Cut/Dry question on how UMA calls are charged

[coreyrva]

I want to know if without the HotSpot @ Home plan added to my account, can I still make calls on a UMA connection?

With that said, I've heard that "Yes, you can make calls on it, but it takes minutes from your minute pool". Now with that being said, if I am calling someone that happens to be a Fav 5 or if I am calling someone within my unlimited nights and weekend time, are the calls billed as "free".

I get my curve on Friday, and I know that the T-Mobile coverage at my house is slim to none, so I will be relying on UMA calls constantly and would like to know the straight facts. I called T-Mobile earlier and explained everything and (just as i suspected), the guy told me "THAT I NEEDED TO HAVE HOTSPOT @ HOME ON MY PLAN OR I CANT EVEN PLACE A UMA CALL"...which I know can not be the case.

Hope I explained this clearly, I've seen thread after thread after thread on this, but its all jumbled answers and comments all over. Sorry for being redundant and adding to the mess. Thanks.

[dolphinguy]

With that said, I've heard that "Yes, you can make calls on it, but it takes minutes from your minute pool". Now with that being said, if I am calling someone that happens to be a Fav 5 or if I am calling someone within my unlimited nights and weekend time, are the calls billed as "free".

The answer is Yes as long as you follow that plan of action!

[coreyrva]

So the most simplistic way to look at the UMA call is to "treat all UMA calls as if it would be a normal call in any other situation, you just happen to be on a constant cell signal".

Correct again?

[SpyDude]

Yes UMA calls come out of your existing buckets. With the $9.99 add-on, the calls come from a seperate unlimited bucket. BTW the product used to be called HotSpot@Home, it is now known as HotSpot Calling or Unlimited HotSpot Calling.

[BlkBear]

Howdy Coreyrav,

That is how I'm using the service at the moment.

Any UMA call will be considered like a cell call, without the added Unlimited Hotspot Calling feature. But any UMA enabled Wi-Fi phone will be able to connect to make calls via UMA.

Any calls that would normally be free for you, based on your plan options, will still be free calls via UMA. So all MyFaves calls, all normal N&W plan mins, all mobile to mobile (if your plan includes it), would be free call.

DO NOT ASSUME that just because your wall clock says that the time is now 9pm or whenever your nights and weekends start, that it is actually 9pm. Sadly if you start your call at 8:56pm and think that it's close enough, and stay connected for 2 hours, you will be making the entire call in NON N&W time, and that will all come out of your pool of mins, connected to UMA or Cell Tower. So make sure that your phone is set to the correct time zone, and is using the networks time.

[coreyrva]

All of this info is very informative. Thank You everyone on being straight forward with the answers in the responses (its just what I needed). I look forward to the future and hope I can provide something to the community down the line.

[SpyDude]

Yes your call is rated based on when it began. Consequently if you start a call at 5:59AM and talk for two hours, that call is unlimited nights lol

[BlkBear]

Originally Posted by SpyDude

Yes your call is rated based on when it began. Consequently if you start a call at 5:59AM and talk for two hours, that call is unlimited nights lol

Yup that is a good point as well.

[coreyrva]

Thank-You for that reply Spy. I am new to T-Mobile so this is helping me familiarize myself with their ways of evil doing.

[BlkBear]

Originally Posted by coreyrva

Thank-You for that reply Spy. I am new to T-Mobile so this is helping me familiarize myself with their ways of evil doing.

Actually all the carriers do that with billing of free nights and weekends. It forces the user to PAY ATTENTION to when they are making their calls. When in doubt of the time, the network times over rules the clock on the wall, every time.

It's always a good idea to make sure you know your phone and how to set the clock, date and correct time zone. Also helps to understand your rate plan and bill, as well as review your bill each month, to make sure that if there is a problem it does not go on for several months, before you notice it and finally say something about it. This goes for all cell carriers.

Best thing to always do with any carrier, if you don't understand something, you hear or read about their plans or services, ask. If you still don't understand or something is not clear, keep asking.

[coreyrva]

Asking is something I have never been shy on. Had to do it all the time with AT&T.

[jblacksmith]

sorry to ask but what does UMA stand for?

[SpyDude]

Unlicensed Mobile Access.

[jblacksmith]

Been seeing UMA posted all around this site and i have no clue what it is and would like to know lol. ^

thanks in advance.

[IFORGOT]

Originally Posted by jblacksmith

Been seeing UMA posted all around this site and i have no clue what it is and would like to know lol. ^

thanks in advance.

Unlicensed Mobile Access. T-Mobile is one of the few companies, if not the only, to offer it. Basically, it allows you to use your wifi to make calls, regardless if you have a cell phone signal or not. Depending on your plan, min are deducted from your allotted plan minutes or are unlimited if you have the hot spot calling feature ($9.99).