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T-Mobile has launched a new service in the US that allows you to communicate over both cellular and WiFi networks. According to The New York Times, this is the first major network to offer such a service, presently available on a trail basis in Seattle. The interesting thing is that the (new) handsets link to both the T-Mobile’s cellular networks as well as WiFi networks. T Mobile WiFi is available at thousands of spots including airports, hotels and of course Starbucks. Needless to add, calls that go over the WiFi or the VoIP networks are much cheaper than the traditional telecom network.

There are a few other networks in Europe like Telecom Italia and Orange attempting dual-use cellular telephony. Their commercial offerings are likely to be launched shortly. I’ve written  in the past about the need for something similar in India as well. Here’s why. For all the talk of dropping prices, Indian telecom companies charge near extortionate prices for any user whose usage of `value added services’ is on the higher side.

For instance, if you were to use, like I do, features like international roaming, a basic GPRS service, caller line identification and voice mail, rest assured your basic bill will be in the Rs 800 to Rs 1,000 region, give or take a few rupees. If you are the more `youthful’ kind and periodically download ringtones, caller tunes, play games and indulge in excessive texting (including to check scores and news), than the lord help you, or your parents - depending on who picks up the tab. So much for a competitive telecom marketplace.

Folks like me are waiting eagerly for solutions that bypass or over ride or work in conjunction with the telecom `pipe’. Such dual use services are clearly one solution. Of course, in an ideal situation you may not need a telecom company at all except to maybe manage the switch. But that’s somewhat utopian at this stage, or so I think. The good news here is that its the telecom companies that themselves are providing the solutions. At least internationally.

One reason must surely be the potential threat from smaller Skype like firms. In India, of course, such pro-activeness is rare. The good news is that while WiFi is not as all pervasive in India, its catching on. Most major airports are WiFi enabled. And so are many offices. A lot of us get calls on the mobile phone while in office. Such calls, as I understand it, could be routed over the internet/WiFi network. And outbound as well.

Or it could be larger areas such as factories and warehouses. Some mobile phone companies (internationally) already offer differential pricing for such zones or regions. Indian telecom companies should start experimenting and then rolling out dual services as well.