Nokia Simplifies Dual-Mode Phones (PC World). PC World - Seamless network hopping gets closer with software that makes Wi-Fi and cellular phones easier to use. [Yahoo! News: Wireless and Mobile Technology]

"In addition to automatically choosing the proper network, the software also helps Telio provision the service, said Jouni Malinen, director of Nokia's emerging business unit. Once a customer signs up for Telio's service, the customer receives a message on the phone that automatically changes the phone's settings to enable the service. Without the Nokia Service Suite, customers would have to manage multiple potentially complicated configuration changes to enable the service, Malinen said."

 

10:45:02 AM    

Europe Jumps On Wi-Fi Bandwagon. WiFi is experiencing rising popularity in Europe as demonstrated by the considerable increase in the deployment of wireless hotspots in the continent. According to a new study by BroadGroup Tariff Services, the number of hotspots in the region grew by 28 percent from May 2005 to September 2006. Majority of these devices are found in the U.K., Germany and France. The report also noted that two-thirds of all hotspots in Europe are managed by telcos and mobile operators.
[NetStumbler.com]
10:14:31 AM    

T-Mobile Launches Converged Cell/Wi-Fi Voice [Wi-Fi Networking News]

This is the first meaningful UMA launch in the US (though it's only a limited pilot in Seattle, with no release dates announced). The most salient aspects of the plan:

- $20 / month for unlimited minutes over wifi. Subscriber must have a $40 minimum voice plan an can combine offering with T-Mobile's $30/mo GPRS data service

- it requires a t-mobile router at home. "The requirement of a specific router relates to the low-power mode of handsets that needs a particular protocol embedded in the router to work—WMM Power Save. Few routers have this right now, but it’s really a protocol-level feature, not a hardware change. However, it does require Wi-Fi Alliance certification if you want to use the label on the product, and thus adds cost at that level.

9:51:52 AM    

MuniWireless.com Estimates $3b in US Spending by 2010 [Wi-Fi Networking News]
9:39:53 AM