AT&T has finally unleashed its new femtocell in a public market trial in Charlotte, N.C. Dubbed the 3G MicroCell, the AT&T femtocell is designed to boost both the voice and data signal in your home by using your home broadband network. This is similar to how Verizon's and Sprint's femtocells work, though neither of them handles 3G/EV-DO. (Instead of femtocells, T-Mobile has gone the UMA route with T-Mobile HotSpot @ Home, which requires UMA-enabled phones that can use Wi-Fi to make calls).
Gearlog reports that AT&T stores are charging $150 for the actual 3G MicroCell hardware, while the service is free. If you want unlimited calling as well, there's a $20-per-month charge, unless you already have an AT&T landline or DSL service. To help take the sting off that monthly charge, AT&T is offering a $100 rebate if you sign up for the unlimited plan.
Compare this with Verizon Wireless's Network Extender that costs $250 up front and has no monthly fee but lacks an unlimited call option, and Sprint's Airave that is $100 for the hardware, a $5 monthly fee, with an optional $10 a month for unlimited calls. T-Mobile's HotSpot @ Home plan doesn't require hardware beyond your own wireless router, and the service is $10 a month, but it only works with certain phones that have UMA support.
No word on when AT&T will roll this out to the rest of the nation, of course, but if we have any folks in Charlotte, N.C. who have tried this, definitely let us know how it is and if it improves things at all. We should also note that the Sprint Airave has been out of stock for awhile now, and there are rumors that it might be replaced with a 3G Airave some time soon.
(Via Engadget Mobile)
The Extender can boost indoor call quality.
(Credit: Samsung)Samsung announced Monday that it's bringing its femtocell base station to Verizon Wireless. The Verizon Wireless Extender is similar to the Sprint Airave, which Samsung introduced last year. It acts as a miniature cell phone tower by boosting indoor cell phone coverage where the normal Verizon signal may not reach.
The Extender requires a normal power outlet and a home broadband Internet connection. If you're on the phone and you leave the house, your call will switch automatically between the Extender's coverage area and Verizon's standard network. It costs more than most Verizon handsets ($249), but unlike with Sprint's Airave, Verizon doesn't gouge you for monthly fees after the initial investment.
AT&T will test femtocells in certain markets.
(Credit: AT&T)AT&T is following in Sprint's footsteps by experimenting with in-home cell phone boosters, otherwise known as femtocells. Sprint has been selling its own under the Airave brand. Femtocells are made to boost the cell phone signal via your high-speed Internet connection; think of it as your very own cell tower.
AT&T is planning to make its own version available in a trial market next year, and hopes to improve 3G performance in addition to enhancing voice signals.
As for other carriers, Verizon has mentioned that it's looking into femtocells, while T-Mobile has gone its own route with T-Mobile @ Home, which lets you make calls over Wi-Fi. The T-Mobile @ Home service can only be used with UMA phones that can switch between GSM and Wi-Fi networks, however.
Sprint Web on the LG Rumor.
(Credit: Sprint)Sprint launched its new mobile Web service on Tuesday. Sprint Web adds a slight redesign and a couple of new features. Users will now have direct access to Google search for finding content across the entire Internet. What's more, Google search will now be the default search engine on Sprint phones. Sprint Web also adds an adaptive home page that will deliver personalized content based on the user's browsing. Sprint Web is available on more than 40 Sprint phones; current customers don't need to take any action to upgrade.
Sprint also announced the nationwide availability of its Airave femtocell starting August 17. This will boost cellular service inside your home and work with up to three handsets using Sprint's CDMA network (Nextel phones aren't supported). The Airave itself is $99.99 plus a monthly fee of $4.99 per month for the "enhanced coverage." You also can add a $10 per month plan for unlimited Airave calls or $20 for unlimited calls on multiple lines. Previously, Airave was available only in Denver and Indianapolis.
Sprint Nextel introduced a new product Monday to help improve cell phone coverage indoors.
(Credit:
Sprint Nextel)
The new Sprint Airave is a femtocell or compact wireless base station that boosts cellular signals indoors to provide enhanced coverage up to 5,000 square feet. The device, which can handle up to three calls at one time, is available for purchase in Sprint stores in Denver and Indianapolis. It will be available throughout Sprint's network sometime in 2008.
The device works with an existing broadband connection to send calls over the Internet instead of using Sprint's cellular network. When subscribers leave the range of the device, the call switches to Sprint's wireless network.
Sprint is selling the Airave, which is made by Samsung, for $49.99. Subscribers who use the Airave will pay an additional $15 a month for unlimited calls within the Airave home network. Families can access the Airave signal on multiple Sprint phones for $30 a month. Calls that switch over to Sprint's regular cellular network will be charged usual calling plan rates. Currently, the service only works on Sprint handsets. And it's not available for use with any Nextel handsets.
The service is similar to one launched by T-Mobile earlier this year, called HotSpot @Home. The main difference is that T-Mobile's service uses unlicensed Wi-Fi signals of cellular frequencies. And while the Sprint Airave service can be used with any Sprint phone, T-Mobile's service requires users get a special handset.
Still the concept of using IP technology to improve indoor wireless coverage is the same.
The femtocell technology that Sprint is using not only helps users conserve cell phone minutes while they're at home, but it also reduces traffic on the cellular network, which could potentially improve overall quality of the entire network by reducing congestion.
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