Unlicenced Mobile Access (UMA) or WiFi calling Canadian providers?

[oman]

Hi Guys & Gals,

I'm new to Canada from Australia and am in the process of setting up things like phone and internet. I had hoped that Canada would support Unlicensed Mobile Access (UMA) or WiFi calling as I believe this is widespread in the US (T-mobile / TED videos).

However i haven't been able to find anyone who supports it and all sign point towards it not having arrived here yet (Rogers does have something similar in One Number and used to offer wifi calling - they state only the Blackberry 9300 support it). Can anyone suggest a provider who supports it or perhaps i only need to be looking for a phone that supports it (Blackberry 9300 perhaps). Does anyone know if the Samsung Galaxy S3 or iPhone 5 will support it?

Also, is anyone able to confirm my understanding of the UMA service. Is it simply an application that operates outside your cell phone provider and once it detects you're within range of a wifi network it switches your call, un-noticed, to the wifi network. I assume these calls which are switched to the wifi network occur over some type of voip/skype etc network? How does the billing work for these calls, surely there must be some charge for them?

Thanks very much

Regards
oman

[magnet]

I was able to get a US phone number from google voice to make wifi calls about a year ago. I am not sure if they plugged the hole yet.

I don't believe they are handing out 403 areas codes any more.
http://chanelwood.com/internet/jane-...ld-domination/

[dalmond]

I believe Rogers is the only carrier in Canada that offers UMA, but they have not been promoting it very much recently.

Also I believe the current crop of blackberries with OS 7.1 support it on Rogers’ network.

[JamesK]

^^^^
Back when I had a Nokia 6160, which was the old style TDM Rogers used to use before GSM, one optional accessory was a "base" that could be used to connect your cell phone to your home phone line. I never was able to locate that device, but Rogers was offering that service for businesses.

[oman]

thanks for the tips guys, looks like i may have to wait for this service. Although i do love the 403 hack idea

[TorontoColin]

Rogers' flanker Fido offers WiFi calling with various costs for different levels of service. As far as I can tell, only certain Blackberrys support it, including the 9300.

[Paolo]

I have used Wi-Fi Calling (UMA) on both my rogers and my fido line. First of all, you need the option on your account for it to work, so check your plan if it includes it, if not, you can always ask for an add on (check the applicable costs first) secondly, you need a UMA compatible phone, preferrably a rogers or fido branded one. One with T-mobile or an outside carrier will likely NOT work, as it does NOT contain the certificates for the Rogers/Fido wifi calling, ie it won't know how to vpn back to the rogers network over the wifi connection if it does not contain the certificates.

I was able to use Wi-Fi calling in 3 provinces, and when ever I am in UMA mode i will see a UMA icon show up on my phone and i am able to make and receive calls just as if i was on a cellular base network. infact I even turned of the cellular radio portion of my phone and only the wifi radio on, and it worked. it also works great when i go to my friends appartment, where he lives the rogers signal is non-existant so my phone would say "no service" in the past, but now i just turn on my wi-fi radio, i connect to his wi-fi network (with his permission of course) and my phone will have receptoin in his appartment, now i wont loose calls. it got to the point where it convinced him to invest in a wifi calling compatible phone now he doesnt have to pay $400 to cancel his service.

Theres a lot of good from this.you can even send text and mms messages over uma where as a regular phone with a wifi you cant