi. I have little confidence on a wifi only network.
You'll want cable's internet because its better than Verizon's, has more promise for the future. The best strategy though is to play the various providers off against one another.
I tried FreedomPop for a month. Texting was ok, apps worked well if there was strong wifi around, and voice calls were uniformly horrendous even with strong wifi. I wish them well, but using FreedomPop on an everyday basis was like driving a large SUV equipped with a lawn mower engine. I ended up giving the FreedomPop-supplied HTC phone to my two year-old as a plaything.
5
I switched to a Moto G with Republic Wireless about a year ago and have generally been happy with it. I have occasionally had problems with reception at work depending on where I'm making calls. One nice thing is that you can switch between the different plans twice a month right from your phone at no charge. There is no contract but you do have to buy the phone. Republic's technology means you have to buy one of their phones, which are all Motorola, that are specially configured to switch between wi-fi and cellular. Also, phones do not work abroad and cannot call foreign numbers.
2
We need this desperately in Canada where we have the highest cell phone bills in the world. It is amazing how little Americans pay for cell service.
Having been a consulting network architect for Bell, Rogers, SaskTel, and Telus, I would say the problem is the the small population in Canada and the 100% adoption of mobile service.
These companies can only grow by poaching subscribers from competitors and they expend huge amounts of cash flow to do this. Getting a Canadian sub to switch to a new mobile company costs 2x what it costs in the US.
These companies can only grow by poaching subscribers from competitors and they expend huge amounts of cash flow to do this. Getting a Canadian sub to switch to a new mobile company costs 2x what it costs in the US.
1
I've had Republic Wireless for a year and a half. Its a wonderful service and they have excellent phones. I have a Moto X and I do not miss my IPhone on AT&T. I pay $26.xx per month, which includes the taxes. I will never go back to traditional cellular contracts. I dropped just over $300 for my phone on the front end and for me, that was reasonable considering the money I would be saving on monthly charges. I am glad this article in the NYT; I try and convert all my family and friends to Republic Wireless. Prepaying for your phone and no contract service aren't just for the credit challenged any more. Some of us just have learned to make use of the technology that's available and save money while doing it. Saving money is always a win.
14
My contract is up in June and I am going WiFi !! So long overpriced land line carriers. I have been watching kids in the city using old phones by skating from one free wireless to the next all the while I am paying $100 per month.
2
The major carriers have lured people into paying 100 per month with the two yr. contract and the discounts on a new phone. Here's a rule to save money: pick your plan FIRST and your phone second. Don't, also, think you must always have the latest and greatest phone.
The lower priced phones are really good these days. I looked at an HTC tonight for $169. that has almost everything anyone could want. A no-contract, discount carrier is selling a MotoG in a local grocery store near where I live for $79. Can you beat that?
Don't do a contract. What's the advantage? It is mainly for the carrier because the contract allows them to add surprise charges, like a mysterious "one time fee" for five dollars that kept appearing on my T-Mobile bill.
You shouldn't have to pay more than around 40 dollars for unlimited talk, unless you need a lot of data. Most people use no more than 2.5 gigs of data per month, so you can use that as a guideline.
http://terryreport.com
The lower priced phones are really good these days. I looked at an HTC tonight for $169. that has almost everything anyone could want. A no-contract, discount carrier is selling a MotoG in a local grocery store near where I live for $79. Can you beat that?
Don't do a contract. What's the advantage? It is mainly for the carrier because the contract allows them to add surprise charges, like a mysterious "one time fee" for five dollars that kept appearing on my T-Mobile bill.
You shouldn't have to pay more than around 40 dollars for unlimited talk, unless you need a lot of data. Most people use no more than 2.5 gigs of data per month, so you can use that as a guideline.
http://terryreport.com
3
For light users of data and moderate users of voice who own or are willing to buy a Sprint phone, I highly recommend Ting. There are no plans with Ting; you pay $6.00 per month per line and then are charged according to which "bucket" you use. There are separate 'buckets" for voice, texts and data. You pay only for what you use. They use Sprint towers; I see no difference in signal availability or quality; as well, every call I've made to them has been immediately picked up by a person who answers the questions (and even gets the jokes). Ting is an excellent choice; I am not an employee or shareholder, just a very satisfied customer.
