[Jimmy Mac]

I'm not sure where else to ask this since I've gotten three separate answers from T-Mobile staff. I am upgrading my phone and I am deciding between the 8100 and the 8120. The difference, of course, is the Wi-Fi.

I have a shared minutes voice and unlimited data plan, but I do not have the $10 at home plan. I am not changing my plan.

So given that, I've been told that I can get my phone on my home Wi-Fi network, and:

1. I can get data over the Wi-Fi, but not voice. Voice will continue to go over the air.
2. I can get voice over the Wi-Fi, but not data. Data will continue to go over the air.
3. I can get data and voice over the Wi-Fi. Since I don't have the at home plan, I will use up my cell minutes while over the Wi-Fi.

If it's #3, then I'll go with the 8120. My problem is that I get poor cell coverage at my house, so the voice over Wi-Fi would solve that. I'm not concerned about minutes.

Anybody got any experience?

[O'dell]

Originally Posted by Jimmy Mac

I'm not sure where else to ask this since I've gotten three separate answers from T-Mobile staff. I am upgrading my phone and I am deciding between the 8100 and the 8120. The difference, of course, is the Wi-Fi.

I have a shared minutes voice and unlimited data plan, but I do not have the $10 at home plan. I am not changing my plan.

So given that, I've been told that I can get my phone on my home Wi-Fi network, and:

1. I can get data over the Wi-Fi, but not voice. Voice will continue to go over the air.
2. I can get voice over the Wi-Fi, but not data. Data will continue to go over the air.
3. I can get data and voice over the Wi-Fi. Since I don't have the at home plan, I will use up my cell minutes while over the Wi-Fi.

If it's #3, then I'll go with the 8120. My problem is that I get poor cell coverage at my house, so the voice over Wi-Fi would solve that. I'm not concerned about minutes.

Anybody got any experience?

It's # 3.

[John Clark]

Yep, #3. It's a great system. Make sure you have a compatible router and Cable internet works best, with DSL second and satellite doesn't always support UMA due to the latency issues with satellite internet access.

If my phone were not on a corporate plan, I'd sign up for the $10 at home plan and have unlimited minutes and get rid of my home phone.

[Jimmy Mac]

I have DSL, so I'll see how that goes. Where do I find a list of compatible routers? I've seen some posts on SSID broadcast and stuff, so since I've turned that off and enabled WEP I'll probably have some work to do.

[John Clark]

I have SSID turned off and have WPA2 turned on. The Linksys WRT54GS is a good model or any of the WRT54G line routers. N type routers have had issues with the BB but I *think* OS 4.5 has fixed some of that incompatibility.

TMobile has a router that they support. They have a Linksys and a DLink, I think.

[Jimmy Mac]

Thanks for the info. It's very frustrating to get different answers from people at the same company.

[mrpeez1490]

i have the 8320, with no data plan, and yes it's #3, with the wifi at home, it'll make the calls clearer

[blakeatl]

OK, you guys have peaked my interest with this wifi on the blackberry. I have the original Pearl, so I'll have to upgrade...but I can do wifi at home without the $10 wifi at home if I connect to my router and it uses my minutes?

What about if I have nights and weekends free on my account? They would honor that in the wifi use?

[Helmdawg]

Originally Posted by blakeatl

OK, you guys have peaked my interest with this wifi on the blackberry. I have the original Pearl, so I'll have to upgrade...but I can do wifi at home without the $10 wifi at home if I connect to my router and it uses my minutes?

What about if I have nights and weekends free on my account? They would honor that in the wifi use?

You can use the wifi and will only be charged minutes if you don't have the $10 plan. You can still use wifi with free nights and weekends.

[Helmdawg]

Originally Posted by John Clark

Yep, #3. It's a great system. Make sure you have a compatible router and Cable internet works best, with DSL second and satellite doesn't always support UMA due to the latency issues with satellite internet access.

If my phone were not on a corporate plan, I'd sign up for the $10 at home plan and have unlimited minutes and get rid of my home phone.

I would have done the same thing but need a landline phone for my security system...