Engadget

Optus intros 3G Home Zone, Australia's first consumer femtocell

Brad Molen — Thu, 14 Apr 2011 09:32:00 EST

Friends down under: have you been craving a femtocell even more than that luscious vegemite sandwich sitting in your fridge? Undoubtedly you have, if your humble home was built squarely in a black hole of coverage. Optus has the perfect solution, but it's going to cost you; the new 3G Home Zone beefs up the signal in your abode, using your broadband connection to magically transform your dead zone into five bars of wireless heaven. All it takes is a fair amount of green stuff -- the upfront cost ranges from AU$60 to AU$240, but monthly installment plans are available -- and a minimum 1Mbps down / 256Kbps up broadband connection. Oh, and it's only available in select stores for now, so check to see if your neighborhood store has one in stock before squandering away what's left of your day. One last thing: in view of the fact that the 3G Home Zone sucks up data like a milkshake, it's a good idea to make sure a capped data plan won't leave you sidelined before the month is over. Full PR after the break.

[Thanks, James]

Continue reading Optus intros 3G Home Zone, Australia's first consumer femtocell

Optus intros 3G Home Zone, Australia's first consumer femtocell originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 14 Apr 2011 09:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Femto Forum publishes API specification for femtocell apps, places focus on 'awareness information'

Darren Murph — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 22:44:00 EST

As if the world needed one more association to keep up with, CTIA Wireless 2011 is delivering just that. The Femto Forum, which has done an excellent job remaining undercover of late, has just published an "industry-wide agreed set of API specifications" that will enable "advanced mobile applications based on femtocell technology." Truth be told, the first apps based on the specifications have already been built, and their currently available to the femtocell community. The specifications are for network-based APIs, which will purportedly "allow operators to drive the development of femtocell-powered open access, enterprise and consumer applications," and it'll also provide awareness information in order to allow developers the opportunity to incorporate enhanced presence, context and location-sensitive features into new and existing apps. Granted, we'd care a lot more about those location-based apps if we could drag our 3G MicroCell to Panama to use it to make free calls whilst on vacation, but hey -- maybe that's the next logical step. Not that we're much for passing along hints or anything.

Femto Forum publishes API specification for femtocell apps, places focus on 'awareness information' originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 23 Mar 2011 22:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Ubiquisys unveils Attocell: personal femtocell designed to work internationally, make dreams come true

Darren Murph — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 10:34:00 EST

It's definitely one of the first things we thought of trying with AT&T's 3G MicroCell back in 2009, but our dreams were quickly dashed after finding that said device was hard-wired to only operate when receiving a GPS lock within the United States of America. Thankfully, it looks as if at least a few engineers at Ubiquisys are riding our same train of thought, and come Mobile World Congress, it'll be debuting the device of our dreams. The Attocell is described as a personal femtocell for use with 3G smartphones, and best of all, it's designed for use internationally. In essence, this would allow a smartphone from one country to use their international web connection to tunnel a cell call through -- presumably free of charge -- and definitely bypassing those nasty roaming fees that are incurred when ringing through an overseas cellular network. The company admits that it has been tested with the iPhone, BlackBerry handsets, a few Nokia phones and a gaggle of Android handsets, and we're guessing that Windows Phone 7 and webOS users won't have any issues, either.

The idea is fairly simple: connect the Attocell to your laptop via USB, which provides power and an internet connection. From there, it'll analyze the IP address and radio environment to determine which country it is in, and sets its 3G radio power accordingly to below the licensed level. In some countries its range will be just five millimeters, in other countries, it could cover a whole room. For those in the former, you'll need to place your phone atop the dongle and use a Bluetooth headset to make a call, but hey, it's still better than paying AT&T two arms and the vast majority of a leg just to phone home from wherever you may be. Crazier still, Ubiquisys thinks that the device's low power output -- coupled with its ability to "continuously monitor its radio environment to ensure that there is zero impact on existing mobile networks" -- will make the Attocell exempt from regulatory controls and the requirement for type approval. Here's hoping it flies through just as the company hopes, and we'll be hitting the floor in Barcelona to pry out a price point, release date any carrier deals they've managed to land.

