Sprint swaggers, promises to be first to release 3G Femtocell in US

While AT&T's still claiming MicroCell will be out before the year's up, Sprint's bringing out the big words by boasting to Unstrung it'll be beating everyone to the market with its 3G femtocell solution. Company VP of device and technology development Mathew Oommen is pretty light on some of the finer details -- like actual release date, hardware supplier, pricing scheme, and pretty much every other piece of information we'd want -- but he did imply there'd be multiple options available for the CDMA EV-DO Rev. A extender, including a device more tailored for enterprise use. Look, you two can fight all you want over who gets first, but in the end, we just want our Pres and iPhones to live together and home in perfect-reception harmony -- think we can get that in time for Christmas?

[Via Slashgear]

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 3rd 2009 3:30AM]

why is verizon so boring.

[jeremyjwebstudioscom Posted Jul 3rd 2009 3:45AM]

I'm sure Verizon won't be terribly far behind with their own EVDO femtocell. Personally, I'm not too concerned with the lack of EVDO on the current product. If I'm at home, I'm generally using my phone for just talking and texting, both of which are covered by the current 1xRTT femtocell.

[greezyg Posted Jul 3rd 2009 3:34AM]

I can understand the consumer paying for this device. I just have -NO- clue why they charge their customer's monthly for the right to patch up their weak ass networks. Greedy bastards...

[CL Posted Jul 3rd 2009 3:44AM]

Exactly, I can understand the one time fee for the device itself, but the monthly fee so I can use my own internet to make my reception better is non sense.

Someone did tell me one time that devices like this supposed to connect back to Sprint via VPN, and they have to maintain the VPN network. I am not sure if this is really how it works, but I still think the monthly fee idea is ridiculous.

[jeremyjwebstudioscom Posted Jul 3rd 2009 3:46AM]

Verizon's device uses a VPN connection as well, but Verizon doesn't charge any monthly fees.

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 3rd 2009 3:58AM]

They charge you a monthly fee because the minutes you use using the Airwave don't count against your plan minutes. If you have 450 plan minutes and spend 300 minutes talking on your phone at home using the Airwave, you still have 450 plan minutes left.

[COCOViper Posted Jul 3rd 2009 1:45PM]

There's a monthly fee on Sprint because they are giving you the device for $99 + a $5/monthly fee. Verizon is doing the same device but charging the full device cost at $249. Sprint's researched showed most customers were happier with a lower upfront cost and a small monthly fee that a bunch down and no monthly fee. But you could always set aside $150 when you buy the device and pull from it to pay the $5/month. That would equate to 2 1/2 years which by that time I'm sure we'll all want an LTE/Wimax femto.

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 3rd 2009 3:38AM]

*Runs to check if the latest Berserk is out

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 3rd 2009 3:52AM]

Sprint is really stepping up their game

[somekid64 Posted Jul 3rd 2009 4:15AM]

shoo! >:(

[pseudozach Posted Jul 3rd 2009 4:50AM]

Femtocells have benefits for both end customer and the operators. One-time fee makes more sense as if you are buying a wi-fi modem, instead you are buying a 3G signal booster at your place. But in addition, according to the plan you have, you might get free minutes, free data plan or some other benefits via the Femtocell.

The reason some operators charge monthly is because in some countries it is not legal for a consumer to have such a base station at home as his property. To justify the cost, Sprint or whoever offers this will give some benefits to the consumer as well.

Btw, whats up with the shoe spam here, I call on some admins on the page or something..

[Surrealchemist Posted Jul 3rd 2009 4:50AM]

They already have the airave, just add 3G to it and bam there ya go.

[JKee Posted Jul 3rd 2009 5:06AM]

Do you "pair" or authorize these with your phones or do they work with any phone in range?

[FreakNasty Posted Jul 3rd 2009 8:30AM]

You can set it to only work with certain phone numbers or leave it open to sprint number.

[ohpleaseno Posted Jul 3rd 2009 8:05AM]

Engadget is always trying to redefine the concept of shallow depth of field

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 3rd 2009 8:40AM]

still trying to catch up to the Iphone but falling short (Sprint,Verizon). My 32Gb 3GS owns all of you.

[boe Posted Jul 3rd 2009 9:23AM]

If anyone here has the airave can you tell me if Verizon phones can receive calls on them? I can't get Sprint or Verizon signal.

Thanks

[FreakNasty Posted Jul 3rd 2009 10:31AM]

No

[stridermt2k Posted Jul 3rd 2009 10:02AM]

Sprint can make these claims because:

A: Current Customers have no service anyway, so how would they know?

B: Former customers are so disgusted that they don't care.

C: Everyone else is busy doing stuff on networks that...work.

-at least that's how it is in the crazy-ass wireless badlands of the New Jersey Pine Barrens.

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 3rd 2009 12:34PM]

Actually, you're wrong.

After my girlfriends acquired the proper permits to cut down trees in their lot (seriously!), I spent 5 days out there working my kansas-boy 4$$ off clearing trees. (half of them weren't pine, figures from the state that won't let you pump your own gas).

I got decent reception, but my friends on T-mobile weren't much better off. Because of the strict regulation of clearing trees in that area, ridiculous regulation of man-built structures, and the fact you have to have about 86 permits to nail to 2x4s together, the consumer gets shafted in that region.

Sorry, but that's not Sprint's fault. That's a regulatory issue. The area is a deadland for signal reception.

[DizWhiz Posted Jul 3rd 2009 11:30AM]

I'm a new Pre owner in a horrible mobile signal area (for any provider) and all I had to do is call retentions, tell them I have no signal in my home and they sent me an Airave for free and waived the monthly charge.

Say what you want about Sprint but so far they have done everything to keep me happy and now I have 5 bars everywhere in my home. Oh and just turn on Wifi and you have better than 3G data speeds in your home.

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 3rd 2009 7:15PM]

I've seen these in the store already.

[Slick Posted Jul 4th 2009 3:02AM]

**An extender**

Sorry - grammar appears more easily while drunk

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 4th 2009 3:21PM]

Ive got sprint's Airave , Let me tell you , full bars anywhere inside and about 50 yard radius anywhere outside aswell. Awesome device. I got mine for free, THANKS SPRINT !

they really stepped their customer service up, I got the airave free cause of the bad signal near my home. I would have gladly paid knowing what I know now though. Their cheap on ebay if any of you are looking for one.