http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/21/atandts-3g-microcell-gets-unboxed-looks-sufficiently-cute/ Engadget Comments for http://www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/21/atandts-3g-microcell-gets-unboxed-looks-sufficiently-cute/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/21/atandts-3g-microcell-gets-unboxed-looks-sufficiently-cute/Sep 21st 2009 6:05PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/21/atandts-3g-microcell-gets-unboxed-looks-sufficiently-cute/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/21/atandts-3g-microcell-gets-unboxed-looks-sufficiently-cute/Sep 21st 2009 6:12PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/21/atandts-3g-microcell-gets-unboxed-looks-sufficiently-cute/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/21/atandts-3g-microcell-gets-unboxed-looks-sufficiently-cute/Sep 21st 2009 6:48PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/21/atandts-3g-microcell-gets-unboxed-looks-sufficiently-cute/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/21/atandts-3g-microcell-gets-unboxed-looks-sufficiently-cute/Sep 21st 2009 7:54PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/21/atandts-3g-microcell-gets-unboxed-looks-sufficiently-cute/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/21/atandts-3g-microcell-gets-unboxed-looks-sufficiently-cute/Sep 21st 2009 6:07PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/21/atandts-3g-microcell-gets-unboxed-looks-sufficiently-cute/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/21/atandts-3g-microcell-gets-unboxed-looks-sufficiently-cute/]]>Sep 22nd 2009 5:25AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/21/atandts-3g-microcell-gets-unboxed-looks-sufficiently-cute/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/21/atandts-3g-microcell-gets-unboxed-looks-sufficiently-cute/]]>Sep 22nd 2009 5:55AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/21/atandts-3g-microcell-gets-unboxed-looks-sufficiently-cute/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/21/atandts-3g-microcell-gets-unboxed-looks-sufficiently-cute/Sep 22nd 2009 1:22PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/21/atandts-3g-microcell-gets-unboxed-looks-sufficiently-cute/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/21/atandts-3g-microcell-gets-unboxed-looks-sufficiently-cute/Sep 21st 2009 6:08PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/21/atandts-3g-microcell-gets-unboxed-looks-sufficiently-cute/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/21/atandts-3g-microcell-gets-unboxed-looks-sufficiently-cute/Also, has there been any word on pricing for the unit itself?]]>Sep 21st 2009 6:08PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/21/atandts-3g-microcell-gets-unboxed-looks-sufficiently-cute/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/21/atandts-3g-microcell-gets-unboxed-looks-sufficiently-cute/
Because all that was already discussed!

No, it won't work anywhere else right now.

]]>Sep 21st 2009 6:11PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/21/atandts-3g-microcell-gets-unboxed-looks-sufficiently-cute/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/21/atandts-3g-microcell-gets-unboxed-looks-sufficiently-cute/
However, you would certainly need your account billing address to be located in the test market in order to purchase this.]]>Sep 21st 2009 6:42PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/21/atandts-3g-microcell-gets-unboxed-looks-sufficiently-cute/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/21/atandts-3g-microcell-gets-unboxed-looks-sufficiently-cute/
People bought the device in the test market.
They conned a Sprint rep to adding the AIRAVE to their non-test-market account.
They got the AIRAVE to boot up fully.

They got an error and it wouldn't fully initialize. Sprint claimed it as an "FCC error" - namely, they were operating it outside the testing area.

AT&T will require you to have the M-cell in an AT&T licensed spectrum area - so don't expect to bring this anywhere not serviced by AT&T any time soon... unless you want to shell out for GPS emulation.]]>Sep 21st 2009 7:29PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/21/atandts-3g-microcell-gets-unboxed-looks-sufficiently-cute/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/21/atandts-3g-microcell-gets-unboxed-looks-sufficiently-cute/Sep 21st 2009 8:30PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/21/atandts-3g-microcell-gets-unboxed-looks-sufficiently-cute/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/21/atandts-3g-microcell-gets-unboxed-looks-sufficiently-cute/
Well, that sounds plausible to feed the unit a GPS signal that makes it THINK it's in America...

... of course, I doubt you could very simply rip out the pre-existing GPS unit and then pop in your own GPS data source directly to the system.

