If It’s 2009, It’s the Year of the FemToCell – AT&T and Verizon Jump on the Cell Phone Repeater Bandwagon
This post was published 9 months 25 days ago and its content may not be valid anymore.
3GMicrocell, FemToCell, Personal Cell Tower – Call it what you want but this is the year the cellphone carriers are pushing for good cellphone coverage.
Today Verizon shipped and AT&T slipped (information about) personal broadband cellular repeaters. Sprint was the first out of the gate with a the AirWave – which costs a monthly fee for unlimited minutes in exchange for better coverage. Verizon today followed shipping a similar unit (Manufactured by Samsung) that just extends Verizons coverage.
Only problem is both CDMA units only boost the 2G signal and not 3G.
Now enter AT&T. Interestingly enough, today AT&T created a whole microsite to discuss the virtues of their “MicroCell” Product.
AT&T 3G MicroCell acts like a mini cellular tower in your home or small business environment. It connects to AT&T’s network via your existing broadband internet service (such as DSL or cable) and is designed to support up to 10 3G capable wireless phones in a home or small business setting. With AT&T 3G MicroCell, you receive improved cellular signal performance for both voice calls and cellular data applications, like picture messaging and surfing the web for up to 4 simultaneous users.
Device Features:
* Enhanced coverage indoors – supports both voice and data up to 5000 square feet.
* Available unlimited minute plans – Individual or Family Plan.
* 3G handset compatible – works with any AT&T 3G Phone.
* Up to 4 simultaneous voice or data users supported.
* Device is secure – cannot be accessed by unauthorized users, easy and secure online management of device settings
* Seamless call hand-over – start calls on your 3G MicroCell and continue uninterrupted even if you leave the building.Device Requirements:
* 3G wireless phone/device
* Broadband service over DSL or cable
* Computer with internet access for online registration
Interestingly enough it seems that the AT&T version (Made by Cisco) only supports 3G phones leaving EDGE users in the dust. No word on pricing but a launch seems imminent.
Fascinating. Although, a bit lame that AT&T wants to charge me more to get a signal where it already claims I have one, ain’t it? I mean, I live in a brownstone in NYC, not exactly a buried concrete bunker where I might expect a signal problem. And yes, very lame that they’ve ditched EDGE, after introducing the iPhone on it not all that long ago!