UMA and Android! *sad*

[Artemis68]

Is T-Mobile Backing Away FromÂ[b][/b]UMA? «
(Link above to the article)

Okay, so basically, GigOM (a tech blog) reported today that T-Mobile will NOT be adding UMA to android devices. This really makes me sad. I want to get Android in the future but I need UMA, I can't have a phone without it. It has to do with the places I go at times, also, T-Mobile's signal in buildings stinks, so UMA solves that problem.

What bothers me though is that GigOM says that its guy went to a T-Mobile store and got this info from a sales rep, and just one sales rep too...no one else to confirm this. Now, nothing wrong with sales rep, as I know many of you fine Crackberry members are reps yourself, but how would a rep know about future devices? The rep supposedly told him that ONLY Blackberry and Nokia models would ever have UMA, never Android.

Like I said, how would he know this? Doesn't make sense.

I really hope someone can prove him wrong.

Posted from my CrackBerry at wapforums.crackberry.com

[brad162]

Android sucks up too much battery to make UMA useful (unless you're plugged into a charger 24/7)

Also T-Mobile does just fine in buildings in 95% of places, if you're having signal issues in your particular area, maybe it's time for a new carrier? i have yet to go inside of a building here in Phoenix/Tempe, LA, or Columbus, OH and not have signal inside (it may be weak but it always works fine)

[NorrisCell]

I don't buy it. I've heard some buzzings about UMA coming to Android devices. TMO has said that it will not stop releasing UMA devices multiple times to its employees. There have been articles on our internal news site about future Android devices with something called "UMA Lite" but we haven't received any details yet. So in response to that article, I don't believe it just yet

[Reed McLay]

Unlicensed Mobile Access (UMA) is an ace in the hole for T-Mobile.

They have invested in the server technology, it costs then very little to maintain the contracted service in place and next to nothing to scale up. It off-loads bandwidth from their, and more importantly, their roaming partners networks.

It is like printing money, they will support on every model that can be enabled, just like my carrier, Rogers.

[Karmaloop]

I don't see why they wouldn't. UMA is one of the features that draws in a lot of customers.

[Artemis68]

Originally Posted by brad162

Android sucks up too much battery to make UMA useful (unless you're plugged into a charger 24/7)

Also T-Mobile does just fine in buildings in 95% of places, if you're having signal issues in your particular area, maybe it's time for a new carrier? i have yet to go inside of a building here in Phoenix/Tempe, LA, or Columbus, OH and not have signal inside (it may be weak but it always works fine)

Have you worked in a hospital? I have. With all the walls and such, it's so hard to get signal. I use the hospital's wifi to get signal.

I'm fine with stores but the hospital I do research at and my dorm is horrid. I also am not in a 3G area like LA or whatnot so I don't have that luxury.

I'd get a UMA Android device even if it had crummy battery.

Posted from my CrackBerry at wapforums.crackberry.com

[brytowski]

Agreed that T-mobile's ace in the hole is UMA, with that in mind I asked someone at t-mobile about this exact question since I agree no UMA = no T-mobile for me and from what they said so far the BlackBerry has been one of the only phones we offer with UMA. From what they told me they are planning on UMA-Lite (this was only a week ago) it won't support the handoff of calls between cellular and WiFi network like the Blackberry. But you will be able to connect to it, this is only to be supported with Android 2.2 though, and they are hoping that all Android phones will have it going forward.....If all that is true, which I hope it is, I will be upgrading to an Android, but I will wait until it launches to see what happens. Of course this could all be smoke an mirrors, and with the launch growing closer I would think something like including UMA would be a HUGE selling point they would be pushing. Even on the T-Mobile website it does not have "WiFi and Mobile Calling" as being an option on the phone, so I don't think we will know anymore until at least the G2 launches.

[Artemis68]

So...with UMA-Lite, I can call/text/get data over wifi but no hand-offs?

Totally cool with me. At least the connection issue is solved.

I heard the charm had UMA-Lite but I guess that was just a rumor.

Posted from my CrackBerry at wapforums.crackberry.com

[48593039584729]

Kineto Wireless | Products | Overview

[brad162]

Originally Posted by Artemis68

Have you worked in a hospital? I have. With all the walls and such, it's so hard to get signal. I use the hospital's wifi to get signal.

I'm fine with stores but the hospital I do research at and my dorm is horrid. I also am not in a 3G area like LA or whatnot so I don't have that luxury.

I'd get a UMA Android device even if it had crummy battery.

Posted from my CrackBerry at wapforums.crackberry.com

all of the hospitals here in Phoenix and Columbus OH all have reception from T-Mobile other than i think Riverside in Columbus OH and they dont work in the ER where the beds are, other than that my phone has always worked in hospitals too.

[Artemis68]

Again, those are pretty big cities with good 3G coverage so I'm not surprised they work there in hospitals. I am not in such a city. It has a good population and all and is a city, not a town, but apparently that's not enough to get good coverage.

The only other carrier that would work is VZW but they don't work well at my college, esp in the research building, and they are very expensive. I have to stay with T-Mobile and that's why I hope they will always have UMA.

Posted from my CrackBerry at wapforums.crackberry.com

[Artemis68]

BTW, that Kineto link was really cool! thanks for providing it. I shot an email off to the devices support email they listed to get more info on me using it on an Android device on T-Mobile USA. Perhaps I won't need to wait for UMA at all.

[BoldtotheMax]

Good news, will have plenty of time to see how well it works before I purchase an Andriod device with UMA...still have a year left on current contract.

Here is to hoping! I am really liking the newer devices from Andriod, god knows a year from now what will be out.

Posted from my CrackBerry at wapforums.crackberry.com

[K Bear]

Originally Posted by Artemis68

Have you worked in a hospital? I have. With all the walls and such, it's so hard to get signal. I use the hospital's wifi to get signal.

I'm fine with stores but the hospital I do research at and my dorm is horrid. I also am not in a 3G area like LA or whatnot so I don't have that luxury.

I'd get a UMA Android device even if it had crummy battery.

Posted from my CrackBerry at wapforums.crackberry.com

That was one of the reasons why my 8120 was purchased for me instead of another Nokia which I had wanted. I worked in a hospital for years. My Nokia's on AT&T had limited service in the building. Once I switch to T-Mobile and my 8120 all I had to do was access the free public wifi and bam, UMA phone calls and internet access.
At work, I've since moved to one of the practices outside of the hospital, I still have good signal, but am just far enough away that I cannot access UMA on my 9700.

[Artemis68]

Yeah I like that a lot of hospitals have wifi.

I work in them now (I do research stuff) but I remember once, I was stuck in the ER with an allergic reaction. I needed to call my mother and let her know how I was. My dad has AT&T...no signal. I hopped right onto the wifi and boom, instant UMA.

This is why I won't get a phone that doesn't have this feature.