Wireless Home Networking - Index of

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Part IV: Using a Wireless Network
in your home office using the Wi-Fi network, and continue the call as you
walk outside, get in your car, and start driving towards a meeting — as you
leave the range of your Wi-Fi network, your phone will automatically switch
over to the cellular network, and your phone provider will transparently
and automatically reroute the call so that you can keep talking without losing
your connection (or even hearing anything that makes you think you’ve
switched networks).
FMC, as we said, is the next big thing, but a few carriers are already offering
the service. In the U.S., T-Mobile (www.tmobile.com) is the first to offer an
FMC service to consumers. T-Mobile’s Hot Spot @ Home (www.theonly
phoneyouneed.com/) combines an FMC-capable (dual-mode cellular and Wi-
Fi) phone with your broadband Internet access and a Wi-Fi access point to
offer FMC service. (You can use your own AP or buy one through T-Mobile —
as we write, T-Mobile is giving away the router to promote the service!)
The Hot Spot @ Home service from T-Mobile has two levels. If you need only
improved coverage, you can pick up one of T-Mobile’s dual-mode phones
and use the minutes already in your plan for any calls you make from a
Wi-Fi connection. If you’re also trying to save money, you can add an unlimited
calling plan — any calls in the U.S. are free when placed over the
Wi-Fi network. T-Mobile is currently charging $20 per month for the unlimited
calling service.
You can place (and receive) Wi-Fi calls from your home network and from
any of T-Mobile’s thousands of public hot spots. (We discuss these in
Chapter 16.) You can also make Wi-Fi calls from any other hot spot (though
T-Mobile doesn’t provide support for these calls if you’re having trouble
getting connected). T-Mobile’s phones work with WEP and WPA encrypted
Wi-Fi networks, but they don’t work with Wi-Fi networks that require a Web
browser to establish a connection or that use WPA-Enterprise (802.1X)
authentication. (Check out Chapter 9 if you’re unsure what all these
encryption acronyms mean.)
All the mobile operators are examining FMC solutions. When combined with
your Wi-Fi network and broadband Internet connection, FMC stands a good
chance of letting you say goodbye to analog phones forever.