UMA cheap set up for overseas travel

[petkow]

By the way, a slightly unrelated further question. Does anyone know of a decent updated list of UMA compatible handsets? I know it isn't every WIFI phone that does it.

[adam917]

Originally Posted by petkow

By the way, a slightly unrelated further question. Does anyone know of a decent updated list of UMA compatible handsets? I know it isn't every WIFI phone that does it.

In the US, this basically is every T-Mobile USA BlackBerry that has WiFi. Models include the 8120, 8220, 8320, 8520, 8820, 8900, & 9700. There are a few other UMA-compatible handsets like the Samsung Katalyst & a couple low-end Nokias, but almost all of those have been EOL'd for a while. To avoid getting charged for incoming roaming calls you could always hard-divert (forward all calls) incoming calls to another number of your choice, or at least your voice-mail. Then before you place a call, you could (on the BlackBerry models at least) go to Options -> Mobile Network -> connection preference 'WiFi Only' to ensure you will connect to only WiFi.

[Stu]

Originally Posted by petkow

By the way, a slightly unrelated further question. Does anyone know of a decent updated list of UMA compatible handsets? I know it isn't every WIFI phone that does it.

One problem with UMA is that each handset has to be tweaked for a particular carrier. For example, I have an Orange UK and Rogers Canada SIM which support UMA. I cannot shove either SIM into an unlock TMobile USA UMA handset and get a wifi connection.

[adam917]

Originally Posted by Stu

One problem with UMA is that each handset has to be tweaked for a particular carrier. For example, I have an Orange UK and Rogers Canada SIM which support UMA. I cannot shove either SIM into an unlock TMobile USA UMA handset and get a wifi connection.

Right. You have to do some hacking to get it to work. Also, some operators, like Rogers in Canada, doesn't sallow UMA abroad (they block it by IP address).

[Stu]

I've seen a Rogers UMA phone work in the US, but that is only one country out of 200 something and for practical reasons I could see why Rogers may not work real hard on blocking US IP address. UMA would be real attractice to Canadian Snow Birds.

[snidely]

Originally Posted by petkow

By the way, a slightly unrelated further question. Does anyone know of a decent updated list of UMA compatible handsets? I know it isn't every WIFI phone that does it.

You have to buy an enabled handset from a carrier that offers it. Eg. In the U.S., all Blackberrys on TMobile have had UMA capability for the past 3 years - but same models on ATT in the U.S. have not since att doesn't offer UMA service.
Most (all?) new Android phones TM phones have UMA calling ability.

...mike

Above written before reading last 2 posts.