Completing a
phased roll-out that kicked off back in April, AT&T has finally gotten around to launching its
3G MicroCell in all of its markets, giving the entire customer base some flexibility when "more bars in more places" doesn't happen to include
your place. Interestingly, the announcement was made in passing during comments by AT&T director Gordon Mansfield at the Femtocells World Summit in London this week, where he spent much of his time trying to quell a minor furor over the carrier's continued application of data caps when using the MicroCell. He makes some pretty strong arguments: even though all MicroCell voice and data traffic starts off traveling over your own internet connection, it ultimately ends up within AT&T's core infrastructure -- and a legal requirement that the carrier be able to intercept traffic for law enforcement use prevents it from diverting that traffic elsewhere. More importantly, though, if you're within range of a MicroCell, odds are very good that you're also within range of a WiFi connection -- and since all of AT&T's data-heavy handsets offer WiFi, the whole complaint is kinda moot. So just get one if you need one and don't worry about it, okay?
posted Jun 22nd 2010 2:53PM
Just in time for the iPhone launch.
I still don't understand why data used on the MicroCell counts against your monthly allowance.......i guess thats why we have Wi-Fi
@Stevenk
Because AT&T is trying to line it's pockets before the iPhone goes to another carrier.
@Stevenk Honestly Wifi is faster anyway so if yours has it, use it.
@techee44 Since just about all of these smartphones have wifi, and you have internet at home to run the microcell with, which means you'll most likely have wifi, and you'll most likely be using a computer of some kind to do most of your internet business at home with........I'm not sure why the hell this is being made such a big deal.
Also, this is just another cell site that is connected to the core network, and your device is routing through the same APN, the last leg just happens to be your own connection.
At least this isn't a verizon femtocell where ANYONE passing by can use it if they can get its signal.
@Stevenk I kind of think AT&T should have just included a wireless access point within these femtocells. That way nobody would be able to complain about the data cap (there are some people out there that do not have a wireless setup in their house). Just a thought I guess.
@zephxiii I dont see where it says that this microcell wont allow any passer bys to hop on, if your in a congested condo/apartment complex you could easily have a few people using your microcell
TMO's UMA option was a nicer way to go because you could keep your wifi encrypted and put your wifi key into your phone. You get simillar coverage as one of these, that only you can use. but if youre out in public and near open wifi APs then you can hop on to do your calling though them.
any calls done via wifi on TMO do not count against your bucket of minutes.
Unfortunately it seems TMO has abandoned UMA, there are still devices that support it and their infrastructure is still in place to accept calls over wifi/internet, but it is not actively marketed any longer
@DizWhiz
are you really using a picture of your feet as an avatar? well, at least i won't need to order lunch today
@d0ug You have to register numbers on the att website to use the microcell.
@Psyclotr0n Hey I take care of my feet and am proud to say 'fungus-free' since 2008.
@zephxiii
Sorry dude, but you can lock down the Verizon Fem2Cell to specific devices, I would assume you can do the same with AT&Ts.
Here's my MicroCell: Switching to Verizon. I switched in November, because I got almost no reception in my house, and now my signal is perfect. It worked! (I'm not trolling against AT&T.. they had great service on my Fuze as long as I was on my porch or anywhere but actually inside my house)
ATT now available to. Large you for using your internet to boost our signal since our network sucks
@DefPoet
AT&T has the best network on the market.
What's wrong with them boosting their excellent network?
It's always a welcome move.
@Apple is the best company in the
|O
|
|O
@NoNameAtAll
Disregard that.
@Apple is the best company in the
It's Kind Of Underhanded That AT&T Looks To Expand Their Network At Your Expense. Instead Of Expanding The Necessary Network To Provide Better Service, They Sell You The Microcell Which Uses Your ISP. So You Run The Risk Of One Day Going Over AT&T's Calling, Texting Or Data Allowance And In Turn Going Over Your ISP's Data Limits. So You Are Installing A Cell Tower In Your Home, Providing Al The Bandwith And AT&T Collects For All Your Work And Resources.
@Insomniac Sinner Capitalizing Every Word Is Fun!!
Let me get this straight. I pay them money to use my internet bandwidth to supplement a service I already pay them for but they are unable to deliver on?
@metafor
Yeah, so when are you signing up?
@metafor It sounds backwards but I have a Sprint Airave and I won't give it up unless you kill me first. (Please don't try I like breathing)
I live on the edge of 4bar coverage and a dead zone with all carriers so having this device is amazing.
@metafor LMAO, TMO hasn't had pico/micro cell adapters available, but they have had UMA Wifi calling available on some of their phones which sorta operates the same way.
