I think protrex has it figured out. There are FCC rules specifically covering low power FM "itrip-like" devices but nothing that would allow operating in the GSM bands used by the US carriers.
However, every GSM phone ever made can operate in the 900 MHz band (EGSM) which, as protrex points out, overlaps with the US ISM900 band. People can make any kind of device they like in that band (it's "unlicensed"). Magicjack just chose to make a low power GSM base station there.
This way, there's no risk of interfering with AT&T/TMob and no legal issue of operating in "licensed spectrum", no frequency planning, etc. Simple.
Any GSM phone will latch onto it if its a reasonable signal. Worst case scenario, the phone user would have to do a manual network search if they had a strong signal from their carrier in their house but I see no reason why it should work. While I'm no lawyer, I also see no reason why its not legal.
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I think protrex has it figured out. There are FCC rules specifically covering low power FM "itrip-like" devices but nothing that would allow operating in the GSM bands used by the US carriers.
However, every GSM phone ever made can operate in the 900 MHz band (EGSM) which, as protrex points out, overlaps with the US ISM900 band. People can make any kind of device they like in that band (it's "unlicensed"). Magicjack just chose to make a low power GSM base station there.
This way, there's no risk of interfering with AT&T/TMob and no legal issue of operating in "licensed spectrum", no frequency planning, etc. Simple.
Any GSM phone will latch onto it if its a reasonable signal. Worst case scenario, the phone user would have to do a manual network search if they had a strong signal from their carrier in their house but I see no reason why it should work. While I'm no lawyer, I also see no reason why its not legal.
I wish I'd thought of it first!!