For the easy route? A multi-thousand-dollar simulator that connects to the GPS antenna port and feeds it coordinates.]]>Sep 21st 2009 9:30PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/21/atandts-3g-microcell-gets-unboxed-looks-sufficiently-cute/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/21/atandts-3g-microcell-gets-unboxed-looks-sufficiently-cute/Sep 22nd 2009 1:12PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/21/atandts-3g-microcell-gets-unboxed-looks-sufficiently-cute/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/21/atandts-3g-microcell-gets-unboxed-looks-sufficiently-cute/Sep 21st 2009 6:11PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/21/atandts-3g-microcell-gets-unboxed-looks-sufficiently-cute/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/21/atandts-3g-microcell-gets-unboxed-looks-sufficiently-cute/Sep 21st 2009 6:13PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/21/atandts-3g-microcell-gets-unboxed-looks-sufficiently-cute/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/21/atandts-3g-microcell-gets-unboxed-looks-sufficiently-cute/Sep 21st 2009 9:20PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/21/atandts-3g-microcell-gets-unboxed-looks-sufficiently-cute/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/21/atandts-3g-microcell-gets-unboxed-looks-sufficiently-cute/Sep 21st 2009 6:14PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/21/atandts-3g-microcell-gets-unboxed-looks-sufficiently-cute/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/21/atandts-3g-microcell-gets-unboxed-looks-sufficiently-cute/Sep 21st 2009 6:23PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/21/atandts-3g-microcell-gets-unboxed-looks-sufficiently-cute/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/21/atandts-3g-microcell-gets-unboxed-looks-sufficiently-cute/
In other words, what you are suggesting is you are sold a substandard service that you'll subsidise by buying a femto cell, which you'll power (paying for electricity) and possibly pay a subscription for as well. That's a joke! If anything you as the customer should be payed a fee (or offered a reduction from your bill) for providing local coverage.

It's exactly the same as building a mast, just on a smaller scale. The provider has to rent/buy the space and pay for the power.]]>Sep 22nd 2009 5:30AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/21/atandts-3g-microcell-gets-unboxed-looks-sufficiently-cute/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/21/atandts-3g-microcell-gets-unboxed-looks-sufficiently-cute/
Next up, 30 posts about a new iPhone case..]]>Sep 21st 2009 6:19PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/21/atandts-3g-microcell-gets-unboxed-looks-sufficiently-cute/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/21/atandts-3g-microcell-gets-unboxed-looks-sufficiently-cute/
I have no problem paying $150 for this and just using cell minutes (I don't make many calls, so I don't need unlimited). I understand the argument against paying for this when AT&T should just improve their coverage, but it's hard for me to make that argument where I live. ]]>Sep 21st 2009 6:22PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/21/atandts-3g-microcell-gets-unboxed-looks-sufficiently-cute/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/21/atandts-3g-microcell-gets-unboxed-looks-sufficiently-cute/
Instead of wasting more dollars towards the perpetuation of mediocrity, you should switch carriers instead.

I guess that makes too much sense though, so we should pay AT&T extra to make up for their lack of extra coverage instead...

]]>Sep 21st 2009 6:42PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/21/atandts-3g-microcell-gets-unboxed-looks-sufficiently-cute/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/21/atandts-3g-microcell-gets-unboxed-looks-sufficiently-cute/Sep 21st 2009 7:01PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/21/atandts-3g-microcell-gets-unboxed-looks-sufficiently-cute/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/21/atandts-3g-microcell-gets-unboxed-looks-sufficiently-cute/Sep 21st 2009 6:22PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/21/atandts-3g-microcell-gets-unboxed-looks-sufficiently-cute/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/21/atandts-3g-microcell-gets-unboxed-looks-sufficiently-cute/
For my needs the fact that this seems ONLY to be 3G is a negative rather than a positive. I'd rather have straight edge.

I keep my iphone on edge at all times except when I use the web out of the home, (And always use wi-fi at home) So for me 3G is not a plus.

However the 3G capability of this unit would be a plus for people who want to leave their phone in 3G mode (so they never have to bother switching back and forth in settings), and whose homes are in a marginal 3G coverage area. Such marginal coverage has a lot of dropped calls when in left in 3G mode.]]>Sep 21st 2009 6:43PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/21/atandts-3g-microcell-gets-unboxed-looks-sufficiently-cute/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/21/atandts-3g-microcell-gets-unboxed-looks-sufficiently-cute/
Also, I don't think they even make Microcells for 2G/Edge, so it's either this or zBoost type general cell signal boosters, which just don't work that well (at least for me).]]>Sep 21st 2009 6:59PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/21/atandts-3g-microcell-gets-unboxed-looks-sufficiently-cute/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/21/atandts-3g-microcell-gets-unboxed-looks-sufficiently-cute/
In any case, I'm glad something like this is coming out for AT&T.]]>Sep 21st 2009 6:27PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/21/atandts-3g-microcell-gets-unboxed-looks-sufficiently-cute/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/21/atandts-3g-microcell-gets-unboxed-looks-sufficiently-cute/Sep 21st 2009 6:33PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/21/atandts-3g-microcell-gets-unboxed-looks-sufficiently-cute/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/21/atandts-3g-microcell-gets-unboxed-looks-sufficiently-cute/
Another reason to get the location is so it can pick a frequency channel which will cause the least mount of interference with neighboring AT&T cell sites.]]>Sep 21st 2009 6:46PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/21/atandts-3g-microcell-gets-unboxed-looks-sufficiently-cute/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/21/atandts-3g-microcell-gets-unboxed-looks-sufficiently-cute/Sep 22nd 2009 1:23PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/21/atandts-3g-microcell-gets-unboxed-looks-sufficiently-cute/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/21/atandts-3g-microcell-gets-unboxed-looks-sufficiently-cute/Sep 21st 2009 6:28PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/21/atandts-3g-microcell-gets-unboxed-looks-sufficiently-cute/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/21/atandts-3g-microcell-gets-unboxed-looks-sufficiently-cute/http://www.spirent.com/Solutions-Directory/~/media/Datasheets/Positioning/GSS4200.ashx ).

I'm guessing AT&T made some attempts to make this work in places where they approve. So maybe trying to activate this in New York isn't going to work? I would think AT&T's worst nightmare with this product is someone placing dozens of these on top of a building in downtown Manhatten.

If you lose power do you have to re-activate again? Because if I want this in my basement then there's no way it's getting a GPS signal.



]]>Sep 21st 2009 6:38PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/21/atandts-3g-microcell-gets-unboxed-looks-sufficiently-cute/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/21/atandts-3g-microcell-gets-unboxed-looks-sufficiently-cute/Sep 21st 2009 8:36PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/21/atandts-3g-microcell-gets-unboxed-looks-sufficiently-cute/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/21/atandts-3g-microcell-gets-unboxed-looks-sufficiently-cute/Sep 21st 2009 6:32PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/21/atandts-3g-microcell-gets-unboxed-looks-sufficiently-cute/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/21/atandts-3g-microcell-gets-unboxed-looks-sufficiently-cute/Sep 21st 2009 6:35PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/21/atandts-3g-microcell-gets-unboxed-looks-sufficiently-cute/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/21/atandts-3g-microcell-gets-unboxed-looks-sufficiently-cute/Sep 21st 2009 6:40PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/21/atandts-3g-microcell-gets-unboxed-looks-sufficiently-cute/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/21/atandts-3g-microcell-gets-unboxed-looks-sufficiently-cute/
The difference is UMA can be used any place that has WiFi access.]]>Sep 21st 2009 6:46PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/21/atandts-3g-microcell-gets-unboxed-looks-sufficiently-cute/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/21/atandts-3g-microcell-gets-unboxed-looks-sufficiently-cute/Sep 21st 2009 7:36PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/21/atandts-3g-microcell-gets-unboxed-looks-sufficiently-cute/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/21/atandts-3g-microcell-gets-unboxed-looks-sufficiently-cute/
Since UMA is here today and more and more phones are now capable of UMA, it seems like this mini-cell is obsolete before it's even out the door.]]>Sep 21st 2009 7:46PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/21/atandts-3g-microcell-gets-unboxed-looks-sufficiently-cute/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/21/atandts-3g-microcell-gets-unboxed-looks-sufficiently-cute/Sep 21st 2009 6:40PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/21/atandts-3g-microcell-gets-unboxed-looks-sufficiently-cute/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/21/atandts-3g-microcell-gets-unboxed-looks-sufficiently-cute/Sep 21st 2009 7:17PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/21/atandts-3g-microcell-gets-unboxed-looks-sufficiently-cute/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/21/atandts-3g-microcell-gets-unboxed-looks-sufficiently-cute/In my community we have 1700 homes. You would think a tower or two would go up.
Oh wait I see an ATT helicopter dropping boxes. ]]>Sep 21st 2009 7:02PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/21/atandts-3g-microcell-gets-unboxed-looks-sufficiently-cute/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/21/atandts-3g-microcell-gets-unboxed-looks-sufficiently-cute/Sep 21st 2009 7:11PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/21/atandts-3g-microcell-gets-unboxed-looks-sufficiently-cute/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/21/atandts-3g-microcell-gets-unboxed-looks-sufficiently-cute/ I hope AT&T explodes ]]>Sep 21st 2009 7:06PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/21/atandts-3g-microcell-gets-unboxed-looks-sufficiently-cute/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/21/atandts-3g-microcell-gets-unboxed-looks-sufficiently-cute/Sep 21st 2009 7:14PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/21/atandts-3g-microcell-gets-unboxed-looks-sufficiently-cute/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/21/atandts-3g-microcell-gets-unboxed-looks-sufficiently-cute/
ATT! Listen up. Sell these devices at cost and don't charge a fee. You'll do wonders for your subscriber retention. If you try to get greedy with these things to pump up revenues, I think you'll lose more people in the long run.]]>Sep 21st 2009 7:17PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/21/atandts-3g-microcell-gets-unboxed-looks-sufficiently-cute/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/21/atandts-3g-microcell-gets-unboxed-looks-sufficiently-cute/Sep 21st 2009 7:19PM