posted by Eric Slivka on Thursday June 25, 2009 01:48 PM
Unstrung reports that AT&T is on track for deployment of its 3G MicroCell femtocell technology by the end of 2009. Femtocell technology connects to a user's existing broadband Internet service and provides enhanced 3G voice and data coverage within a 5000 square foot range. According to AT&T's executive director for radio access network delivery, Gordon Mansfield, who was speaking at the Femtocells World Summit in London today, about 200 users are testing the femto service in targeted customer trials.
In the coming weeks, he added, "we will expand that into a marketing trial of the AT&T-branded 3G Microcell, which will be open to customers through our AT&T stores… in a handful of cities.
"We're on track for a full national launch by the end of 2009."
A carrier settings update for the iPhone released in late February contained hints of MicroCell compatibility, and AT&T promised last month that customer trials of the MicroCell technology were one of its priorities for 2009. Confirmation of plans for a full public launch of the service in 2009, however, will be welcome news for iPhone users suffering from poor reception in their homes.
MicroCell pricing remains unknown at this time, although similar offerings from other carriers require either an upfront purchase of $249.99 (<A href="http://www.verizonwireless.com/b2c/store/accessory?action=gotoFemtocell"">Verizon Network Extender) or an upfront purchase of $99.99 with additional monthly coverage and calling charges (<A href="http://www.nextel.com/en/services/airave/index.shtml?id9=vanity:AIRAVE">Sprint AIRAVE).
__________________
VZW, It's 2009! Time to embrace technology, not suppress it. - oops too late I've moved on over to the iPhone w/ AT$T!
I have full bars everywhere I go all the time except for this one freakin Wallmart that I hardly ever go into.
__________________
iPhone 3G (sorry Sprint, I have been to the mountain top!) <-- Sprint Mogul PPC 6800 (not enough memory) <-- PPC 6700 (loaner from sprint) <-- PPC 6600 (no EVDO) <-- G1000 (no SMS) Cardo Scala-500 BT
I'm rockin Verizon Fios baby! 20Mbs is dumb fast! http://www.speedtest.net/result/295783856.png
My parents could have used a device like this up until a week ago today, which is when they packed up their house and moved. Of course, they also were on T-Mobile at the time and now are switching to AT&T.
__________________
-Jay The Fine Print:Nothing in this post (or any of my other posts) is intended to constitute legal advice or the establishment of an attorney-client relationship. For purposes of this forum, I'm just another nerd like you. :-)
This cooment is coppied from MacRumors
I agree with his post:
You have got to be KIDDING me if you think I am going to pay ANY MORE MONEY because your network sucks AT$T.
Sorry-but this is a crock-just like tethering. What, because you are going to tether you have to pay yet ANOTHER $30 month. I have never exceeded 1 GB data on my iPhone and this includes the occasional unofficial tether.
AT$T should build a network that doesn't require me allowing them to use my broadband, which I PAY FOR. That being said, the idea is nice, just don't charge me for it. I am already paying AT$T and Comca$T serious bucks each month. And, at least in AT$T's case, paying for a network not quite up to par.
__________________
VZW, It's 2009! Time to embrace technology, not suppress it. - oops too late I've moved on over to the iPhone w/ AT$T!
This cooment is coppied from MacRumors
I agree with his post:
You have got to be KIDDING me if you think I am going to pay ANY MORE MONEY because your network sucks AT$T.
Sorry-but this is a crock-just like tethering. What, because you are going to tether you have to pay yet ANOTHER $30 month. I have never exceeded 1 GB data on my iphone and this includes the occasional unofficial tether.
AT$T should build a network that doesn't require me allowing them to use my broadband, which I PAY FOR. That being said, the idea is nice, just don't charge me for it. I am already paying AT$T and Comca$T serious bucks each month. And, at least in AT$T's case, paying for a network not quite up to par.
I agree with you, Mark, but up to a point. My parents house was located in a very small valley in a mountain area. They were surrounded by mountains on almost all sides. There were few homes in the valley, and, AFAIK, none of the cellular providers built a tower in the valley (given the small number of homes, it most likely would have been uneconomical). As a result, reception at their house was quite spotty, regardless of carrier. Thus, the microcell would have worked well for them. However, I do agree that the vast majority of us are entitled to decedent cellular service without having to resort to a microcell.
__________________
-Jay The Fine Print:Nothing in this post (or any of my other posts) is intended to constitute legal advice or the establishment of an attorney-client relationship. For purposes of this forum, I'm just another nerd like you. :-)
Your parents and the few that live in that valley should get this devce from AT$T for free so that they have coverage just like you and I have.
They got fed up with not having any cell service so they packed up, sold the house, and moved to California. (Okay, I'm kidding about them moving just because they didn't have any cell service, but they did sell that house and move last week. )
Seriously, I'm not sure I agree with you on that point, Mark. My parents chose to live where they did and found out quickly that the cell service was almost non-existent. I don't think their wireless carrier (which happened to be T-Mobile at the time) had any obligation to give them the micro cell tower. However, I do think their cell carrier should have given them a reasonable time to get out of their contract if that's what they chose to do.
Now, what I just said was the lawyer in me speaking. The business person in me agrees with you. Better to give the customer a $200 device and keep them on a $50/month (or whatever it was) calling plan for 2 years than to completely lose the customer.
__________________
-Jay The Fine Print:Nothing in this post (or any of my other posts) is intended to constitute legal advice or the establishment of an attorney-client relationship. For purposes of this forum, I'm just another nerd like you. :-)
In my case I am in an area that their map says I have full coverage.
In reality I have one bar and dropped calls.
I have filed a complaint with the FCC and AT$T has tried to fix the issues.
For situations like this, AT$T needs to either erect a new tower or give people with the same scenario as me the extender unit for free of charge and no monthly fee.
Then their map would be correct and I would have more bars everywhere.
If they won’t do this then they should update their map, let us know that they are not going to fix the problem and give us the option to opt out of our contract.
"Hey our coverage sucks so we're going to charge our customers for a device and charge them monthly so they can get good cell service coverage in a spotty area. Oh and we will be using the customer's internet that they pay for" This is laughable......
__________________
VZW, It's 2009! Time to embrace technology, not suppress it. - oops too late I've moved on over to the iPhone w/ AT$T!
In my case I am in an area that their map says I have full coverage.
In reality I have one bar and dropped calls.
I have filed a complaint with the FCC and AT$T has tried to fix the issues.
For situations like this, AT$T needs to either erect a new tower or give people with the same scenario as me the extender unit for free of charge and no monthly fee.
Then their map would be correct and I would have more bars everywhere.
If they won’t do this then they should update their map, let us know that they are not going to fix the problem and give us the option to opt out of our contract.
"Hey our coverage sucks so we're going to charge our customers for a device and charge them monthly so they can get good cell service coverage in a spotty area. Oh and we will be using the customer's internet that they pay for" This is laughable......
Based on your situation, I agree 100% that they should either put up a new tower, adjust an existing tower, or give you, gratis, a micro cell tower.
__________________
-Jay The Fine Print:Nothing in this post (or any of my other posts) is intended to constitute legal advice or the establishment of an attorney-client relationship. For purposes of this forum, I'm just another nerd like you. :-)
Login
Panel