Ubiquisys unveils Attocell: personal femtocell designed to work internationally, make dreams come true originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 26 Jan 2011 10:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

AT&T offering free MicroCells to top 7.5 percent of customers 'likely to experience poor in-building coverage'

Chris Ziegler — Fri, 21 Jan 2011 12:09:00 EST

We've known that AT&T has been test-marketing free 3G MicroCells to subscribers with particularly awful reception in certain parts of the country since the product launched last year, but as of January 23rd, they're codifying the offer and taking it nationwide. Bottom line: the "top 7.5 percent of 3G wireless customers identified as likely to experience poor in-building coverage at home or in small offices" will be receiving some snail mail with a discount code; bring it into an AT&T store and you'll be offered a gratis MicroCell. There's a catch, though -- you need to agree to a one-year contract on the unit (separate from your normal account contract), so if you cancel service within that year, you need to either return the MicroCell or get charged $199.99 minus $16.67 per month that you've had it. Of course, that lines up with the newly-increased MicroCell price that the carrier is instituting starting this Sunday. Considering that AT&T needs to acknowledge that you're in a terrible reception area to get it, we can't say we'd hope to be one of the "lucky" 7.5 percent -- but it's a nice benefit nonetheless.

AT&T offering free MicroCells to top 7.5 percent of customers 'likely to experience poor in-building coverage' originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 21 Jan 2011 12:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Federal Wi-Net bill proposes a femtocell and WiFi hotspot in every federal building

Vlad Savov — Mon, 06 Dec 2010 01:26:00 EST

Here's one way to fix the spectrum crunch: set up wireless base stations and WiFi hotspots in every single one of the 9,000 buildings currently owned and operated by the US General Services Administration. That idea, along with the proposal that such installations be made mandatory in all future federal structures, was put before the US Senate this Friday. It's argued that installing femtocells at those locations would improve reception indoors, lighten network loads in busy areas, and expand accessibility for more rural locales. Ubiquitous WiFi routers, on the other hand, hardly require any justification beyond "common sense," but you should be aware that the Federal Wi-Net bill also asks for a $15 million budget for the performance of retrofitting and future installs. Full PR after the break.

Continue reading Federal Wi-Net bill proposes a femtocell and WiFi hotspot in every federal building

Federal Wi-Net bill proposes a femtocell and WiFi hotspot in every federal building originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 06 Dec 2010 01:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Verizon rolls out 3G Network Extender for $250

Chris Ziegler — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 14:41:00 EST

Samsung had signaled Big Red's intention to replace its old, non-3G Network Extender as early as CES in January this year -- something Sprint did a couple months back -- but only now are they getting official with the updated model. The aptly-named 3G Network Extender is a warmed-over version of the original, boosting simultaneous connection capability from four to six (Sammy's specs at CES had it listed for eight, interestingly) and offering EV-DO coverage in the event that your home, office, or other location of interest isn't blanketed with Verizon spectrum. The company claims it'll work for up to 40 feet surrounding the device, which seems reasonable considering your average home is rife with RF-hating barriers. There are no monthly fees for the device, but you'll be shelling out $249.99 upfront; it's available now. Follow the break for Verizon's press release.

Continue reading Verizon rolls out 3G Network Extender for $250

Verizon rolls out 3G Network Extender for $250 originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 19 Oct 2010 14:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Sprint's new Airave shipping to customers who 'qualify'

Chris Ziegler — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 20:02:00 EST

FierceWireless got the lowdown on the new Airvana-built Airave femtocell that Sprint is shipping, and it turns out there's a good reason why stores we called hadn't heard of it: the carrier's only shipping it to people who pass the test. What test, you ask? Well, Sprint is saying that "each customer situation is reviewed independently to determine whether the customer would qualify and benefit from Airave use," and if you qualify, you get the EV-DO-capable Airave gratis -- with the catch that you'll be charged a non-return fee if you walk away from Sprint and don't send it back. From our perspective, we don't see a good reason why these wouldn't end up replacing the 1xRTT-only Samsungs that stores are still stocking, but at this point, it's Sprint's call when or if that's going to happen.

Update: We've been tipped with information that the Airaves are being provided to customers without a spending limit who are considered "mid" value or better; they're being offered via direct ship only and won't be offered in stores.

