During its 7.0 Un-carrier event today, T-Mobile announced plans for its new ‘Wi-Fi Unleashed’ initiative. As part of the campaign, the carrier says that it will support Wi-Fi calling and texting on all new smartphones, including the just-announced iPhone 6 and 6 Plus.
This allows users to send and receive both calls and text messages over a Wi-Fi network, and is a highly sought after feature for folks in areas with poor cell service. T-Mobile says the feature will be free, and is offering upgrades to customers that don’t have Wi-Fi devices.
Additionally, the company announced a new product for subscribers in poor service areas called the T-Mobile Personal CellSpot. It’s essentially a Wi-Fi router, which can be used alongside or in place of a traditional router, made to prioritize bandwidth for HD voice calls.
The CellSpot features 802.11ac support, USB 3.0, and covers an area of 3,000 sq. feet. It launches September 17th, and can either be leased for free, or purchased outright for $99. T-Mobile also said it has struck a deal with Gogo, which will give its users free in-flight Wi-Fi.
It’s been an interesting few months for T-Mobile and its outspoken CEO John Legere, following the failed acquisition by Sprint. Legere said onstage today that his company is stealing subscribers from competitors at a rapid pace, thanks largely to Uncarrier initiatives like this.
Both the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus support Wi-Fi calling, and they will be available for purchase starting September 19th.
[T-Mobile]