T-Mobile dumps VoIP restrictions

Web 'n' Walk grasps the nettle next week

By Chris Williams • Get more from this author

Posted in Mobile, 29th September 2006 15:45 GMT

T-Mobile will allow VoIP calls over its Web 'n' Walk-branded 3G network for the first time when it launches a set of new data tariffs next week.

Until now, customers who used the operator's data services to make VoIP calls were ordered to stop breaching their customer agreements. VoIP and instant messaging services were prohibited in a bid to protect voice revenues.

Ahead of next week's announcements, The Register has learned Web 'n' Walk Max will have a 10GB data limit and no restrictions on VoIP or instant messaging use. It'll cost consumer punters £22.50 as a standalone product and £44 for suits, who get voice bundled in.

Also new will be Web 'n' Walk plus, which provides 3GB without VoIP, but with instant messaging allowed.

Standard Web 'n' Walk, as available now, will remain unchanged at £7.50 for 1GB. Instant messaging will be allowed for light users too.

Unleashing mobile VoIP will be the latest in a series of tariff innovations from T-Mobile, which was already the best value mobile data provider, and forced price cuts from other operators with its GSM Flext package. The other carriers have not put the same restrictions on VoIP as T-Mobile, but their data services have been so pricey as to make it folly to make internet calls. ®

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