Lets your phone use the Internet for calls and data

UMA (Unlicensed Mobile Access) lets you use your wireless broadband Internet connection for mobile phone services. This includes voice calls, mobile browsing, email, MMS, SMS, and basically any mobile service you use a network connection for.

What's good about UMA

You probably connect to the Internet at home or at work, often on a broadband connection. When you use your mobile phone, you use a separate, cellular connection. But both of these systems can connect you to the same services. Since your broadband connection is reliable, fast, and always on, why not use it with your phone, too?

That's the basic idea behind UMA. It connects your mobile device to your GSM/GPRS services through WLAN (802.11) and allows you to handle calls, send and receive messages, check your email - basically, it lets you do what you already do with your mobile phone, this time through a wireless broadband Internet connection. When you're not in range of such a connection, of course, the cellular network takes over. The automatic switch from cellular to broadband is as simple as walking in your front door - you won't even notice it happening.

A few more points about UMA:

• Simplify your life by using your mobile phone for all of your communications
• Most calls and other mobile service connections are done at home or work - UMA technology offers fast, reliable and affordable connectivity
• Get more out of your mobile device's features (things like browsing, Visual Radio, and mobile video) using the fast broadband Internet connection provided by WLAN access
• Use it indoors with your home or office WLAN, or even through a public hotspot
• UMA switches automatically between cellular access and WLAN when you're in range - you won't notice the difference even in the middle of a call
• WLAN provides reliable coverage in the home or at work
• UMA requires support from your network operator

How UMA works

Firstly, you need a mobile device with UMA technology, an operator that supports UMA, and an Internet broadband connection that you can access with WLAN. To use UMA, that's really all you need to know. Instead of using GSM radio to connect to cellular towers, it uses IP to connect to the mobile network - through the Internet.

Still curious? Read more on how it works

UMA-enabled Nokia products

More on UMA

For more technical information on UMA, visit www.umatechnology.org