T-Mobile rolled out a WiFi-enabled BlackBerry this week in the form of the 8320. Aka, the "BB Curve," the phone uses UMA (unlicensed mobile access) to hand calls between T-Mobile's network and its HotSpot@Home WiFi service.
AT&T started offering [1] a WiFi Blackberry last week. AT&T's model, the 8820 [2], was rolled out by Research In Motion of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada in July. It was RIM's first dual-mode BlackBerry handset.
The WiFi technology enables faster Web surfing than typical data networks, but it doesn't automatically open the handsets up for any VoIP provider. Steve Shaw with Kineto Wireless [3] in Milpitas, Calif., tells FierceVoIP that UMA technology allows the service provider to control the WiFi connection. (See today's editorial, "WiFi doesn't mean VoIP freedom.")
For More:
- Business Week profiles both WiFi BlackBerries here [4]
- infosync reviews the T-Mobile HotSpot@Home service here [5]
Related Article:
Motorola showcases WiMAX handoffs Report [6]
Links:
[1] http://www.fiercewireless.com/story/t-launches-wifi-enabled-blackberry-8820/2007-09-19
[2] http://www.fiercewireless.com/press-releases/rim-announces-blackberry-8820-smartphone-0
[3] http://www.kinetowireless.com/company/contact.html
[4] http://www.businessweek.com/technology/content/sep2007/tc20070925_132861.htm?technology+product+review
[5] http://www.infosyncworld.com/news/n/8045.html
[6] http://www.fiercewireless.com/story/motorola-showcases-mobile-wimax-handoffs/2007-09-26