8
Everyone hates their cell phone company, and they hate the companies even more when they realize the obscene profits these companies are generating. Yes, the cellular infrastructure costs money to develop, but once in place it costs very little to operate. Americans pay many multiples of the charges in other countries and don't get service that is as good as in many developing nations. If WiFi gives the cellular monopolists a run for their money, they roundly deserve it.
34
People in the US hate their cell phone company. With good reason.
I build cell networks in the 2nd, and 3rd world and when I tell people what I do for a living, why I am there in their country, I get smiles.
People grab their mobile and put it over their heart. They say thanks. I get free cab rides, and meals.
Their mobile call time is rounded up to the nearest second (not minute) they can top up their cell account at corner shops and get a battery charge as well.
US consumers paid to develop this amazing technology, but we do not have to keep doing it. The world has caught up.
I build cell networks in the 2nd, and 3rd world and when I tell people what I do for a living, why I am there in their country, I get smiles.
People grab their mobile and put it over their heart. They say thanks. I get free cab rides, and meals.
Their mobile call time is rounded up to the nearest second (not minute) they can top up their cell account at corner shops and get a battery charge as well.
US consumers paid to develop this amazing technology, but we do not have to keep doing it. The world has caught up.
6
it costs billions to acquire spectrum and then up a network. Sure it's cheaper to operate it once it's up and running, but the original debt plus interest still needs to be paid. Hey, I bet the operating costs on your home are nearly nothing, so long as you ignore the taxes and the mortgage.
1
I'm surprised the article didn't mention Tracfone or H20, both of which offer pay-as-you-go cellphone service for a minimum of only a few dollars a month. If you have an unlocked phone, you can get 90-day activation and 100 minutes for as low as $10 from H2O, and Tracfone offers 90-day activation for as low as $20. Low-cost pay-as-you-go cellphone service is a lot more convenient than having to locate a wi-fi hotspot to use your phone.
5
Correction: a $10, 90-day H2O card gets you 200 minutes and 100mb data. You can buy a phone directly from H2O or you can look online for an H2O SIM card and install it in your unlocked cellphone, if you have one - this is how you get high-quality cellphone service and a top-quality unlocked phone of your choice, all at a comparatively very low price. H2O offers both GSM (and 4G) and CDMA while Tracfone is CDMA only. Coverage maps indicate that Tracfone may offer wider coverage. My experience shows that quite a few apps are not available for my Android Tracfone, but there is no limit to the apps that will work with my high-priced Sony Experia with H2O service. For example, an app that lets me check home surveillance cameras via smartphone works with my Sony but not with my Tracfone LG Android phone.
2
You don't locate a wifi hotspot. You buy it from one of the bigs at a one time charge, run it for as little as $15 a month and carry what amounts to a cell carrier access module with you wherever you want to use it. My family owns a radio station which uses hot spots to do remotes from distant locations. The hot spots go to the location with you and you dial them up like a phone, then stick a mic in them to broadcast, and wear an earphone to hear back from the radio station.
I'm surprised this reporter didn't mention the 800-pound gorilla in the room, Comcast. It's Xfinity hotspots are so ubiquitous, and growing so fast where I live, in a big city, that it's only a matter of time before I'll be able turn off cell phone data altogether.
Could it also be only a matter of time before Comcast starts offering calls over this network as well?
Could it also be only a matter of time before Comcast starts offering calls over this network as well?
1
I cut the cord and I will never ever deal with Comcast again.
1
This is welcome news. Our experience with Verizon has been abysmal - second only to Comcast in poor customer service, shady techniques to up my data bill and the relentless efforts to lock us into their phones and contracts. I feel taken every month when I pay the bill and look forward to the day I can be out from under their 2 year contract. They can't explain why our data usage continues to go up even though we are not donig anything differently on our phones. The service is so bad compared to the four countries we have also lived in. Phone calls are like talking on a two-way radio: I feel I have to say, "over" to the other person on a call to avoid the ridiculous talking over each other and, "no, you go aheads" that plague calls. This is in a major American city too. Americans do not realize that cell service is much better and cheaper in many other countries and that the big cell companies here just want to squeeze their monthly hundred bucks out of their customers without providing competitive service.
