[shona67]

Originally Posted by John Clark

You don't need Hotspot@home in order to use UMA over wifi. H@H just gives you unlimited minutes over UMA.

Also, you can get your email, data and phone calls over UMA with a standard BB data plan, even overseas. You don't need the int'l data plan unless you want to use other carrier's cell towers for one low monthly price.

Yes, the sim card contains the plan info for both phone and data.

Is it possible to use a wireless router with a wifi phone such as surfing website or using instant messages in other countries where there are no data network? I really need to know.

[stewsan]

Yes, that will work. I'm not sure what you mean by wifi phone but the 8320 will work hooked up to wifi and use it for surfing and instant messaging.

[sjsilverman]

UMA has been a life saver for me. I travel to China about once a month. I carry a Linksys travel router, which I hook up in my hotel room. Also, my office in China has Wifi. I turn off the cellular network as soon as I get on the flight out of the US, and it doesn't get turned on again until I get back Stateside. When I arrive in China, I turn on the wifi radio. All of my calls back and forth to the US are basically free since they come out of my bucket, which thanks to the new unlimited plan, are limitess. I also carry a second cellphone which has my local prepaid sim. When attached to the wifi network, I can surf the web, get my email, run all my internet apps (pocketday, opera, etc) at no charge. I have used this method in many countries and it works great.

As an aside, what I also dowhen I can't miss a call, and when I am out of wifi range internationally, I forward my US cellphone to my Skypein number, which in turn is forwarded to my local cellphone. Calls are billed at $.02/minute through skype, the calls come in loud and clear, and people are none the wiser. I turn off the forwarding as soon as I am back in wifi range. This way I never miss a call, and my bills are manageable

[stewsan]

SJ, that is exactly what I do and it is a lifesaver. It's a great way to keep in touch and on the cheap. I also use Grand Central which gives me instant email notification and I can hear them through the internet instead of calling the USA. I think Google bought it and it's free.

[noethix]

So making calls over UMA (not h@h) doesn't give you free minutes?

[sjsilverman]

If you don't have h@h, the minutes come out of your minute bucket. Also, if you are calling to a number out of the us footprint, you will pay international long distance fees. As long as you are calling the US, no additional charge, unless, of course, you go over your minutes.