Sprint's new Airave shipping to customers who 'qualify' originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 20 Aug 2010 20:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Sprint's 3G-capable Airave from Airvana starts shipping

Chris Ziegler — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 21:02:00 EST

Corporate-owned Sprint stores that we've called don't seem to know what we're talking about, but at least one reader has managed to get Sprint telesales to ship him one of its long-rumored upgraded Airaves from Airvana that supports EV-DO (the original model sported 1xRTT only for data). Our tipster tells us this bad boy will run up to six simultaneous calls -- up from the old Samsung's three -- and although the femtocell supports a VoIP landline connection, Sprint is telling folks that it's not available for use just yet. The jury's still out on whether this looks better than the outgoing model -- but hey, you can always shove it in a corner where no one will notice it; in the short term, the bigger concern will probably be finding a store willing and able to sell it to you.

[Thanks, Connor]

Gallery: Sprint's 3G-capable Airave from Airvana starts shipping

Sprint's 3G-capable Airave from Airvana starts shipping originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 19 Aug 2010 21:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

MagicJack's femtocell misses its launch date, still hasn't been submitted to the FCC for approval

Donald Melanson — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 06:04:00 EST

Wondering about the fate of the MagicJack femtocell now that its promised second quarter launch window has passed? So was Computerworld, and what it found out isn't exactly promising for the as-seen-on-TV company. According to a MagicJack spokesperson, it's taken longer than expected to finish the software and patents associated with the product, which means it still hasn't even been able to submit the device to the FCC for approval. The company says the software should be done within two weeks, however, but that still means a wait time of several more months while the FCC does its thing. Of course, that's to say nothing of the many legal problems facing the device, which MagicJack is unsurprisingly not commenting on -- although it insists the device will be available "this year."

MagicJack's femtocell misses its launch date, still hasn't been submitted to the FCC for approval originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 25 Jul 2010 06:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

AT&T handing out free 3G MicroCells to loyal customers? (update: it's a market trial)

Sean Hollister — Sat, 10 Jul 2010 20:56:00 EST

While we've no clue how widespread AT&T's generosity is, or how you might get one, it appears that the company's "most valuable customers" are now receiving free range-boosting femtocells. Today, loyal reader Jason got a old-fashioned paper letter in the mail, offering his iPhone-wielding family a 3G MicroCell with no strings attached. Driving down to the local AT&T store, he got the product, but the dumbfounded reps offered no explanation why. Though his calls do frequently drop at home, Jason says he wasn't terribly vocal about the issue and only pays around $180 per month for his family plan -- the only thing that might possibly qualify him, in his opinion, is that his contract was set to expire. We've reached out to AT&T for more information; in the meanwhile, see Jason's letter after the break.

[Thanks, Jason]

Update: We're being told that AT&T is currently in the process of trialling different ways of offering the MicroCell, which is why a handful of customers have received this letter. We suspect you're always going to get positive reactions when you're offering something for free... but maybe we're crazy.

Continue reading AT&T handing out free 3G MicroCells to loyal customers? (update: it's a market trial)

AT&T handing out free 3G MicroCells to loyal customers? (update: it's a market trial) originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 10 Jul 2010 20:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Updated Verizon Network Extender gets FCC blessing

Chris Ziegler — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 14:38:00 EST

Sprint got FCC approval for an EV-DO-capable version of its Airave femtocell back in April -- and now, it's Verizon's turn. As you might expect, this is the same Samsung-sourced unit that we saw back in January at CES, which was expected to launch in the second quarter. It's a little late for that, but not by much -- and FCC approval is typically a good sign for these sorts of things. Besides the addition of 3G data, the new model should support up to eight simultaneous connections (versus the current model's four). Enough to justify an upgrade for current owners? Probably not, but a nice refresh for anyone on the fence about whether they really need an extra bar or three of signal strength at the home or office.

Updated Verizon Network Extender gets FCC blessing originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 07 Jul 2010 14:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

AT&T 3G MicroCell now available in all markets

Chris Ziegler — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 14:53:00 EST

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?