As with all the other societal declines here in this great democracy- health care, education and financial services abuses are some examples - the system is rigged to enrich corporations. Our elected officials are bought and paid for and therefore do not represent us in these matters and do not protect us from abuse. The market should provide better service and prices in theory but corporations squelch true competition via their lobbyists and lackeys in DC.
As with all the other societal declines here in this great democracy- health care, education and financial services abuses are some examples - the system is rigged to enrich corporations. Our elected officials are bought and paid for and therefore do not represent us in these matters and do not protect us from abuse. The market should provide better service and prices in theory but corporations squelch true competition via their lobbyists and lackeys in DC.
49
Yup. I figured all this out about three years ago when I realized I could receive calls on my iPod Touch over Wi-fi using a google number and an app called Vtok. Since then I knew it was only a matter of time before everyone just made calls over Wi-Fi.
Optimum cable is advertising a Wi-Fi only phone that they have built themselves. They could probably have attracted many more people simply by subsidizing the cost of an iPod Touch; it would be by far the cheapest way to get an iPhone experience and I know a lot of people would flock to it.
My own current strategy is to just use a 4G tablet as a phone (I have the Nexus 7). Google now supports VOIP natively with the "Hangouts Dialer", so I'm all set with my google number. With phones approaching 7 inches anyway, this seems like the cheapest way to get a top-tier smartphone experience and always have coverage: $30 bucks a month plus zero interest financing for the tablet.
Optimum cable is advertising a Wi-Fi only phone that they have built themselves. They could probably have attracted many more people simply by subsidizing the cost of an iPod Touch; it would be by far the cheapest way to get an iPhone experience and I know a lot of people would flock to it.
My own current strategy is to just use a 4G tablet as a phone (I have the Nexus 7). Google now supports VOIP natively with the "Hangouts Dialer", so I'm all set with my google number. With phones approaching 7 inches anyway, this seems like the cheapest way to get a top-tier smartphone experience and always have coverage: $30 bucks a month plus zero interest financing for the tablet.
5
so why wouldn't it be feasible to put the burden on home and building owners for the build out with a distributed antenna system for wifi at low cost say $15 /mo and piggyback cellular on top of that antenna system for a higher fee since there would be a premium for mobile signals - moving around?
cutting out $30-50 going to TW / Comcast would be a public service
cutting out $30-50 going to TW / Comcast would be a public service
6
I know several people that use Republic Wireless because they don't have cell service at home but they do have Wi-Fi. On the road they use the cellular network. Moto G smart phones with unlimited talk and text, plus data anywhere you have Wi-Fi, all for $10 a month. Talk about disruptive.
13
I tried FreedomPop and, sadly, found the service to be sorely lacking. The speeds were not remotely close to what was advertised and the service was essentially useless. Worse, there was a nasty clause in the fine print saying that there would be a hefty "re-stocking" fee for returned devices. Finally, the company made me jump through hoops to get my money back (not including the re-stocking fee). Perhaps others have had better experiences; mine was nothing but frustration and disappointment.
4
Republic Wireless early adopter here. I don't know why anyone living on a budget -- whiich means, 99% of the population -- doesn't use it, too. The minor drawbacks are far outweighed by the savings. I've converted a dozen people to it, and all swear they will ever go back to being the slops in the trough for the Verizon/ATT/Sprint porcine festival.
9
Amen brother! (sister?)
The only thing keeping Republic small is their limited capacity to add new customers. I waited 4 months to become a Republic customer, and that was almost 2 years ago. How long is the wait these days? Before Republic I was a luddite, unable to afford cell phones. Now my daughter has the $10 plan and I have the full-service $25 plan, which includes unlimited calling, texting and data all over the USA.
The only thing keeping Republic small is their limited capacity to add new customers. I waited 4 months to become a Republic customer, and that was almost 2 years ago. How long is the wait these days? Before Republic I was a luddite, unable to afford cell phones. Now my daughter has the $10 plan and I have the full-service $25 plan, which includes unlimited calling, texting and data all over the USA.
