‘Salsa’ software update begins rolling out to select devices
Republic Wireless has begun to rollout an update to its service that the mobile virtual network operator claims supports the handoff of voice calls between a cellular and Wi-Fi connection.
The company, which announced work on the project in late June, said the “Salsa” update will be pushed to users over the next week. Customers with Motorola Defy or second-generation Motorola X devices running Google’s Android KitKat 4.4 operating system are not part of the current update plan.
Republic said it worked with 1,800 “participants” in testing the cellular-to-Wi-Fi handoff capability, which showed a three-percentage-point increase in the amount of voice calls handled over a Wi-Fi connection.
“Three points may not sound like a lot, but every minute of additional time spent on Wi-Fi helps us continue to offer services like our more-popular-than-ever $10 Talk & Text plan,” the company explained. “How? Because it costs us more to power your calls on cell than your calls on Wi-Fi – and we are committed to maintaining great pricing for our members, however we can.”
Republic, which launched in late 2011, currently has an MVNO agreement with Sprint to handle cellular connections, but focuses its service offerings on Wi-Fi connectivity. The company said it plans to add a second cellular carrier partner to its service by the end of the year.
A significant challenge for mobile operators offering Wi-Fi services to consumers has been the ability to maintain a connection when traveling between different connection methods. Typically a voice call is dropped when a device switches between a cellular connection and a Wi-Fi connection as the two networks are unable to “talk” to each other to facilitate a “soft” handoff.
Some companies have been able to offer the ability to have a voice call seamlessly switch between a Wi-Fi connection to a cellular connection as they are able to embed enough intelligence and have enough control over the cellular network to support the handoff. However, it’s been a bigger challenge to move a voice call seamlessly between a cellular connection to a Wi-Fi connection.
MVNO FreedomPop earlier this year launched its Premium Voice technology that it said supports cellular-to-Wi-Fi handoffs. The MVNO said the software platform allows for a device to “seamlessly switch between VoIP and traditional cellular networks regardless of device type.”
Sprint earlier this year announced support for Wi-Fi calling on select Apple iPhone models, but noted the service would not support handoffs between a Wi-Fi initiated call and its cellular network.
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