phones with UMA/signal boost

mistafeesh

I live in an area where there is absolutely no mobile phone signal at all. Having recently moved house and arranged with a neighbour to use his wifi (for a fiver a month - and we're both happy!) I was planning to start a new phone contract and get a phone with a UMA. I was originally told they were available on a few samsung phones as well as blackberries.

I went into the 'ee' shop and was told that with the rebrand, orange have discontinued the UMA on almost all of these phones, which seems rather odd... any ideas what's going on?

I'm currently having to make do with skype on my computer. The alternative is going to vodafone and using my neighbour's suresignal box, but I'd vastly prefer the UMA because then I can use wifi in other places too.

Any ideas?

Guys_Dad

mistafeesh wrote: »

I live in an area where there is absolutely no mobile phone signal at all. Having recently moved house and arranged with a neighbour to use his wifi (for a fiver a month - and we're both happy!) I was planning to start a new phone contract and get a phone with a UMA. I was originally told they were available on a few samsung phones as well as blackberries.

I went into the 'ee' shop and was told that with the rebrand, orange have discontinued the UMA on almost all of these phones, which seems rather odd... any ideas what's going on?

I'm currently having to make do with skype on my computer. The alternative is going to vodafone and using my neighbour's suresignal box, but I'd vastly prefer the UMA because then I can use wifi in other places too.

Any ideas?

You wouldn't ! It can be very hit and miss. I know because I have it on a LG Optimus One, about the only Android that it was available on - maybe a couple of HTCs as well.

I have been with Orange for many years - even pre-digital and, despite what people said, I found them a good company. But when my contract ends in May, I won't be renewing as there is no point if they can't give me a signal. Neither, by the way, can T-Mobile or the new EE signal.

If they are abandoning UMA, then it must say something, so listen!

mistafeesh

Ah that's good to know! I didn't realise it was buggy... looks like it's vodafone then... Pity - living in a rural area there are so many signal blackspots, and a lot of them have accessible wifi. In particular my two favourite pubs!

EDIT - damnit! looking at the deals available vodafone seem to be quite a lot more expensive...

Guys_Dad

mistafeesh wrote: »

Ah that's good to know! I didn't realise it was buggy... looks like it's vodafone then... Pity - living in a rural area there are so many signal blackspots, and a lot of them have accessible wifi. In particular my two favourite pubs!

EDIT - damnit! looking at the deals available vodafone seem to be quite a lot more expensive...

Talk mobile from CPW runs on Voda and is cheaper.

mistafeesh

yeah but apparently you can't use the vodafone suresignal box with it

sparky93

I had uma / signal boost on s2, chacha, and barcelona in family, and they all worked flawlessly on my vm wifi.
get hold of a orange branded ace, or s2 or suitable 2nd hand mayb....

diamonds

Newer Blackberries & Android use a app, BlackBerry Pearl has a UMA chip inside....UMA hardware beats the SignalBoost app which is less reliable.

mistafeesh

Ah right, so the samsung's didn't ever have a hardware UMA? That explains the weirdness in the shop!! Is it only blackberries that have the hardware one? I don't like blackberries at all. Android would be much nicer...
Sparky93, which phone was that?

[Deleted User]

Look out for O2 tu go. It's a bit like UMA but uses an app on iPhones/android devices

It's currently in user trials (I've tried it on a few devices as my wife is in the trial)

dduk

EE have recently started their own version of a device like vodafones suresignal. It's called Signal Box. I assume they are stopping UMA in favour of this. Doesn't look like it's easy to get on Orange at the moment.

http://help.orange.co.uk/orangeuk/support/personal/725973

john1

Long 19 page thread on EE signal Box

http://forums.digitalspy.co.uk/showthread.php?t=1769995&page=1