6
To Sean Fulop:
I joined Republic back in September. I got my Phone 2 days after I sent in my order.
I joined Republic back in September. I got my Phone 2 days after I sent in my order.
2
No wait these days! (I waited a year myself after their beta release.)
1
I've been wondering why my old iphone 4 with IOS 7 continues to IMessage to my sister's and son's old iphone 4s when I don't have a wifi signal. My sister is wondering too. My son only uses his with wifi, no cell plan on it but he still gets my IMessages. This article could explain this. I have Net10, sister AT&T.
1
iMessage works without Wifi too - it works just over the cel carrier network, if this helps, not sure. I use imessage all the time without wifi.
How does a mobile phone using a wi-fi Hotspot access the local telephone network? Who pays for that "bridge?"
You pay for it, unless someone else is paying for the wifi. Smartphones have been jailbroken for years to use on the internet without interference from cell carriers that use the phone to carry their carriers alone mostly. But the internet can be used for free from a wifi. I'm in the radio business. We used to use phone lines into gyms and onto football fields to broadcast high school games. Now remote broadcasts are all done with wifi hotspots from the bigs themselves at inflated prices. Those may be useable on one's phone too. If they're not, it doesn't matter, hotspots will eventually be routinely used for smart and dumb phones because, competitively, that's where the world is headed. Communities will all eventually build fiber networks and wifi for their citizens to keep the prices from going through the roof from the cable companies, something that's coming in less than five years.
1
You can already do that for free with Google Voice. Google pays.
2
There's a tax or surcharge on every land-line bill that goes to support the Public Switched Telephone Network. Any phone carrier that is FCC-licensed can have free access, I think. Correct me if I'm wrong!
When your cable company gives you a router with Wifi capabilities without charging extra for the wifi...well they are not known for their generosity. They are using your energy and your real estate to build out their version of a cellular network.
7
Had great experiences with Republic Wireless' $10 plan; reliability and call services were top notch, and at unbeatable deal. Cell as a backup instead of the primary proposition changes the game for consumers.
21
Having been with Republic for about 3 years, I can say the growing pains were pretty annoying. Lot of dropped calls with my Motorola Defy XT (terrible phone), but the price was so good, I put up with it. It is much better now and I use a Moto G. If you are an IPhone user, you are out of luck, but they do have the Moto X 2nd generation, which is supposed to be a fabulous phone.
5
"And an industry already engaged in a price-cut war "
I don't think that my Verizon Wireless bill has ever gone down. I'd like to know what data that the reporter, Conor Dougherty, used to make this statement.
I don't think that my Verizon Wireless bill has ever gone down. I'd like to know what data that the reporter, Conor Dougherty, used to make this statement.
39
Your bill hasn't decreased, now you probably receive unlimited talk, text, and data. When I got my first cell phone (the huge "brick") in the early '90s, I paid $0.40 per minute with Cellular One; and, of course, back then there was no text or data.
1
Every other carrier has been lowering prices for the last year or two. Sounds like you are betting on the wrong horse
1
T Mobile has offered WiFi on all it's smart phone for over 5 years that I know and that is because I have only been a customer of T Mobile for that period of time. All our cell phones automatically switch to WiFi hot spots In fact they offered WiFi tethering. I think this author should have done his research a little more thoroughly and accurately.
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What are the relevant legal issues and how are they addressed? What statutes or regulations or orders compel cell-phone service providers to permit connection to their own systems of signals from the systems operated by the wi-fi service providers?
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There's nothing compelling the cell networks. Republic has a deal in place with Sprint, so when I go on cellular it is through an underlying Sprint number. Actually, the biggest problem I have had with Republic is that I occasionally get calls/texts which were dialed to the Sprint customer who has the underlying number. Talk about "everything old is new again"---lines crossed! It's like back to the 1930s!
If calls to the underlying Sprint number get to be too bothersome, just put in a request to have it changed to a new one.
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Can one achieve the same effect with an iPod Touch using Skpe or Google Voice as a phone number?
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Yes.
I have seen my son playing with a setup like this, but I believe the iPod does not have a built-in microphone or speaker so it is not very practical in a room full of people.
