I’m in the market for a new cell phone and provider.  I currently have a Razr phone from Verizon.  I get absolutely horrible service at home and at the office.  At home I have to go outside on my back patio, and at work I have to hang up and call people back from my desk.   Other than that it works fine.

You’d think since my home and office are the two places I reside at for the greater part of my existance that I would have ordered me up a new phone by now, but I guess I’d rather put up with crummy service than spend a Saturday at the mall waiting for an hour at a cell phone store talking endlessly about plans, texting, contracts, features, the web, number of minutes, and on and on with enthusiastic young salespeople.  I make calls, text, and take photos.  That’s it.  My ringtone is set to default, and except for changing my wallpaper to Chichen Itza that’s the only customizing I’ve ever done on a cell phone.

Here’s a feature that came to my attention which may sway my carrier choice.  I am smart enough to realize I need to dump my shitty Verizon service, but I didn’t know who to switch to, and again I really just don’t care or want to deal with it.

One feature I’d like is the ability to use a cell phone overseas.  For most folks using their cell phone overseas is a no go.  You need a special phone, or have to buy a chip or card.   I haven’t used my cell phone outside of the states except for Mexico, where I can easily make calls without additional equipment.  Maybe its easy, but having never done it seems like a cumbersome ordeal, and of course I loathe visiting cell phone stores.

This phone by T-Mobil has a feature which will connect through any Wi-Fi point - allowing you to make and receive calls from anywhere there’s Wi-Fi.  Apparently Wi-Fi calling is the same price everywhere, regardless of location, and of course will work in the most remotest of service areas provided there’s a Wi-Fi connection.  If you’re sitting at a coffee chop in Addis Ababa it will ring.  No expensive equipment or lengthy setup, and much less bulkier than a satellite phone.

Pictured is the Blackberry 8120 Pearl phone, the entry level Blackberry.  By selecting “Hot Spot @ Home” from the feature list of T-Mobil’s phone site you can see all phones available with Wi-Fi calling.  To me this is cool.  And even at home if my service is not perfect I can simply switch the phone to MY Wi-Fi.

For the frequent overseas traveler this is a phone and feature worth considering.  If anyone has a phone with this feature I’d love to hear about it, and know whether its easy (or not) to switch between cell and Wi-Fi calling.    When my contract with Verizon is up in June I’ll most likely be changing over to this and will post an update

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