If you have a cell phone, a home phone may seem an unnecessary burden. It's another bill to pay. And you don't need to manage two numbers.

But many cling to their landlines. Often, cellular reception is poor inside houses. I can't tell you how often I have been dropped at home.

Heavy callers may also hang onto their landline. They use their landline to stay within their cell plan's minutes. After all, racking up a huge cellular bill is easy.

However, a better solution recently came along: a dual-mode Wi-Fi/cellular phone.

Wi-Fi is not new for phones. Some, like Apple's iPhone, have it built in. But the phones don't use it for calling. Calls are placed over cellular networks exclusively. Most carriers fear Wi-Fi calling would cannibalize lucrative cellular plans.

There are also single-mode Wi-Fi phones. These can't access cellular networks. They're designed for use with VoIP (voice over Internet protocol) services.

HOTSPOT@HOME

The new solution is T-Mobile's HotSpot@Home service, introduced June 27. Maybe you didn't notice. It came out the same week as Apple's iPhone. Oops!

HotSpot@Home lets you use both cellular network and Wi-Fi connections.

To use the service, you must buy a compatible cell phone. T-Mobile offers only two. With a two-year contract, they're $50 after rebate. The offer is only for new subscribers. Current subscribers pay the full $180.

The phones are no-frills flip phones. However, they do include cameras and Bluetooth. T-Mobile may offer more phones in the future.

The phone continually searches for cellular and Wi-Fi connections. It monitors them to see which has the strongest signal.

If an adequate Wi-Fi signal is detected, your calls are routed over it. You won't use up your cellular minutes. The transition is seamless. You probably won't notice when calls are passed off.

If you leave the range of your Wi-Fi signal, your call is handed to the cellular network.

T-Mobile's system can't recognize when you switch networks. So, you're billed according to where the call originates.

If you begin a call on a Wi-Fi network, you pay nothing. If you start a cellular call, you pay even if you switch to Wi-Fi.

FINDING A HOT SPOT

The phones will work with any wireless router (802.11b/g). However, there are a couple of caveats.

First, the phones work best with one of two routers T-Mobile offers. The routers cost $50. There is currently a $50 rebate, though.

With these routers, your phone will get better battery life. That's because your phone doesn't need to search for a Wi-Fi signal. The router sends a signal to the phone.

To get the service, your regular plan must cost $40 a month or more. The hot spot service adds an extra $20 to your bill. For a family plan, you pay $30. T-Mobile is offering an introductory discount of $10.

Contact Kim Komando at gnstech@gns.gannett.com.