I am a bit fuzzy on the details as I was just an observer a couple of years ago.
I have seen my son playing with a setup like this, but I believe the iPod does not have a built-in microphone or speaker so it is not very practical in a room full of people.
I am a bit fuzzy on the details as I was just an observer a couple of years ago.
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Google Voice will run a cell phone free. I have google voice but not with a cellphone. Mine's free, but doesn't leave the house. I'm not sure google is ready just yet to tangle with organized cable companies and the cell phone bigs. But google has structures in place for wifi free cell phone service when wifi becomes ubiquitous, free and nearly free to use with cellphones.
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Yes. Download Google Hang Outs. Available on iOS, Android, Mac and windows. FREE domestic calling, IM and text over WiFI. Have all my kids set up on it. Works great.
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The dirty little secret of modern technology is that increased efficiencies in service are never, ever to be passed down to customers unless the feds make you or some upstart manages to break the business paradigm that you dominate .
Ten dollar cell service for the mass of Americans who've seen little increase in net income for the last 30 years while corporate income boomed? Bring it.
Ten dollar cell service for the mass of Americans who've seen little increase in net income for the last 30 years while corporate income boomed? Bring it.
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Agree. If this service is available to me then it's gonna be bye bye Verizon. I'm sure they've already got their lobbyists on the problem as we speak and are furiously trying to squelch any possible competition via shady political back channels.
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Its not true that big cell and big cable will triumph forever. At some point there will be inexpensive municipal internet everywhere and free to nearly free wifi for cellphone use.
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Yeah really. Republic has been quietly rolling out their service, slowly, sort of under the radar. This article will probably bring a barrage of infringement suits, cease-and-desist letters, and other legal beagling from Verizon et al. Republic's gonna have to bump up prices just to pay the lawyers.
As a happy Republic subscriber who pays them a bit more than $12/mo and can upgrade temporarily and quickly when more than wifi is needed, I constantly amazed by friends who pay triple that -- or better -- for what appears to be a comparable service. No accounting for taste, I guess.
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ATT and Verizon are doughty and smugly content companies. Their product reliability, customer service and transmission/download speeds place the US well behind foreign competitors. To assure their continued ascendency, they routinely supplement intense and very costly lobbying efforts with alarmist and inflammatory public pronouncements. These threaten dire consequences for infrastructure investment if their uncontested supremacy is threatened: witness the alarmist press releases in response to proposed Title II regulations (finally) proposed by the FCC.
Given this, it's unsurprising that, "...Verizon and AT&T, do not seem too concerned." Their lack of concern is likely based on their intense lobbying efforts (entirely successful to date) to assure an anti-competitive climate exists in the telecommunications industry.
It's about time for MVNO (Mobile Virtual Network Operator -- basically offering a cellular service, but using someone else's physical network) to displace the quasi-monopolistic dinosaurs that currently dominate the cellular communications systems in this country.
Given this, it's unsurprising that, "...Verizon and AT&T, do not seem too concerned." Their lack of concern is likely based on their intense lobbying efforts (entirely successful to date) to assure an anti-competitive climate exists in the telecommunications industry.
It's about time for MVNO (Mobile Virtual Network Operator -- basically offering a cellular service, but using someone else's physical network) to displace the quasi-monopolistic dinosaurs that currently dominate the cellular communications systems in this country.
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Six years in Texas I ran into people with jailbroken Iphones who used them totally with wifi. FOR FREE! At home I have a voip phone I had to buy a $43 module to make work with the internet, but I haven't paid a cent for its operation since. Few people realize the internet IS A PHONE, among other things. It's capable of delivering nearly every medium there is. The Big Cell carriers all have handover capability with carriers they very often don't own, but those carriers take dictation from the Verizons and AT&Ts that generally lease them. The carriers control the cellphone software in phones, in part so the technology doesn't get out from under their grasp. There's no reason that should continue. Big Cable will benefit anyway you may say. You're right, to a point. Handover the process is not insurmountable. Communities need to start building inexpensive fiber/cable and wifi for a future without phone companies controlling cellphones and carriers. Ready or not, that's what's coming!
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