AT&T 3G MicroCell now available in all markets originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 22 Jun 2010 14:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

AT&T 3G MicroCell available in some unlaunched markets, if you try hard enough

Chris Ziegler — Mon, 03 May 2010 10:54:00 EST

I've personally been following the launch of AT&T's 3G MicroCell very, very closely; I moved last year into a box surrounded on three sides by foot-thick cement (not much of an exaggeration) in which only Verizon's and T-Mobile's signals were able to penetrate without assistance -- and in my position, it's a non-negotiable requirement that I be able to use devices from all four US nationals. Since the announcement a few weeks back that the MicroCell would be going national, I've been practically bombarding my Chicago-area stores with calls, looking for a hint of detail on when they might be available here; they've already launched in New York City, so AT&T clearly isn't concerned about using them in densely-packed urban areas. This weekend I called four stores, and here's what I got:

Store 1: "We're supposed to have them in a couple of weeks."
Store 2: "We'll have them on May 6."
Store 3: "We have them in stock. Oh, hold on a minute. (long pause) I'm sorry, we're not allowed to sell them until the 10th."
Store 4: "Yes, we have them in stock."

In other words, there was no shortage of variety in sales reps' stories. I don't know how this happens -- it's conceivable that AT&T really is telling each store something entirely different, but it seems far more likely that these guys simply haven't been effectively educated on what's going on here. At any rate, I was able to march down to the fourth store I called and pick up the MicroCell with no hassles, therefore ending a many month-long personal nightmare of mine (and by the way, the device works just wonderfully).

The lesson learned? Even if the MicroCell hasn't launched in your market -- that is, you go to AT&T's MicroCell site and it tells you it's not yet available in your zip code -- be persistent and keep calling around. You've just got to find that one sales guy who's willing to flip it.

AT&T 3G MicroCell available in some unlaunched markets, if you try hard enough originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 03 May 2010 10:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Vodafone's Sure Signal femtocells see a couple days of outage

Chris Ziegler — Sat, 17 Apr 2010 17:29:00 EST

Wireless customers around the globe with femtocells securely stowed in their homes might start to take five bars of signal strength for granted, but there are still plenty of gotchas; your internet service could go down, for example, taking your phone with it -- and it turns out that your carrier can inadvertently bring it to its knees on occasion, too. It looks like a whole lot of Vodafone's Sure Signal-branded units in the UK have been acting up the past couple days due to network registration issues; new and existing Sure Signal customers alike have been affected, turning homes back into the barren, 3G-less wastelands they were before the device existed. Most (if not all) of the Sure Signals are now back in action, but considering that the outage lasted a lot longer than a few brief moments, let's hope that the Voda techs behind the scenes learned a lesson or two in the process.

[Thanks, paddyg12006]

Vodafone's Sure Signal femtocells see a couple days of outage originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 17 Apr 2010 17:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Sprint Airave gets remixed by Airvana, has VoIP landline and EV-DO support

Chris Ziegler — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 15:13:00 EST

The Samsung-sourced femtocell that Sprint and Verizon have been offering (as the Airave and Wireless Network Extender, respectively) is all well and good, but it's got one fatal flaw: unlike AT&T's aptly-named 3G MicroCell, it doesn't have support for 3G data -- it's compatible with CDMA 1x alone. Verizon's fixing that later this year with an updated model from Samsung, but thanks to a fresh FCC filing, it looks like Sprint will be taking a different route by roping in Airvana for the Airave's successor. On top of EV-DO, the interesting bit about this puppy is that it supports a VoIP-routed landline connection around back; we're not sure whether Sprint actually plans on enabling this extra jack, but it's specifically mentioned in the draft manual, so we wouldn't doubt it. No word on a release just yet -- but FCC approval is frequently one of the last steps on a product's road to retail, so we might see it soon.

Sprint Airave gets remixed by Airvana, has VoIP landline and EV-DO support originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 05 Apr 2010 15:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

AT&T 3G MicroCell starting nationwide roll-out in mid-April

Chris Ziegler — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 15:13:00 EST

Unless you've been in one of a few key test markets, you've been pretty much out of luck boosting your AT&T signal in the comfortable confines of your home since the 3G MicroCell first launched -- until now. Starting in the middle of next month in a deployment that spans "several" months, customers across the country should expect to see MicroCells pop up in their local regions. The device itself will run a one-time fee of $149.99 before a $100 mail-in rebate (when purchased with a "3G MicroCell calling plan," though we don't yet know what that constitutes). Separately, there'll be a $19.99 plan bolt-on that offers unlimited calling when connected to the device -- and anyone tacking on a new U-verse or DSL line of 1.5Mbps or higher will get another $50 rebate. It's not the end of AT&T's spectrum or backhaul concerns, we're sure, but it's a start.

