T-Mobile must open Truphone lines

Truphone routes mobile calls via the internet

A court has stepped into a row between mobile phone network operator T-Mobile and wi-fi phone firm Truphone.

Truphone had accused T-Mobile of hindering its service, by blocking calls made to numbers owned by the fledgling mobile operator.

In the High Court on Monday Truphone was granted an injunction to force T-Mobile to put the calls through.

In court documents T-Mobile had said it had offered Truphone a deal to route its calls, but that had been rejected.

Court papers

The Truphone service works by routing calls via wi-fi when handsets are within range of wireless hotspots the phone can connect to.

By using the wi-fi and the net Truphone hopes to cut mobile call costs, particularly those made to long distance numbers.

In its court documents, Truphone said T-Mobile was "abusing its dominant position" by not putting its numbers through.

Deputy High Court judge Robin Knowles QC granted an injunction requiring T-Mobile to activate the Truphone numbers.

He granted the injunction until the two companies can either agree terms together, or have the courts decide how the matter should be resolved.