T-Mobile @Home and Unlimited HotSpot Calling

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T-Mobile @Home and Unlimited HotSpot Calling - General Information

This article is designed to provide answers to common questions about T-Mobile @Home. Use the links below to help you locate the answer to your question.

What is T-Mobile @Home? What is Unlimited HotSpot Calling?

T-Mobile @Home and Unlimited HotSpot Calling give you unlimited nationwide calling over available Wi-Fi networks. In addition, you can use your Wi-Fi enabled phone for great wireless coverage in and around your home.

T-Mobile @Home provides unlimited nationwide calling from your home phones 24/7. Just use any standard home phone and plug it into the T-Mobile wireless router with a home phone connection. The wireless router connects over your broadband Internet connection for clear calling.

NOTE: T-Mobile @Home is a benefit provided for customers with mobile phone service through T-Mobile.

Unlimited HotSpot Calling is an add-on feature to your qualifying mobile plan that gives you unlimited nationwide calling over Wi-Fi from your home and from thousands of US T-Mobile HotSpot locations across the country. You can continue to use your favorite features!

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Can I use my existing phone with the Unlimited HotSpot Calling and T-Mobile @Home services?

For Unlimited HotSpot Calling, you need a Wi-Fi enabled phone that’s made for Wi-Fi calls. T-Mobile offers a variety of devices to fit your mobile phone needs, as indicated in the device selection menus with the HotSpot logo.

For T-Mobile @Home, most corded and cordless phones should work. We do not recommend 2.4 GHz cordless phones as they may encounter interference with the wireless router. Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications (DECT) phones are suggested to reduce interference and improve audio quality as well as the range of the cordless phones. T-Mobile offers a cordless phone as an accessory for your service.

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What do I need to make T-Mobile @Home and Unlimited HotSpot Calling work?

For T-Mobile @Home, you will need the following things:

Existing high-speed Internet connection
T-Mobile wireless router with home phone connection
A qualifying T-Mobile rate plan and the T-Mobile @Home add-on service
A standard home telephone

For Unlimited HotSpot Calling, you will need the following things:

Existing high-speed Internet connection
T-Mobile wireless router (recommended)
Unlimited HotSpot Calling add-on service
Wi-Fi enabled phone

When taking advantage of both T-Mobile @Home and Unlimited HotSpot Calling, the same high-speed Internet connection and T-Mobile wireless router with home phone connection can be used for up to 5 concurrent calls over your home phone line and your Wi-Fi enabled mobile phones. The T-Mobile wireless router allows for clear calling by ensuring voice calls take priority over other traffic on the Wi-Fi network and will optimize the battery life of the Wi-Fi enabled phone.

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What rate plans are eligible for Unlimited HotSpot Calling and T-Mobile @Home?

At this time, Unlimited HotSpot Calling and T-Mobile @Home are not available on the following plans:

Postpaid single line plans under $39.99
Postpaid Family Time Plans under $49.99.
Control Plans; FlexPay, Prepaid, SmartAccess, kidConnect
Regional Plans – Talk Forever mobile only
- T-Mobile @Home is available with regional plans
Some older rate plans (for internal employees, see StreamLine for full eligibility list)

If your mobile lines of service are on one of these plans, you may still get the benefit of great coverage at home by getting a Wi-Fi enabled phone.

Minutes used over the Wi-Fi network in these circumstances will be deducted the same way as other minutes based on your plan.

Or - you can take advantage of the Talk Forever unlimited calling with:

Unlimited HotSpot Calling
You can choose to change your rate plans to take advantage of Unlimited HotSpot Calling services by adding a Wi-Fi enabled phone and the Unlimited HotSpot Calling add-on to your line of service.

T-Mobile @Home
You can take advantage of T-Mobile @Home unlimited service by changing your rate plan and adding a new line of service with T-Mobile @Home. You also need the T-Mobile wireless router with home phone connection.

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How does Unlimited HotSpot calling work?

To enjoy unlimited nationwide calling and great coverage from home and from thousands of T-Mobile HotSpots across the country, you can add the Unlimited HotSpot Calling add-on service to your account. All domestic calls initiated over Wi-Fi when you have the Unlimited HotSpot Calling service are unlimited and do not count against your rate plan bucket. Family Plan customers can add unlimited Wi-Fi calling for everyone on their plan for just one low price.

It is possible to use a HotSpot-enabled phone without the Unlimited HotSpot Calling service. In this case, the usage counts against your rate plan bucket of minutes based on your plan and when you place your calls.

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If I make or receive a call on the Wi-Fi Network and then leave the house, will my call be disconnected?

As long as T-Mobile provides coverage outside the home, the call will be “handed-off” to our network seamlessly.

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Will I have all the phone services like MMS, SMS, and voicemail with Unlimited HotSpot Calling and T-Mobile @Home service?

With Unlimited HotSpot Calling, you will continue to enjoy the same great services available on existing plans, including t-zones®, text messaging, caller ID, and voicemail.

NOTE: These other services are not included as a part of unlimited calling you receive with Unlimited HotSpot Calling. Other services will be rated as part of your calling plan and optional services.

T-Mobile @Home features include nationwide long distance, call waiting, caller ID, 3-way conferencing, voice mail, and call forwarding. CallerTunes® and discounted calling to Canada or Mexico are available as an add-on service for home phone usage.

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How do I set up my T-Mobile @Home wireless router?

For Wi-Fi wireless routers:

Use the setup CD packaged with the router.
For non-Windows computers, use the printed documentation.

For the HotSpot-enabled phone with your existing Wi-Fi router:

Use the setup poster included with the T-Mobile @Home mobile phone to connect to your Wi-Fi router.

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How is data charged with T-Mobile HotSpot @Home?

All charges for data services such as text messages, picture messages, Web browsing, downloads, and ringtones are the same while using Wi-Fi as they are on the T-Mobile GSM network. In addition, all services available through GPRS are also available through Wi-Fi, including:

Picture messaging
t-zones and Web browsing
Content downloads
BlackBerry® services

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How can I tell if I am on a Wi-Fi call using my mobile phone?

When connected to Wi-Fi, you will see different signal bars and the name of the wireless network. All Wi-Fi settings can be modified under Menu > Settings > Wi-Fi on T-Mobile @Home handsets.

Below are examples of signal bars on the wireless network:


Nokia	Samsung

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With the Unlimited HotSpot Calling service, how will I know if my call is unlimited, or will it count as part of my regular plan minutes?

When on Wi-Fi, the Wi-Fi enabled phone will display a Wi-Fi icon on the screen. When on the T-Mobile wireless network, the normal signal icon will display. The key is to look for the icon on the phone at the beginning of the call. If the call is initiated when Wi-Fi is on the screen, it will not count against your minutes, even if you later leave your home during the call and the phone switches to the regular network. The reverse is also true; calls started on the regular network will count toward you bucket of minutes, even if the call is completed on the Wi-Fi network.

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Can I use my Unlimited HotSpot Calling service at T-Mobile HotSpot locations?

If you have a T-Mobile Wi-Fi enabled phone and the Unlimited HotSpot Calling service, you will receive unlimited nationwide calling and great Wi-Fi coverage at any T-Mobile HotSpot location without any additional cost or account information required.

NOTE: If you want to use T-Mobile HotSpot service with a laptop, you will need to sign up for a T-Mobile HotSpot account.

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