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T-Moble's Personal CellSpot Available Today for $25

Sep 17, 2014, 7:11 AM by Eric M. Zeman

T-Mobile said the Personal CellSpot is available to its customers beginning today. The CellSpot is a Wi-Fi hotspot for in-home use that allows smartphones to make voice calls over Wi-Fi rather than T-Mobile's cellular network. This particular hotspot prioritizes voice traffic over data traffic and can hook into any existing home network. The idea is to provide better in-home voice service to customers where T-Mobile's network doesn't quite reach. The CellSpot is made by Asus. It costs $100 to own outright, but T-Mobile is allowing people to take one home if they put down a deposit of $25. All new T-Mobile smartphones will have Wi-Fi calling enabled moving forward. T-Mobile's existing customer base will be able to add Wi-Fi calling to their handset through a software update, though T-Mobile didn't say when to expect it. Separately, T-Mobile customers will be able to send text and picture messages, and listen to voicemail via the Wi-Fi networks provided by GoGo in select airplanes. T-Mobile says more than 2,000 aircraft offer the service in the U.S. In-flight messaging is free to T-Mobile customers.

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This forum is closed.

amarryat

Sep 17, 2014, 9:12 AM

24th instead?

I have called a couple of stores and they have told me not until the 24th.

amarryat

And I just went to the store and they can't process the transaction even though they physically have the device in the store.

jrcase

Sep 17, 2014, 7:41 AM

confused.....

I thought WIFI calling was available on any WIFI network by simply connecting to the WIFI. Now I see that TMobile is selling a hotspot box for that purpose. So can you only use WIFI calling through this box or ANY wifi connection? I was waiting on IOS 8 and Verizon to offer this so I can use wifi calling in remote areas. I guess Verizon will have to send out a box as well now? This makes it a complicated mess.

Tofuchong

"Personal Cellspot" is just another name for "Generic WiFi router" which is all it is. If you already have a wifi router, yo don't need this. This is pretty much just for people who don't have them, and live outside the service area.

...

dr.mordin

The reason why they are offering this device is because not all T-Mobile phones have Wi-Fi calling. Especially the iPhones and Windows phones. The device allows users to use wifi calling if there phone isn't capable of it.

Also, I wouldn't expect ...
(continues)

...

amarryat

Certain T-Mobile phones have wifi calling built in. All new ones will.

If yours has it, you can connect to virtually any wifi network to use wifi calling, however the quality of the call will depend on the reliability of the wifi and its router.
...
(continues)

jrcase

Thanks for all the informative replies. That clears things up!

...

Brad K

Sep 17, 2014, 6:16 PM

If you have a router you already have this.

However your current router is likely default set with data having priority over VoIP. All you have to do is go into your router setting and put VoIP as top priority. Should be able to do this with pretty much any router.

furyx639

Probably 90% of routers out there that are being used are only Wireless G. Even if you already have a router, you can still gain all the benefits of Wireless AC.

Benefits of Wireless AC over Wireless G or even Wireless N include faster speeds (1 Gb...
(continues)

PhoneMan23

Sep 17, 2014, 10:25 AM

Haven't they been doing this for years?

As I recall, I could have gotten a "T-Mobile" service extender that plugged into my existing internet service to extend my range in rural areas of California like the Santa Cruz Mountains since 2007.

Why the re-branding of a service they've had for years now?

I get that this is their own specific WiFi box now and not a piece of Motorola crap. But this shouldn't come off as anything new here...

furyx639

$25 gets you a $200 router. Look up ASUS Dark Knight for more info.

...

Mark_S

Sep 17, 2014, 9:40 AM

Keep your money!

Countless VOiP apps available. No need to use any carrier for that!!!!!

amarryat

But you can't use your cell number with those.

And when not on wifi, they aren't prioritized on the data network the same as the cell calls are, meaning the quality won't be as reliable.

furyx639

Keep your money... unless you don't have a router better than the ASUS Dark Knight. For $25 you get a $200 router. Almost every can benefit from just that.

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