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Oct. 6, 2009

T-Mobile USA says it is targeting the enterprise sector with new mobile devices and services that can switch between Wi-Fi and GSM.

Unlike rivals Verizon Wireless and AT&T that have ties to wireline companies, T-Mobile doesn't have a vested interest in wireline, so displacing or replacing wired phones works to its advantage.

T-Mobile Wi-Fi Calling with Mobile Office is a new service offering that enables organizations to extend desktop phone functionality to mobile devices, the company says.

The service uses the BlackBerry Mobile Voice System to mobilize PBX systems and initially is launching with six BlackBerry devices.

The service provides for one phone number and one voice mail box.

Such a system lowers costs for the enterprise because they don't need to spend additional money on handsets for the desktop, and it increases productivity because employees don't have to miss calls or check voice mail at multiple places, according to John Horn, national director, T-Mobile USA.

If a company has at least one-hundred lines, they get Wi-Fi calling for free.

Overall, companies with fewer than 100 lines will pay $9.99 per line each month.

"The savings can be pretty substantial," Horn says.

Products available with T-Mobile's Wi-Fi Calling with Mobile Office include: the BlackBerry Curve 8520, the BlackBerry Curve 8900, the BlackBerry 8820, the BlackBerry Pearl 8120, the BlackBerry Curve 8320 and the BlackBerry Pearl Flip 8220.

It will be interesting to see if others follow in T-Mobile's path soon.

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Source: AT&T.