TMO atleast gives you free calling when you use this option
UMA wifi calling needs no special hardware aside from the phone to function. The phone will hop onto any open wifi access point, so you could get free calling at your local coffee shop, hotel room, etc.
@metafor Nope, go check how these work again before posting. Thanks for playing.
@stockpile So I get this for free instead of $150? So AT&T isn't supposed to provide me with 3G service *even though I'm smack dab in the middle of their coverage map*? So the bandwidth they use to transmit voice data is not over my bandwidth?
Please, enlighten me.
@stockpile
He did a pretty good job of explaining it to me. How about you tell us how he is wrong before posting that he is? Thanks for playing.
@metafor That's exactly what I was thinking when I called in to get mine free. I complained enough to get a credit for the cost of the device on my bill and still getting it free from the store.
@StylesC2 Spoke to AT&T today and they told me the device would cost me $150 (with $100 rebate) and $20/mo for unlimited service (otherwise your minutes get eaten up quicker). No amount of complaining I did resulted in any free stuff. So unless you can give up the details, I'm gonna have to call shenanigans on your claim.
There's also another solution the the problem, one that's been around for quite a while actually. It's pretty easy, actually. Just switch to a better carrier.
@sonicyoof Some people live in dead zones with no reception for any carriers.
@dardub Yup, that's me. Verizon, Sprint, ATT, T-Mobile. They all have crap reception at my house.
@dardub
Fair enough, but this is still a shit deal for you. Especially on top of the new tiered data plans.
@durian I believe the Tmobile microcell is much cheaper
Sweet, now if it just wasn't a piece of sh!t.
I've had one for 4 months, still drop most calls, WHILE CONNECTED to it.
@iamjared
It's good. Maybe you're the stupid one for not knowing how to use it.
Mine works perfectly fine. Use your brain, dude.
@Apple is the best company in the
I thought AT&T was the best wireless provider in the world? Why do you have one of these if you have no issues with it?
@Apple is the best company in the
"Use your brain, dude."
Ironic troll is ironic.
So, I'm correct in understanding that I would get charged data minutes even though I'm using my own data network? WOW, I'm gonna need some lube for that!
@NoFaQ
yeah, pretty much.
It's like a parking garage company charging you to park your car in your OWN driveway. How absurd is that?
@Hazdaz
Can you imagine needing to sign a two year contract to use a parking garage, then not being able to find a lot near your work or home, then being told to pay for your own parking garage so you can pay them to park in it. lol
I think at&t should give these away for free then on top of that knock a few bucks off your bill if you open it up for public use.
I'm 12 and wat is this
@rmbrown09
If you're 12, don't bother about this. Go get an iPhone son.
@rmbrown09
You're stupid and get off the site.
@Apple is the best company in the
While I don't particularly like you, I am getting an iPhone in t-minus 4 days.
This will be my second. I got the original 2 days after it came out 3 years ago.
Now I will get the 4th, 2 days from it's official launch.
3G and 3Gs were nothing really spectacular.
@rmbrown09
iPhone is always revolutionary, no matter what generation it is.
Even if they add tiny things, like HDMI output, it's a revolution. It's epic. and people will always tout about it.
@Apple is the best company in the
iPhone - 1 = Amazing oringinal and mind blowing
iPhone - 2 = Ok fast internet, hook up to wifi and it's negligible.
iPhone - 3 = 2x as fast, but otherwise the same phone
iPhone - 4 = Even faster, hands down the best looking display and highest res of any phone, new casing, front facing camera, 720p 30 fps video (evo has 20) iOS4, longer battery life, dual mics for noise cancellation, 5 MP camera and screen that is 20x harder than glass, and much better than previous iPhones. (My old iphone cracked, and i barely dropped it)
@rmbrown09 correction evo is 720p 24 fps know ur fact before try to put down another phone thank u
@Console fanboy
http://cache.gawkerassets.com/assets/images/4/2010/06/iphone_4_vs_android_tech_specs.jpg
huh
So because of your failed network, I have to use MY internet carrier to pick up the slack... AND I have to pay for this device... AND those minutes - whose data goes through my network - still is counted as part of my cell minutes?!?
Are you kidding me?!?
I mean seriously, how more screwed up can this get?!?
It's a downright scam.
F U AT&T
@Apple is the best company in the
How much does AT&T Pay you?
I hope they fire you because you're crap at trying to brainwash people.
@Hazdaz wow hazard, noooo shit, was it that necessary to repeat something that's been repeated ever since Sprint's Airave came out???