Comments on: Is Wi-Fi On A BlackBerry A Big Deal?

By: AJ

AJ — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 05:20:23 +0000

I just got an 8320 curve unlocked, and Im using it without a data plan, and it sucks because none of the applications seem to want to work over wifi! They all expect to work through a blackberry data plan or through the cell network. Its retarded. The only app I’ve found that worked over wifi was JiveTalk. Anybody else having this same problem and know of any other apps that will work over wifi? It’d be really great if i could find an rss reader that will work over wifi.

By: Curious

Curious — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 22:09:03 +0000

So, does the 8320 WIFI work even when there’s no phone service contract?

-Curious

By: Amazed

Amazed — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 17:43:02 +0000

Thanks for explaining this. Robb.

By: Robb Dunewood

Robb Dunewood — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 11:04:29 +0000

Amazed,

I don’t think that is exactly correct. You indeed are initiating your calls via VoIP, however, they eventually route through T-Mobiles network which allows you to connect to someone else’s landline or mobile phone on the other end.

By: Rob

Rob — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 21:49:00 +0000

If nothing else, when you are on a call with a BlackBerry the data service is unavailable, which having wifi can resolve when available. Not saying you would need it often, but it sometimes helps when working “out of pocket”.

Obviously UMA with T-Mobile is where you will see the greatest benefit.

By: Amazed

Amazed — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 21:21:53 +0000

Let’s see here. T-Mobile is charging us $10 a month for VOIP service using our Wifi or someone else’s Wifi to access the internet to make calls. The Wifi calls are not made over T-Mobile’s cell network–but over wifi.

I have a wifi notebook computer, a wifi Zune player for which I pay no fees to anyone for wifi use. The notebook company does not send me a monthly bill for wifi use. Microsoft does not send me a monthly bill for wifi use.

This sounds like extortion–forced VOIP over TMobile. I would complain.

By: Chris

Chris — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 21:15:04 +0000

The UMA feature is the best. I dont pay for the @home service but my wireless network at my house is always going to be stronger than my edge signal. Also, at my fairly rural lake house outside Atlanta, coverage is VERY spotty especially indoors, switch over to UMA though and the signal is perfect. I hadn’t thought about using the UMA feature for calls in Europe or otherwise abroad. So, if you can find a WiFi signal over there, it works just like in the States?

By: Curious

Curious — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 16:41:17 +0000

SO, two questions.

1) What is UMA
2) If getting the WiFi feature means service with TMobile, is that a bad thing? TMO customers, please respond.

By: argonnj

argonnj — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 13:04:40 +0000

I have the Curve on TMO and it’s awesome. I live in an area that has ZERO cell reception

Well that’s pretty stupid.

I left Spring (with Palm Treo 650) to go to TMO with the Wifi Curve. The only drawback is that Sprint’s cell reception is much better than TMO.

And yet you switched to go with a carrier that has no service in you area.

I drop a lot of calls on TMO’s cell service in areas that i never dropped Sprint calls. But TMO’s customer service is much better than Sprint’s.

Well hell, at least CS is better.

By: bluehorseshoe

bluehorseshoe — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 04:53:12 +0000

Not a big deal for me personally, but it would come in handy if you needed to link in in order to access the phone to make calls inside a building that allows very little or no reception at all. UMA is a nice feature for a constant connection at work in very large buildings.

But my EVDO Rev. A via Verizon really eliminates any need on my end. But it would still be nice to have ‘just in case’. Why not…