UMA

[smaggs]

If you guys aren't familiar with UMA, it stands for Unlimited Mobile Access and basically lets you send and receive calls (and text) using wifi instead of provider signal. A few years ago I had this on my old Blackberry and it was great as I'm often in the basement of an already horrible area for reception (and I didn't have to pay or subscribe to any additional service!).

I've sort of dealt with the crappy signal and little pockets around my house for the past few years using my Galaxy S but I am starting a new job soon and need to be able to receive calls (would rather not go through land line for simplicity)...so I'm back in the market for a UMA capable phone.

As mentioned, I'm currently using an Android and would like to stick with Android, however it seems that Blackberry's are the only UMA users on the market from what I could find. As of now, I'll be switching to a BB 9900 as it now has UMA enabled in OS 7.1.


SO.....my questions are:

1.) Can anyone confirm that BB 9900 has UMA capabilities with OS 7.1 and on Rogers network (and if you have to subscribe to an additional service)??

2.) Does anyone know of any Android phones that support UMA??

3.) Any other suggestions? Apps that just allow calls on wifi, like Skype, will not work as I need to receive calls that are coming to my Rogers number...

[Razor Ramon HG]

1. Yes, but you have to get it added to your plan

2. S3 supports it, but not on Rogers

3. UMA w/ BB9900 is your best bet

[bcrdukes]

I've used UMA extensively over the years. Here's what I can tell you but Razor Ramon HG pretty much covered it.

1. Yes. The BB 9900 has UMA capabilities on Rogers. And yes, UMA is an "add-on" feature. Is it worth it? In my case, it was. And in your case, it is.

2. Sorry, I don't know.
3. Sorry, I don't know. (Edit: Blackberry has been the best device to date I've used for UMA.)

[StylinRed]

not android but you could get the Nokia C7 Astound (for the Tmobile network) its UMA enabled as an alternative to your blackberry option i guess (symbian OS though not for everyone)


actually the mytouchs from tmobile are UMA capable too


but im unfamiliar with UMA so im not sure if having a tmobile UMA device would mean you could use UMA with Rogers after unlocking/etc



Closest Voip app that I can think of which is similar is, Fring which uses your mobile number as your userid but im unsure if people can actually call you unless they have the fring app themselves.... sorry wasnt much help i guess

[bcrdukes]

UMA is not that simple.

You need a security certificate installed by the provider in order it to work on the network. It requires provisioning of the device on the HSS and firewalls. You can't just unlock a UMA phone from another provider and use it on another's. To make matters worse, the provider won't just install the security certificates onto the devices neither.

It's their way or the highway.

[smaggs]

Cool, thanks guys. I guess I'll be going with the BB 9900 for the mean t ime to keep things simple.....unless this new Iphone has it, but i doubt it