After months of rumors and leaked documentation confirming the feature, T-Mobile has officially confirmed Wi-Fi calling for select Android phones in its lineup such as the myTouch (2010) and the Motorola Defy. Below an official statement and clarification on how it will differ from Wi-Fi calling on BlackBerry, which operates on its old UMA offering.
Wi-Fi Calling for Android is built upon the same technology as UMA, but is a different implementation from our past offerings. While T-Mobile’s current Wi-Fi Calling solution which operates on BlackBerry smartphones, for instance, seamlessly hands off calls from T-Mobile’s network to Wi-Fi networks, Wi-Fi Calling for Android does not.
A pre-installed application from T-Mobile will allow customers to make and receive voice calls and SMS over an accessible Wi-Fi connection. This provides customers with better in-door coverage and in some cases may provide the ability to make voice calls in locations where they weren’t able to do so previously.
For consumers, Wi-Fi Calling for Android increases coverage and uses voice minutes. [NOTE: calls originate on Wi-Fi, but are carried across T-Mobile’s network once beyond the initial Wi-Fi connection.] T-Mobile also has plans for business which can help defer wireless minutes and provide cost savings.
Wi-Fi Calling will be available on the new T-Mobile myTouch, Motorola DEFY and others Android phones in the coming weeks. We are planning to expand Wi-Fi Calling for Android to as broad a selection of Android smartphones in our line-up as possible. Éclair (2.0/2.1) and Froyo (2.2) are the Android OS versions that currently support the application.
The offering is known internally as UMALite with the application being developed by T-Mobile with Kineto Wireless and will not be available in the Android Market.
