Consumers Get Great Coverage Plus Unlimited Nationwide Calling From Home With a New Service That Supports Calls Over Both Wi-Fi and T-Mobile’s Robust Wireless Network
T-Mobile USA, Inc., today announces the national launch of T-Mobile HotSpot @Home(SM), a groundbreaking new wireless service designed to provide people with one phone for all their home and mobile calling needs.
T-Mobile HotSpot @Home helps people stay connected with those who matter most by combining the power of Wi-Fi (wireless Internet) and T-Mobile’s nationwide voice and data network. While at home, customers can enjoy great mobile coverage and unlimited domestic calling over Wi-Fi; while mobile, customers also can get the same benefits at all the nearly 8,500 T-Mobile HotSpot locations across the country.(1) In addition, unlike with VoIP calling, when T-Mobile HotSpot @Home customers leave home or exit a T-Mobile HotSpot, their calls will seamlessly transfer onto T-Mobile’s GSM/GPRS/EDGE wireless network, giving people the freedom to continue their important conversations uninterrupted as they go about their day. Calls also transfer from T-Mobile’s network onto Wi-Fi.
“More people than ever are looking to drop their home landline phone and pocket the savings. However, they don’t want to use all their wireless minutes talking from home. Our new service solves this dilemma once and for all,” said Robert Dotson, president and CEO, T-Mobile USA. “T-Mobile HotSpot @Home is a first-of-its-kind service that helps people simplify their lives, save money, and enjoy great call quality on one device — their mobile phone — at home.”
Key components of the T-Mobile HotSpot @Home service include new mobile phones designed to seamlessly connect the user to a home Wi-Fi connection or T-Mobile HotSpot. T-Mobile today is introducing two HotSpot phones — the Samsung t409 and the Nokia 6086 — providing consumers with a choice of style and features. Each phone currently retails for $49.99 with a two-year contract on a qualifying rate plan.
T-Mobile also has partnered with leading router manufacturers D-Link and Linksys for Wi-Fi routers optimized for a first-rate calling experience with the T-Mobile HotSpot @Home service. These select routers are designed for simple setup and enhanced battery life for the handset, as well as ensuring voice calls are carried with the utmost call quality. These routers also have commonly available data features found on standard routers, and work with customers’ existing broadband connection. Consumers can choose which router to use with the service; each is currently offered at no charge with the HotSpot @Home service via mail-in rebate.
For a limited time, to kick off the launch of T-Mobile HotSpot @Home, the service can be added to any qualifying T-Mobile voice plan for only $9.99 per month for a single line, and $19.99 per month for up to five lines on a FamilyTime plan.(2) This means that five family members each can have unlimited calling from home over Wi-Fi for one low price, when the service is added to a qualifying FamilyTime plan.
Calling Trends
Today, more people are choosing the simplicity of having just one phone. Americans are increasingly dropping their traditional landline phone service and switching to mobile phone use. According to Gartner, over 10 percent of respondents to a survey indicated they used their mobile phone as their only phone — a trend that’s even more pronounced among people aged 18-34, where almost 30 percent use their mobile phone as their only phone.(3)
“We see a clear trend toward mobile phones displacing landline phones especially with younger consumers,” said Tole Hart, an analyst at Gartner Group. “The most common barriers to cutting the cord to date have been the reliability of their mobile phone in the home and the cost of buying additional minutes.”
T-Mobile HotSpot @Home addresses each of the most common concerns consumers express when using their mobile phone as their only phone:
- Cost of purchasing more plan minutes. For some, upgrading to a voice plan that provides enough minutes for all their calling needs can be cost prohibitive. T-Mobile HotSpot @Home solves this by providing consumers with unlimited local and long-distance calls nationwide, day or night, when they call from their home Wi-Fi network, which means no “burning” wireless minutes from home and no additional charges for nationwide long distance.
- In-home service reliability. According to Gartner, 27 percent of all wireless minutes are used inside the home.(4) However, many cell phone users from various wireless providers report call quality issues as a result of inadequate in-home coverage. HotSpot @Home addresses this by leveraging a Wi-Fi connection to provide great mobile phone coverage throughout users’ homes.
Beginning today, customers can purchase T-Mobile HotSpot @Home service at T-Mobile retail stores nationwide and online at http://www.t-mobile.com. For more information on T-Mobile HotSpot @Home, visit theonlyphoneyouneed.com or http://www.t-mobile.com. For more information on T-Mobile HotSpot service, including a list of the nearly 8,500 active U.S. locations that includes leading retail outlets, hotels and airports, visit hotspot.t-mobile.com.
About T-Mobile USA, Inc.
Based in Bellevue, Wash., T-Mobile USA, Inc., is a member of the T-Mobile International group, one of the world’s leading companies in mobile communications, and the mobile telecommunications subsidiary of Deutsche Telekom AG (NYSE:DT). At the end of March 2007, nearly 110 million mobile customers were served by companies of the Deutsche Telekom group — 26 million by T-Mobile USA — all via a common technology platform based on GSM, the world’s most successful digital wireless standard. T-Mobile’s innovative wireless products and services help empower people to connect effortlessly to those who matter most. Multiple independent research studies continue to rank T-Mobile highest, in numerous regions throughout the U.S., in wireless call quality and wireless customer care. For more information, please visit the company’s Web site at http://www.t-mobile.com. T-Mobile is a federally registered trademark, and HotSpot is a trademark, of Deutsche Telekom AG. HotSpot @Home, stick together, myFaves, and the myFaves design are service marks of T-Mobile USA, Inc.
The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.
(1) Broadband service is required for Wi-Fi calling at home; activation of T-Mobile HotSpot @Home service is required for unlimited domestic calling over Wi-Fi.
(2) Plus taxes and fees; qualifying rate plan and minimum two-year service agreement required. See Pricing, Services and Device brochures, and T-Mobile’s Terms and Conditions (including mandatory arbitration) at T-Mobile.com, for rate plan information, charges for features and services, and restrictions and details.
(3),(4) Source: Gartner User Survey Analysis: Fixed-to-Mobile Substitution and Calling Patterns, United States; by Tole J. Hart; September 2006.
