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Jun 27, 2008 -- T-Mobile launches HotSpot @ Home service

As the nation's fourth largest carrier, T-Mobile tries to one-up its competitors by being innovative and cheap.

Here's another example of that spirit: T-Mobile has a new add-on service called HotSpot @ Home, which allows your mobile phone to serve as your home phone.

HotSpot works with a special router that puts your calls through via an Internet connection. The call quality is nearly perfect. The cost? A mere $10/month add-on to your T-Mobile service – probably much less than you're still paying for a landline.

A whopping 97% of people who signed up for HotSpot went on to disconnect their landline and drop their monopoly local phone companies. That's very telling about how effective HotSpot can be. Another fringe benefit is that you no longer have any need for 2 phone numbers!

But beware, there's a serious danger if you disconnect your landline: You'll save hundreds of dollars every year! There's almost no reason left to have a home phone from a monopoly local company in today's world. Clark thinks about his 19 year old who certainly won't ever have a landline in her life.

Finally, Clark's Internet access glossary is now live.


Unfortunately, Clark won't be able to answer any questions submitted via commenting. If you have a question, please try posting it to our message boards.

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What others are saying

  • Need landline?
    For all of you that have alarms and for some reason dont want to pay the 300+ dollars for radio backup how a bout just getting a tariff rate phone service. I'm pretty sure that Clark has talked about the monopoly phone companies being regulated to offering a tariff rate that is substantially lower then normaly rates for a bare bones phone signal. Maybe something to look into
  • T Mobile Hotspot service
    I am a T Mobile cell user and find the new at-home service attractive. Two drawbacks which keep me teethered to my mland line:
    1. reliable, fast 911 service
    2. secirity system tied to land line
    Any suggestions?
  • Hotspot@home
    Can you operate a HP Officejet 7210 All- In-One unit (fax, printer, scanner) through HotsSpot@hHome?

    Any data on in-home security system compatibility with Hotspot@home?
  • T Mobile Home Phone Service
    We've just signed up for cell service through T Mobile, and we're intrigued by the home service; according to the service rep, I take in my AT&T bil, for number verification & transfer. They will give me a router to plug into, and for$10. a month,our landline will be routed through T Mobile. They suggest a battery or UPS elect. backup in the case of power failure, but otherwise, it's ten bucks a month for phone service. Just looking at what Ryan said on 07-03-08, it's a good question to research in using an alarm system; will have to ask.
  • Landline Unncessary
    ...I don't think so. What if you have an alarm service. You have to pay $400 for a radio backup and then $50 for the tmobile router and an additional $5 month for DSL without a landline. I don't think you end up saving money...maybe after a number of years. I have AT&T bundle of DSL, home phone, and Directv. If I cancel the landline, I give up a $10 savings per month for Directv and $5 savings per month for DSL. The savings just don't add up.
  • Family plan price correction
    To Brian. For the Family plan you pay $20.00 a month. The $10.00 price is for one line only.
  • 3 percent
    Guess I am in the 3 percent. I have had this for 11 months and will be cancelling it as soon as my contract ends (next month). It constantly breaks up and I can't understand the person I am talking to. Worked great at first, but over time the break ups have gotten worse and worse. I don't even use it anymore.
  • Do what's best for your situation
    Wesley, there isn't a serious danger. However, each person should evaluate their own situation before disconnecting their landline. If the power goes out you can't use a service such as HotSpot because it requires an internet connection to work, no power = no telephone service. Sure, if you have a cell phone you still have telephone service, but if the power is out how are you going to recharge that phone? Suppose it's out for days. Things like this don't happen to people everyday, but you never know. Just do what you feel is best for your own situation, for me I'm keeping my landline.
  • Hotspot@home
    I have this feature for 3 months now and I really like it. I changed from 3000 anytime minutes to 1000 family plan an by using my tmobil hotspot @ home I do not worry about running out of minutes. I also use this feature when traveling overseas, I can call back to US for free. It is just great.
  • Hot spot home service
    Please explain why there is a serious danger if I disconnect my landline.
  • CNG cars
    Hi Clark why no body in media talk about cng and hydroden cars. In china, pakistan, india and every third world county run on cng.
    what to know how much it cost. cuz there is only one station in atlanta and he sells it for 3.5
    need more info. thanks
  • Cell vs land line phone service
    I now pay AT&T for DSL internet service. Can I drop that if I switch to T-Mobile?
  • land line
    I have Charter bundeled with telephone,internet & cable. Who has the cheapest rates on these services. Cable is way to expensive.way to
  • Alarm service w/o landline works great
    I also have a burglar alarm but no local phone service. For an extra $4/mo, and a one-time purchase of the radio, all my alarm monitoring happens over cellular radio signals. The first thing a crook is going to do is cut your phone-line anyway. The radio was $300, so it took barely over a year to pay for itself in saved monopoly phone-service bills. Look into it.
  • Landline still necessary
    While I'm all for saving money, I don't agree that a landline phone is unnecessary. These alternatives such as HotSpot or MagicJack require an internet connection to work right? Well, suppose your electricity goes out, that means no computer which means no internet. Let's add to this example and say that your dealing with a natural disaster in your area, and you don't want to burn your cell phone battery since you can't recharge it at the moment, if the landline service didn't go out and your not relying on cordless phones you have phone service without having to worry about electricity. This is primarily why I'm keeping my landline, I went through two fire storms here in Southern California in the last 6 years, so paying the extra money every month is well worth it to me.
  • Hotspot At Home
    You said there is very little reason to keep a traditional home phone... Here's a little one, in fact 2 ones after a nine: Does 911 work on Hotspot At Home? 911, auto-dial home alarms and personal 'help I've fallen' alarms all depend on Caller ID... I smell something,... excuse me, I think I left something on my stove...
  • Land Line
    I have DirecTV with HDDVR. Don't I need a land line to run my DVR?
  • 1 more new service starting this weekend
    there are 2 different features that T-Mobile is offering in their @Home line.

    Hotspot@Home- is exactly what Clark talked about above. You use a specialized cell phone to make calls over a Wi-Fi connection. It's only $10 a month (and that covers a family plan too!)

    T-Mobile@Home- is a new router that you can place a SIM card into and then hook your personal home phone up to! It is basically a VoIP service and that plan is only $10 also!!! it includes call waiting, voicemail, caller ID, and unlimited long distance! And of course we can port in your existing home number. That beats any VoIP that you'll find out there at only $10.

    (btw- you can get DSL without a home phone line. it called a dry, or "naked", DSL. call your ISP about it)
  • Great...but
    I looked into this and it was perfect...except I have a burgler alarm and NEED local service. Drat.
  • t-mobile hotspot
    sounds great but I'm stuck with (att,bellsouth)dsl with no other service options where I live. Any suggestions
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