I was checking on getting a new mobile in the US prior to my leaving for Lausanne in a few weeks. The reason behind this is I have a nice unlocked smart phone that I will use for a new swiss number and need to still have a US number as I will be in the 40% of the time.
I was talking with t-mobile and they have a new add on called "at home" for $10 a month. What this allows a person to do is connect via wifi on the phone and then use the wifi instead of the cell for free calls.
They told me that t-mobile does not want this known but the trick works in Europe too. It doesnt matter where the Wifi originates. Using an unlimited mobile to mobile (or my faves) cell phone plan, my family could call me on a US cell phone without charge while I used wifi to connect in my apartment without charge.
Has anyone done this or know of anyone who has?
-Dana
Yes, most smart phones will do that. You need to have an account with a voice-over-IP to SIP provider (like skype). Then you just program your phone to use VOIP-SIP when you are in range of a wifi device that you have access to.
Your VOIP-SIP provider can usually sell you phone numbers anywhere in the world.
BTW, Skype is not technically a SIP provider. They use a proprietary protocol.
The Gizmo Project's Gizmo 5 client software supposedly works to do VOIP off a cell phone. It supposedly works with my motorola v360 (pretty much same firmware as a RAZR), but I've not really tried it. It might be an option for you though.
It is definitely possible; check out does Fring (
http://www.fring.com/ ) software supports your phone, and then after eventually installing it, you'll have both Skype or Gizmo (
http://www.gizmo5.com/ ) supported on your phone, and both of them are offering US numbers that people could call you to for cheaper price than you mentioned above T-Mobile offered (and you could make calls to landline/cell phones with some very cheap rates too). Also, Fring is connection independent, i.e. it could employ your Internet connection established either through Wi-Fi or through 3G. All in all, definitely worth trying, I'm using it all the time.
Gizmo is the way forward. I had perfect results with it on my Nokia e61 over Wifi and the missus N95.
Forget Skype, use a (industry standard) SIP provider.
Sipcall.ch are very good and they'll give you a region Swiss number.
certainly do-able.. actually it's do-able for about $10 per month less !
get a free US inbound number, set up SIP on your smartphone or on a PC, or indeed get a dedicated VOIP phone, and you're in business.
tell T-Mobile to take a hike