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Cellular Phone Forum / Providers / T-Mobile / August 2007question about the new t-mobile wifi arrangement
Is the phone usable at an 802.11 (wifi/hotspot) that requires a password to connect? The concept looks pretty useful for me, but... but.. I'm not going to leave an "open" access point hanging around. Thanks  Signature_____________________________________________________ Knowledge may be power, but communications is the key dannyb@panix.com [to foil spammers, my address has been double rot-13 encoded] > Is the phone usable at an 802.11 (wifi/hotspot) > that requires a password to connect? Yes- as long as it's a WEP/WPK password. However... > The concept looks pretty useful for me, but... > > but.. I'm not going to leave an "open" access > point hanging around. Ageeed. Where the service suffers, IMHO, is that browser authentication can't be used (at least on the current crop of phones T-Mo offers) so free Wi-Fi at a hotel, for example, that requires you to log-in as "guest" or even just accept a T&C page to connect won't work. (This is the same problem that makes most of the wi-fi Skype phones next to useless. Home is the LAST place I need the service to work! I have plenty of communication alternatives at home!) It will sign-on to T-Mobile' own Wi-Fi "Hotspot" APs (like at a Starbucks,) however. I'm hoping the new HP UMA phone (the iPaq 510 series) supports browser authentication, and that T-Mo offers it. (I'm certainly not above buying my phones subsidzed!) The service is a neat idea, But they need to work out a few kinks to get it really useful. Signature"I don't need my cell phone to play video games or take pictures or double as a Walkie-Talkie; I just need it to work. Thanks for all the bells and whistles, but I could communicate better with ACTUAL bells and whistles." -Bill Maher 9/25/2003 >Is the phone usable at an 802.11 (wifi/hotspot) >that requires a password to connect? [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > >Thanks T-Mobile isn't doing this through a phone; it's through a special gateway that allows a compatible phone to use a special wireless router that then connects with TM's network. I haven't seen the router, but couldn't believe that it doesn't support WPA or some other form of encryption. Once you have the gateway set up, then any device that has wi-fi capability will work with it. SignaturePosted via a free Usenet account from http://www.teranews.com > T-Mobile isn't doing this through a phone; it's through a special > gateway that allows a compatible phone to use a special wireless > router that then connects with TM's network. Nope- it's through the phone- the phone can connect with T-Mo's UMA servers via any wi-fi AP (you have access rights to) with or without the "special" T-Mo router (which is only a little "special.") UMA (Unlicensed Mobile Access) phones have the ability to send GSM packets over the internet as well via a cellular tower. Obviously the carrier (in this case, T-Mobile) has to be connected to the net at their end to be "listening" for these packets. This allows you to use your T-Mo phone/service wherever there is internet access but no T-Mo cellular service-even overseas (provided the wi-fi acess is open or you have the key). > I haven't seen the > router, but couldn't believe that it doesn't support WPA or some other > form of encryption. They're rebranded D-Links ad Linksys Wireless-G routers, so yes, they support encryption.. The only thing "special" about them is that they have a special low-power mode that extends the battery life in the UMA phones. Regular routers work fine, but the batteries in the phones will drain faster under the demands of a constant wi-fi connection. > Once you have the gateway set up, then any device that has wi-fi > capability will work with it. Huh? Only a UMA phone can work with UMA service- not any Wi-Fi-capable phone. Signature"I don't need my cell phone to play video games or take pictures or double as a Walkie-Talkie; I just need it to work. Thanks for all the bells and whistles, but I could communicate better with ACTUAL bells and whistles." -Bill Maher 9/25/2003 > Huh? > > Only a UMA phone can work with UMA service- not any Wi-Fi-capable > phone. Are you sure Cyrus wasn't refering to the fact that you can use things like computers, PDA's, etc. with the special routers like you can with a Wi-Fi/UMA router? SignatureSteve Sobol, Victorville, California PGP:0xE3AE35ED "Drench yourself in words unspoken / Live your life with arms wide open Today is where your book begins / The rest is still unwritten" - Natasha Beddingfield > > Huh? > > [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > computers, PDA's, etc. with the special routers like you can with a Wi-Fi/UMA > router? Actually I was having a very hard time parsing that sentence at all (probably my fault- lack of sleep after a late-night drive back from the airport!) That makes much more sense than my interpretation that an wi-fi device could place a phone call! ;-) Signature"I don't need my cell phone to play video games or take pictures or double as a Walkie-Talkie; I just need it to work. Thanks for all the bells and whistles, but I could communicate better with ACTUAL bells and whistles." -Bill Maher 9/25/2003 |
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