Nokia, SingTel To Launch Dual-Mode Telephony

Written by Adam Gosling

Monday, 04 September 2006

Nokia and Singapore Telecommunications have announced that they plan to cooperate to bring Wi-Fi mobile phone calls to the cellular market. Singapore is in the process of becoming one big hotspot, which is comparatively easy given the size of the Island state and the addition of WLAN technology to its GSM/WCDMA networks The two companies will collaborate on an implementation that will see dual-mode Nokia E60, Nokia E61 and Nokia N80 Internet Edition phones brought to market that will be capable of using the WLAN technology to make VoIP calls.  SingTel's VoIP on mobile service will roll-out to selected SingTel Mobile subscribers by invitation only for a service trial which will allow them to use voice and data services from home and on the move through SingNet Wireless Surf Zones. The commercial launch of the service is expected to be later this year. "Nokia is pleased to co-operate with SingTel on this industry leading initiative on our range of multiradio mobile devices", said Chris Carr, General Manager, Customer Market and Operations, Nokia Singapore. "Consumers can now experience the power of mobility and benefit from accessing Internet services and calls without being connected to a computer," he said. Vicki Brady, Vice President (Consumer Marketing), SingTel said, "SingTel is proud to be one of the first operators globally working with Nokia to bring VoIP services over Wireless LAN to our customers using Nokia devices. With SingTel's VoIP on mobile service, our customers can make local calls over the Internet with their VoIP handsets for a fixed monthly fee." Nokia E60, Nokia E61 and the Nokia N80 Internet Edition are the first Nokia devices that are able to support SIP-based Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP). All three devices work on 2G, 3G and WLAN networks. The Nokia N80 Internet Edition is the first ever handset to enable seamless home media networking between compatible TVs, audio systems and PCs. SingTel's VoIP on mobile service will be available to non-business customers on postpaid mobile plans. The service can be accessed using the WiFi network at home or through more than 330 SingTel Wireless Hotspots across the island. The subscription fees for the service will be announced in due time. Related news items Nokia E51: Smarter Than It Looks -19/09/2007 Nokia: Smooth, Black, Curvey & 3G -21/08/2007 Nokia Prism Has Mad Mod Look -07/08/2007 D-Link Boosts Draft N Range -30/07/2007 Nokia To Release In-Car Speakerphone -05/07/2007 Newer news items Cost Effective SSL VPN -12/09/2006 Wireless broadband Recovers In Bush -10/09/2006 Approaching 285 Million 3G Users -10/09/2006 BigAir Goes Off-Peak With iBurst -06/09/2006 Low-Cost Ryanair To Allow In-Flight Mobiles -03/09/2006 Older news items With Revenue Up 126% - It's A Wizz -28/08/2006 Feds Fund Satellite Broadband For Remote Australia -26/08/2006 Wireless Broadband Gets A New Spin -24/08/2006 Wireless Broadband Future Forum -13/08/2006 Luxury Yachts Get Intelsat Broadband -09/08/2006 Tag This Now: