http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/08/magicjack-makes-a-femtocell-might-make-that-advertising-worth-h/ 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/2010/01/08/magicjack-makes-a-femtocell-might-make-that-advertising-worth-h/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/08/magicjack-makes-a-femtocell-might-make-that-advertising-worth-h/Jan 8th 2010 4:34AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/08/magicjack-makes-a-femtocell-might-make-that-advertising-worth-h/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/08/magicjack-makes-a-femtocell-might-make-that-advertising-worth-h/Jan 8th 2010 12:02PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/08/magicjack-makes-a-femtocell-might-make-that-advertising-worth-h/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/08/magicjack-makes-a-femtocell-might-make-that-advertising-worth-h/Jan 8th 2010 12:55PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/08/magicjack-makes-a-femtocell-might-make-that-advertising-worth-h/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/08/magicjack-makes-a-femtocell-might-make-that-advertising-worth-h/oh man i am so sold! ]]>Jan 8th 2010 5:31PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/08/magicjack-makes-a-femtocell-might-make-that-advertising-worth-h/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/08/magicjack-makes-a-femtocell-might-make-that-advertising-worth-h/http://bit.ly/magic-jack-femto-cells-detail
]]>Jan 12th 2010 3:23PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/08/magicjack-makes-a-femtocell-might-make-that-advertising-worth-h/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/08/magicjack-makes-a-femtocell-might-make-that-advertising-worth-h/Jan 8th 2010 4:36AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/08/magicjack-makes-a-femtocell-might-make-that-advertising-worth-h/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/08/magicjack-makes-a-femtocell-might-make-that-advertising-worth-h/Jan 8th 2010 6:48AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/08/magicjack-makes-a-femtocell-might-make-that-advertising-worth-h/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/08/magicjack-makes-a-femtocell-might-make-that-advertising-worth-h/Jan 8th 2010 4:47AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/08/magicjack-makes-a-femtocell-might-make-that-advertising-worth-h/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/08/magicjack-makes-a-femtocell-might-make-that-advertising-worth-h/
Why, it watches you! Silly human!

14M1337!]]>Jan 8th 2010 5:22AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/08/magicjack-makes-a-femtocell-might-make-that-advertising-worth-h/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/08/magicjack-makes-a-femtocell-might-make-that-advertising-worth-h/
This'll be perfect for my unlocked storm. When I'm in my apartment my phone can automatically switch to GSM (Magic Jack) and when I get too far away it'll switch back to CDMA (Verizon).]]>Jan 8th 2010 9:45AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/08/magicjack-makes-a-femtocell-might-make-that-advertising-worth-h/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/08/magicjack-makes-a-femtocell-might-make-that-advertising-worth-h/You'll certainly need a SIM card in the Storm; whether or not said SIM card will need to be active (on a subscription or at least a "live" prepaid account) will be the question to answer! good thinking...now to investigate further]]>Jan 8th 2010 6:36PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/08/magicjack-makes-a-femtocell-might-make-that-advertising-worth-h/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/08/magicjack-makes-a-femtocell-might-make-that-advertising-worth-h/Jan 20th 2010 7:20PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/08/magicjack-makes-a-femtocell-might-make-that-advertising-worth-h/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/08/magicjack-makes-a-femtocell-might-make-that-advertising-worth-h/Usually when I hear somebody talking about magic jack it isn't so much in the context of it working.. but more in the context of it not.]]>Jan 8th 2010 5:04AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/08/magicjack-makes-a-femtocell-might-make-that-advertising-worth-h/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/08/magicjack-makes-a-femtocell-might-make-that-advertising-worth-h/works fine for me. not that i use it all the time, but it seems to work. Could be interesting to have MJ work with my cell phone, tho... I'll wait to see something more in depth then this "commercial" Engadget just did. ]]>Jan 8th 2010 10:29AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/08/magicjack-makes-a-femtocell-might-make-that-advertising-worth-h/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/08/magicjack-makes-a-femtocell-might-make-that-advertising-worth-h/
The wireless operators own the spectrum that a device like this would need to operate. I just don't see this getting by the FCC. I smell vaporware...]]>Jan 8th 2010 5:05AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/08/magicjack-makes-a-femtocell-might-make-that-advertising-worth-h/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/08/magicjack-makes-a-femtocell-might-make-that-advertising-worth-h/
There might be an exemption for it similar to how FM transmitters are allowed to exist. 8ft is pretty limited, and I don't see any reason for that kind of technical limitation on range, so it could be regulatory limitation.]]>Jan 8th 2010 8:31AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/08/magicjack-makes-a-femtocell-might-make-that-advertising-worth-h/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/08/magicjack-makes-a-femtocell-might-make-that-advertising-worth-h/
First, they license the spectrum from the government.

Second, there are third party transceiver amplifiers for all the major carriers. I don't see why this would be that different.

Third, goodbye $10 mo Tmo @ Home HELLO $1.70 mo MagicJac!]]>Jan 8th 2010 9:08AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/08/magicjack-makes-a-femtocell-might-make-that-advertising-worth-h/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/08/magicjack-makes-a-femtocell-might-make-that-advertising-worth-h/
"The femtocell's range is wide enough to cover a 3,000-square-foot (278-square-meter) home, he said."
http://www.pcworld.com/article/186308/magicjack_harnesses_femtocell_for_voip.html]]>Jan 8th 2010 12:55PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/08/magicjack-makes-a-femtocell-might-make-that-advertising-worth-h/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/08/magicjack-makes-a-femtocell-might-make-that-advertising-worth-h/Jan 8th 2010 2:07PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/08/magicjack-makes-a-femtocell-might-make-that-advertising-worth-h/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/08/magicjack-makes-a-femtocell-might-make-that-advertising-worth-h/There's a huge difference between a bidirectional amplifier boosting an existing, FCC-licensed signal, and operating a distinct, separate service on those same airwaves. Yes, the carriers license these airwaves for their exclusive use (hence why I used "owning"); even if the FCC does nothing to stop something like this, the carriers would likely seek injunctions against it, unless it's done with their permission (which it likely won't).

Second, a true femtocell transfers your inbound cell phone calls over VoIP while you're within range of it. MagicJack cannot pull this off without carrier approval... thus, unless you have call forwarding properly set up, you'd lose the ability to receive phone calls to your wireless number -- instead, you'd be getting the inbound calls to your MagicJack number.

So what happens when you end up going with 8ft of your friend's MagicJack femtocell? You start receiving the calls to his MagicJack number?

I repeat my call of shenanigans. Unless and until this thing gets demo'd by a neutral party - on-stage smoke and mirrors won't cut it - this just smells like a ploy to get free publicity by the hordes of reporters at CES who are eager to report the latest scoop.]]>Jan 8th 2010 2:10PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/08/magicjack-makes-a-femtocell-might-make-that-advertising-worth-h/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/08/magicjack-makes-a-femtocell-might-make-that-advertising-worth-h/*within 8ft. Oops.

@sid
I realize the reasoning behind the policies - I do have a license, not that this makes me Internet Authority or what not - but you may have heard of the huge debate around TV white space. The NAB is getting quite bothered at the thought of broadcast-unrelated low-power devices operating at the fringe of their stations' licensed spectrum... how do you think AT&T would feel about COMPETING devices operating ON their spectrum?

Unless the FCC specifically allows something like this to operate, I see two swiftly filed petitions for permanent injunctive relief from AT&T and T-Mobile. Unless MagicJack can pull off a partnership with one of the two... which I can't see a carrier doing.]]>Jan 8th 2010 2:18PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/08/magicjack-makes-a-femtocell-might-make-that-advertising-worth-h/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/08/magicjack-makes-a-femtocell-might-make-that-advertising-worth-h/> Second, a true femtocell transfers your inbound cell phone calls over VoIP while you're within range of it. MagicJack cannot pull this off without carrier approval... thus, unless you have call forwarding properly set up, you'd lose the ability to receive phone calls to your wireless number -- instead, you'd be getting the inbound calls to your MagicJack number.

Yeah, this is what I'm wondering. If this is a "true" femtocell (which is hard to define right now) like other carriers have, then it'd be amazing.
But this sounds like just a cell phone to magicjack VOIP bridge, which is still neat but not nearly as useful. It'd be really amazing if it could route all calls through my existing carrier with no extra phone number, simply using my internet connection at home. Doesn't sound like this is the case.

So it's a neat product, and I like where things are going. But it's not nearly as exciting after hearing more about how it works. I can't wait till I can plug in a femtocell at home and use my existing phone number on my normal (non-wifi/voip) cell phone via my femtocell. The end of bad coverage at home, and maybe even a minutes savings (for those not on an unlimited minutes plan).]]>Jan 8th 2010 2:47PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/08/magicjack-makes-a-femtocell-might-make-that-advertising-worth-h/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/08/magicjack-makes-a-femtocell-might-make-that-advertising-worth-h/Jan 8th 2010 5:14PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/08/magicjack-makes-a-femtocell-might-make-that-advertising-worth-h/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/08/magicjack-makes-a-femtocell-might-make-that-advertising-worth-h/Jan 8th 2010 5:08AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/08/magicjack-makes-a-femtocell-might-make-that-advertising-worth-h/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/08/magicjack-makes-a-femtocell-might-make-that-advertising-worth-h/Jan 8th 2010 5:45AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/08/magicjack-makes-a-femtocell-might-make-that-advertising-worth-h/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/08/magicjack-makes-a-femtocell-might-make-that-advertising-worth-h/Jan 8th 2010 5:58AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/08/magicjack-makes-a-femtocell-might-make-that-advertising-worth-h/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/08/magicjack-makes-a-femtocell-might-make-that-advertising-worth-h/Jan 8th 2010 5:59AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/08/magicjack-makes-a-femtocell-might-make-that-advertising-worth-h/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/08/magicjack-makes-a-femtocell-might-make-that-advertising-worth-h/Jan 8th 2010 6:22AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/08/magicjack-makes-a-femtocell-might-make-that-advertising-worth-h/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/08/magicjack-makes-a-femtocell-might-make-that-advertising-worth-h/Jan 8th 2010 8:15AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/08/magicjack-makes-a-femtocell-might-make-that-advertising-worth-h/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/08/magicjack-makes-a-femtocell-might-make-that-advertising-worth-h/Jan 8th 2010 9:08AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/08/magicjack-makes-a-femtocell-might-make-that-advertising-worth-h/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/08/magicjack-makes-a-femtocell-might-make-that-advertising-worth-h/Jan 8th 2010 12:13PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/08/magicjack-makes-a-femtocell-might-make-that-advertising-worth-h/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/08/magicjack-makes-a-femtocell-might-make-that-advertising-worth-h/Jan 8th 2010 7:41AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/08/magicjack-makes-a-femtocell-might-make-that-advertising-worth-h/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/08/magicjack-makes-a-femtocell-might-make-that-advertising-worth-h/
T-moble, how about getting off your ass and releasing one of these? I'd really like to answer a call from my couch instead of a mad dash to the kitchen when the phone rings.

And, no, the hotspot@home thing isn't a femtocell, and I don't really want to have to buy a blackberry just to get UMA.]]>Jan 8th 2010 8:41AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/08/magicjack-makes-a-femtocell-might-make-that-advertising-worth-h/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/08/magicjack-makes-a-femtocell-might-make-that-advertising-worth-h/Jan 8th 2010 11:20AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/08/magicjack-makes-a-femtocell-might-make-that-advertising-worth-h/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/08/magicjack-makes-a-femtocell-might-make-that-advertising-worth-h/Novel idea thou.]]>Jan 8th 2010 8:42AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/08/magicjack-makes-a-femtocell-might-make-that-advertising-worth-h/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/08/magicjack-makes-a-femtocell-might-make-that-advertising-worth-h/Jan 8th 2010 8:47AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/08/magicjack-makes-a-femtocell-might-make-that-advertising-worth-h/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/08/magicjack-makes-a-femtocell-might-make-that-advertising-worth-h/
Seeing how GSM encryption has been cracked, imagine setting up a number of these femtocells in the various bars and restaurants that surround Wall Street (perhaps hiding them inside ATM machines near the exits)...

]]>Jan 8th 2010 9:08AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/08/magicjack-makes-a-femtocell-might-make-that-advertising-worth-h/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/08/magicjack-makes-a-femtocell-might-make-that-advertising-worth-h/Jan 8th 2010 9:37AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/08/magicjack-makes-a-femtocell-might-make-that-advertising-worth-h/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/08/magicjack-makes-a-femtocell-might-make-that-advertising-worth-h/Jan 8th 2010 9:37AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/08/magicjack-makes-a-femtocell-might-make-that-advertising-worth-h/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/08/magicjack-makes-a-femtocell-might-make-that-advertising-worth-h/Jan 8th 2010 9:45AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/08/magicjack-makes-a-femtocell-might-make-that-advertising-worth-h/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/08/magicjack-makes-a-femtocell-might-make-that-advertising-worth-h/
Now, if QChronoD is right and cellphones don't automagically switch to the femtocell without an explicit action from the user, there's no problem. But if cellphones will automatically switch to the femtocell because they see a stronger signal when they're within 8 feet then that could be a problem.

]]>Jan 8th 2010 10:15AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/08/magicjack-makes-a-femtocell-might-make-that-advertising-worth-h/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/08/magicjack-makes-a-femtocell-might-make-that-advertising-worth-h/Jan 8th 2010 1:14PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/08/magicjack-makes-a-femtocell-might-make-that-advertising-worth-h/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/08/magicjack-makes-a-femtocell-might-make-that-advertising-worth-h/
The GSM Association would disagree with that assessment:

"It would be a huge logistical operation. In some cases it could be just a software upgrade but it may require replacement of hardware. Every single base station may have to be changed in some older networks," said James Moran, security director of the GSMA. "It would be the nuclear option."

Keep in mind that GSM is used in over 200 countries and not every network uses the latest and greatest base stations. Something similar happened about 4 years ago in Latin America and Asia and it took carriers about 18 months to patch their networks.
]]>Jan 8th 2010 1:34PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/08/magicjack-makes-a-femtocell-might-make-that-advertising-worth-h/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/08/magicjack-makes-a-femtocell-might-make-that-advertising-worth-h/Jan 8th 2010 9:37AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/08/magicjack-makes-a-femtocell-might-make-that-advertising-worth-h/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/08/magicjack-makes-a-femtocell-might-make-that-advertising-worth-h/
It may, just may, be possible that MagicJack is just hyping a dongle that does what the old MagicJack does, but adds Wifi... It'll seem to work like a femtocell, but it's really just regular old VoIP from you Wifi-enabled cell phone.

Not that that's a bad thing, $1.70 a month would beat the pants off of even Skype's fees. It seems to me MagicJack wouldn't be able to afford to license the bandwidth from the FCC on the popular frequencies of the cell carriers for less than 2 bucks a month...]]>Jan 8th 2010 9:51AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/08/magicjack-makes-a-femtocell-might-make-that-advertising-worth-h/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/08/magicjack-makes-a-femtocell-might-make-that-advertising-worth-h/GSM 1800/900?
UMTS 900/2100? (I wish!)]]>Jan 8th 2010 10:05AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/08/magicjack-makes-a-femtocell-might-make-that-advertising-worth-h/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/08/magicjack-makes-a-femtocell-might-make-that-advertising-worth-h/
I'm interested to see what MJ does with this femtocell. I hope it doesn't have the same latency issues that my Airrave has. ]]>Jan 8th 2010 10:12AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/08/magicjack-makes-a-femtocell-might-make-that-advertising-worth-h/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/08/magicjack-makes-a-femtocell-might-make-that-advertising-worth-h/http://www.pcworld.com/article/186308/magicjack_harnesses_femtocell_for_voip.html]]>Jan 8th 2010 10:24AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/08/magicjack-makes-a-femtocell-might-make-that-advertising-worth-h/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/08/magicjack-makes-a-femtocell-might-make-that-advertising-worth-h/Jan 8th 2010 12:46PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/08/magicjack-makes-a-femtocell-might-make-that-advertising-worth-h/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/08/magicjack-makes-a-femtocell-might-make-that-advertising-worth-h/Jan 8th 2010 11:01AM