sing Cell PHone Companies to provide analog dial tone

[davidwalters]

Is it possible for a cell phone company like lest say T-Mobile to provide analog dial tone that could be used for a traditional PBX or small business system?

For example the cell company installs a small device that receives a signal for each cell phone line and then converts that into an analog signal at a 66 block to be used to make and receive calls? Web based Hunting, CID and call features would be provided as well.

Call quality would be my only concern.

 

[phoneguy55]

yes. Search the web for "cellular pbx gateway" or "GSM module for pbx". Lots of choices. I've used this in countries where the cost of cellular to cellular calls is a lot less then land line to cellular.

 

[donb01]

Sprint has tried selling me such a gizmo on a number of occasions but I've never been interested enough to seriously check it out. You might try checking with them as well.

 

[davidwalters]

I just wondered if it would be an easier and simpler way to get dial tone then from Century Link or Cox. No more worries about bringing in service from the street or pole.

 

[donb01]

I would be worried about a couple of things:

Call Quality

What happens if there is a major event or a disaster in your area. You could have a very difficult time getting dial tone. Federal authorities can also "pre-empt" cell phone service for the masses and require special access codes and stuff to use the system if there is a disaster.

Wireless could be more affected by atmospheric and other anomalies that would be less likely to disrupt modern land-lines.

Larger than normal incoming call volumes could cause a sudden increase in cost if you have not negotiated truly unlimited service.

Just a couple of thoughts floating around.

 

[montyzummer]

TBH in the UK these are now kind of old hat we usually call them prem cell`s a sim card sits in a box and connects to an analogue line on your kit , for cheap cellular calls , moving forward you can probably get a sip gateway and service set up with much more reliability and flexibility (if set up correctly and bandwith is sufficient , thinks like qos are correctly implemented not as difficult as some times made out you just need the right advice of a reliable company)
than it would cost you for a GSM gateway.

APSS (SME)
ACSS (SME)
ACIS (UC)