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

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confused.....

jrcase

Sep 17, 2014, 7:41 AM
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.
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Tofuchong

Sep 17, 2014, 8:21 AM
"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.
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furyx639

Sep 17, 2014, 10:35 PM
Not many routers out there are Wireless AC. The most common router that people are using are Wireless G. So even if you have a router, you can possibly gain 1+ Gbps wireless connections, greater wall penetration, a less noisy wireless band, among many other things.
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dr.mordin

Sep 17, 2014, 8:24 AM
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 the Wi-Fi calling to work on the Verizon iPhone the same way, Verizon isn't a fan of Wi-Fi calling. The calling on the iPhone will probably only work iPhone to iPhone.
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AWorthingt

Sep 17, 2014, 8:44 AM
It actually does not state that it gives any T-Mobile phone WiFi calling, the article (And T-Mobile) state that all FUTURE phones with ave WiFi calling, and that many will be receiving a OTA update to allow WiFi calling. However the "CellSpot" is simply a 801.11ac wireless router. It's special because it has built in QoS for calls, and will direct bandwidth to that function in priority of other things.
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amarryat

Sep 17, 2014, 8:55 AM
"The device allows users to use wifi calling if there phone isn't capable of it. "

Completely untrue.

" The calling on the iPhone will probably only work iPhone to iPhone."

Also absolutely false.
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dr.mordin

Sep 17, 2014, 9:46 AM
Ummm....okay. Care to have an intelligent conversation? Or are you just going to go with that old "Your wrong and I refuse to give reasons" argument?

First of all, the cell spot, upon further review you are right about. But did you have to say it that way? Is that really how we talk in a civilized society these days?

And regarding the Wi-Fi calling on iPhones, yes, they will work on T-Mobile phones, but not Verizon. Look it up. Verizon doesn't allow Wi-Fi calling, which is what I was referencing. If you don't believe me, see below.

http://www.cnet.com/news/t-mobile-makes-big-wi-fi-pu ... »
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amarryat

Sep 17, 2014, 9:53 AM
I apologize, I wasn't trying to be rude.

As for the iPhone, I think that you said that it would only work from iPhone to iPhone. But that is untrue.

When you enable wifi calling, you're connected to wifi, and it's working, it functions no differently than if you are connected to a cell tower. Your iPhone on wifi calling will be able to call any other phone.

Maybe you are confused about the fact that the iPhone has wifi calling built in (meaning not specific to TMobile)? Yes it does, but T-Mobile is the only carrier that supports it at this point as far as I know. Maybe Sprint will too soon, I don't know. And I read that AT&T will support it next year.

So if you get this new router, and your friend has some Sprint phone with ...
(continues)
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dr.mordin

Sep 17, 2014, 10:14 AM
It's cool.

I didn't mean that the Wi-Fi calling would only work IPhone to iPhone, which it does already through faceTime.
I was refering to an earlier question regarding Wi-Fi calling on verizon. Verizon iPhones won't be able to do wi-fi calling except through faceTime. That's what I was trying to say.
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amarryat

Sep 17, 2014, 10:18 AM
Ah, I see. The terminology threw me off. Because as a T-Mobile customer myself, and a phone that does wifi calling (HTC One M8 ), to me a wifi call is a phone call. Not FaceTime, Skype, Google Hangouts etc. Those are video chat sessions to me, or VoIP.

Yes FaceTime is Apple-specific.

And yes, until Verizon supports wifi calling (if they ever do), the Verizon iPhone 6 won't be able to place phone calls over a wifi network.
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Versed

Sep 19, 2014, 9:49 PM
Verizon doesn't have to worry about wifi calling, because with VZW or AT&T it really isn't needed. They cell towers and building penetration for making mobile calls.
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amarryat

Sep 17, 2014, 8:54 AM
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.

This router does a better job than typical routers of handling wifi calls, so you'd likely have a better experience on your home wifi network using this than you would using your existing router.
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jrcase

Sep 17, 2014, 8:58 AM
Thanks for all the informative replies. That clears things up!
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andy2373

Sep 17, 2014, 9:46 AM
Think of it as a cell tower repeater using the internet you already have. Your cell strength indicator should go up using this device not your WiFi indicator. Plus it still needs to be plugged into the internet to work.

All carriers already offer this type of device.
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amarryat

Sep 17, 2014, 9:56 AM
"Your cell strength indicator should go up using this device not your WiFi indicator"

I don't think so. This is a wifi router with a few tweaks to make wifi calls a priority.

This has nothing to do with cell signals, even though the literature is vague about this.
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andy2373

Sep 17, 2014, 10:00 AM
"CellSpot delivers a full-bars T-Mobile experience"

There's also a video that explains/shows this as well.
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amarryat

Sep 17, 2014, 10:03 AM
I know they've been a bit vague with this.

"full-bars T-Mobile experience" - doesn't actually give you full bars, but acts that way.

This is a wifi router. It doesn't broadcast any cell frequencies.

I don't want to say this is trickery because I understand for marketing purposes what they're doing, but it doesn't improve the number of bars of cell signal that you're getting.
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willbx718

Sep 18, 2014, 10:10 PM
I use Wi-Fi calling with Sprint on my HTC One Max. What happens when I connect to wifi calling is all cellular signal bars disappear and I get a wi-fi calling icon to indicate I'm connected. When I go to make a call, the onscreen call button has wifi calling in ( )'s. My voice quality and connection then act as if I had full service bars on the cellular network. I use it in my home just to ensure that I always have a rock solid connection. Even thought I get good cell service in my home.
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andy2373

Sep 17, 2014, 10:03 AM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x8jEi-g9hHI »

You maybe right after all. Confusing...yes.
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