Update: We've just clarified -- the $19.99 bolt-on is the only one that's relevant for the $100 rebate; there are no other dedicated MicroCell calling plans, so that should make it a little easier to bring down the net cost of the unit since you don't have to change into another base plan.

AT&T 3G MicroCell starting nationwide roll-out in mid-April originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 24 Mar 2010 15:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

AT&T 3G MicroCell service spotted in Chicago?

Chris Ziegler — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 13:29:00 EST

So we're in the middle of testing our Sony Ericsson X10 here -- stay tuned for that review, by the way -- and in the course of flipping through the settings, we noticed something strange: it's reporting two 3G MicroCells nearby. Now, to the best of our knowledge, you can't buy a MicroCell in these parts -- sales are still strictly limited to a small handful of test markets -- but it makes you wonder. For what it's worth, SE shipped the phone with a GoPhone SIM, but we're not sure whether that makes a difference. We're looking into the situation and we'll report more as soon as we have it.

AT&T 3G MicroCell service spotted in Chicago? originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 19 Mar 2010 13:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

AT&T announces expanded availability of 3G MicroCell

Donald Melanson — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 16:26:00 EST

It may not be the news that folks in some particularly problematic areas have been waiting for, but AT&T has now announced that it's finally expanded availability of its 3G MicroCell beyond its initial testbed cities like Raleigh and Charlotte. The new markets apparently include some additional areas of North Carolina, along with new parts of South Carolina, Georgia, and San Diego, plus the addition of Las Vegas -- the only entirely-new market of the bunch. Hit up the link below to punch in your zipcode for exact availability, and all the necessary details to get "five bars in your own home." And if you're curious about exactly what this whole femtocell thing is about, be sure to check out our impressions of the device.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

AT&T announces expanded availability of 3G MicroCell originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 25 Feb 2010 16:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

MagicJack femtocell sure to face legal battle royale

Chris Ziegler — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 13:23:00 EST

Despite MagicJack's official announcement last week of an in-home femtocell for connecting carriers' phones directly to its service, tons of questions remain -- including most of the questions we had when we first heard of the idea. Let's recap those questions and where we stand with each of them, shall we?

Are these guys licensing spectrum from the gub'mint, sublicensing it from carriers, or just going rogue? Going rogue. Historically, this usually ends in an FCC-mandated shutdown -- and since both carriers and the CTIA will undoubtedly be throwing a fit that some company is stealing pricey spectrum for its own purposes, we're sure the pressure on the government to act will be quite high.
Are any carriers in on this, and if so, why? Nope, none. The company says that "if they were smart they would take [it] on as a partner, because all [it] could do is enhance the value they create for their customer," but presently, MagicJack's all alone.
If carriers aren't involved, why would they establish roaming deals that would allow carrier-branded phones and SIMs to roam on MagicJack's rogue airwaves? As far as we can tell, they aren't on any roaming deals.
If they're not working on roaming deals, the femtocells will need to spoof a carrier ID. Furthermore, TDMA femtocells are virtually impossible to design and install for technical reasons, which means these would have to be 3G. So MagicJack's going to offer a UMTS femtocell? It appears to be a plain-Jane GSM femtocell, which is technically interesting considering what we've heard in the past about effectively making a TDMA unit that plays nice with the surrounding network. Considering everything else we know, though, it probably doesn't play nice -- and without a roaming deal in place, they'll need to spoof. That's going to rile up both carriers and the GSMA.
Do you get to keep your phone number when you roam on the MagicFemtocell, and if so, how? For incoming calls, probably not, unless you forward to the MagicJack number.

Needless to say, both the carriers and the feds are going to have a lot to say about this product -- particularly considering that it hasn't even received FCC approval yet. If it keeps marching toward retail, we could be gearing up for one of the most entertaining legal battles of the year.

MagicJack femtocell sure to face legal battle royale originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 12 Jan 2010 13:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Samsung's 'combo' femtocell for Verizon in the wild at CES

Chris Ziegler — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 14:01:00 EST

Verizon's current Wireless Network Extender is cool and all, but it's got one huge Achilles' heel: it only does 1X data, which is pretty egregious by 2010 standards (or 2007 standards, for that matter). Enter Samsung's revised 'combo' femtocell, so named because it offers both 1X and EV-DO service simultaneously. It's got support for up to eight connections -- up from the original unit's four -- and sports a decidedly more retro look that we're not sure we love. Really, though, who cares how it looks -- you stuff it behind a bookcase and you've got five bars of 3G around the home. Samsung's placard says we can expect this to launch in the second quarter of the year, so stay tuned.

