T-Mobile brings WiFi calling to Android phones, starting with myTouch and Defy

As if you needed another reason to lust after T-Mobile’s new myTouch, the carrier announced today that it will be one of the first Android phones to support WiFi calling.

The WiFi calling feature itself is pretty self-explanatory: It allows T-Mobile subscribers to make phone calls from any wireless network. For customers, it means that their cellular range is magically increased, and for T-Mobile it means less load on its cellular network. Calls made over WiFi will still take up minutes from your T-Mobile plan.

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WiFi calling is an alternative to femtocell solutions like AT&T’s 3G Microcell, which are devices that extend cellular signals using home networks. The advantage with a solution like T-Mobile’s is that it doesn’t require any extra hardware.

T-Mobile has offered WiFi calling on its phones for a while, but this announcement marks the first time Android phones get to join in on the fun. In addition to the myTouch, T-Mobile says that the upcoming Motorola Defy will also offer the feature. The company will take advantage of Kineto Wireless’s Smart WiFi app to drive its Android WiFi calling.

As for WiFi calling on other Android phones, the carrier says that it expects to roll out the feature on “a growing selection of T-Mobile’s Android-powered smartphones in the coming months.” I wouldn’t be surprised to see WiFi calling available as an upgrade for the recently released G2, and perhaps even Samsung’s Vibrant.

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