LONDON-Vonage Holdings Corp. reported plans to partner with European Wi-Fi hot-spot operator The Cloud to offer Internet-based mobile-phone calls.
The companies are working to launch a service that would allow Vonage subscribers with Wi-Fi phones to make calls from The Cloud’s U.K. hot spots at fixed-line rates. Users would automatically come online without having to log in as they enter Wi-Fi coverage.
Since Wi-Fi currently lacks the ability to hand off calls between hot spots, calls will be dropped when coverage is lost forcing users to revert to a traditional mobile phone.
The service is expected to be included in Vonage’s unlimited Internet voice service for U.K. consumers, which cost $14.25 a month plus equipment rental. Handsets that support the offering include the UTStarcom F1000 and will be available directly from Vonage.
The Cloud offers Wi-Fi service at more than 6,000 U.K. locations.
