Fifty Oulu families will be testing technology which could allow them to ‘roam’ (make calls out of the range of their mobile service provider) without any problems between different phone networks and Wireless hotspots, Nokia have announced.

Mobile subscribers with handsets programmed for ‘unlicensed mobile access’ (UMA) will be able to make calls over the internet when they are in range of an unlicensed wireless network such as Bluetooth or WiFi. The trial will last for the next two months.

When they move out of range, the connection will automatically revert to a GSM, GPRS or UMTS mobile phone network. According to Nokia, the technology has the advantage that network companies can allow coverage, in remote areas for example, at a low cost with Wi-Fi hotspots because expensive base stations will no longer need to be built.

(*) Reuters.