Nokia Handset Hits the Wi-Fi Hotspot

Nokia showed off its first handset designed to allow a handover between a cellular and Wifi network. The Nokia 6136 phone, due to ship this summer, uses Unlicensed Mobile Access (UMA), a specification developed by operators and handset vendors to extend phone voice and data services over different wireless services.

It means a phone using GSM cellular network can switch to Dab hander… the Trilogy TV-enabled handset Wifi when the user moves into a hotspot. Orange will be one of the first carriers to offer the handset, according to Nokia. The quad-band 6136 supports an email client, as well as support for attachments and push-to-talk capability.

‘The Nokia 6136 clearly demonstrates the complementary nature of cellular and IP-based networks,’ said Nokia’s Kai Oistamo. ‘By implementing UMA into this device, worldwide GSM coverage is combined with WLAN coverage for a seamless communications experience.’ Meanwhile Sony Ericsson announced a range of applications for its Wifi-enabled P990 UMTS smartphone, including a business-card scanner, new entertainment features and Blackberry-style push email.