Gallery: Samsung's 'combo' femtocell for Verizon in the wild at CES

Samsung's 'combo' femtocell for Verizon in the wild at CES originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 09 Jan 2010 14:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

MagicJack makes a femtocell, might make that advertising worth hearing

Tim Stevens — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 04:29:00 EST

Femtocells now offer cell phone service for $1.70 a month with MagicJack! That's just $19.95 a year. $19.95 a year! MagicJack's femtocell works with mobile phones "potentially" from any carrier, though only GSM is mentioned. Apparently just coming within eight feet connects your phone to the femtocell, after which you can supposedly travel anywhere you like in the house. Calls through the femtocell won't use your minutes. Replace your phone company or get a second line, with MagicJack!

Continue reading MagicJack makes a femtocell, might make that advertising worth hearing

MagicJack makes a femtocell, might make that advertising worth hearing originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 08 Jan 2010 04:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

AT&T to offer 'incentives' to customers willing to limit data usage

Donald Melanson — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 12:55:00 EST

AT&T exec #1: You know, our network's really getting slammed with all these people using their unlimited data plans to download things and do stuff online all the time. Any ideas how we can fix it?

AT&T exec #2: We could put out more WiFi hotspots. People seem to use those. Sometimes.

AT&T exec #1: Sure, but that's not going to make a dent in places like New York City. I mean, have you used an iPhone there?

AT&T exec #2: We have these things called MicroCells that people can use at home, if they live in North Carolina. Maybe more people could use those?

AT&T exec #1: Yeah, that's good. But people like to use their cellphones outside their house too. What happens then?

AT&T exec #2: Well, what if we offered customers incentives to use less data?

AT&T exec #1: Now you're talking! What sort of incentives could get them to do that?

AT&T exec #2: Hmm....

Well, readers, are there any incentives that would get you to use less data? Feel free to offer your suggestions for AT&T in the comments below. And don't worry about actually paying more for data (yet, anyway), as AT&T 's Ralph de la Vega is now saying that "we have not made any decision to implement tiered pricing," which is a slight backtrack from previous hints to the contrary.

AT&T to offer 'incentives' to customers willing to limit data usage originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 17 Dec 2009 12:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

China Unicom, Huawei rolling out '3G Inn' femtocell service

Chris Ziegler — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 12:05:00 EST

China's carriers still have their work cut out for them to deliver wide-area 3G services nationwide, but they're already looking to get into the business of augmenting that coverage with femtocells -- probably not a bad strategy, considering the time and money involved in erecting towers in every nook and cranny of the country. China Unicom -- the carrier using UMTS as its 3G weapon of choice -- has partnered up with Huawei to deliver its 3G Inn femtocell solution that promises up to 7.2Mbps downstream. That's about 7.1Mbps faster than Verizon and Sprint's Samsung-sourced units, by our rough math -- of course, those older Sammies are 1xRTT-only, so it's good to see that newer units are stepping on the gas around the world. Right now, 3G Inn's only rolling in Beijing, but the carrier looks to eventually expand the service around the country.

China Unicom, Huawei rolling out '3G Inn' femtocell service originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 16 Dec 2009 12:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

How would you change AT&T's 3G MicroCell?

Darren Murph — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 23:51:00 EST

We know, we know -- AT&T's 3G MicroCell isn't even out nationwide yet, but for those select markets that have access, we're hoping you'll chime in on the pros and cons as to enlighten the other folks before their time comes. By and large, the GSM femotocell works exactly like the Airave for Sprint, though this one does fully support 3G data as well as simultaneous voice and data usage. For those that have taken the plunge: are you satisfied with the value proposition? Is reception really any better? Have you ditched your landline yet? What would you change about the service or billing? Voice your opinion on the matter below, and remember, life doesn't present you with many chances such as this. Wouldn't want to waste it, now would we?

How would you change AT&T's 3G MicroCell? originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 27 Nov 2009 23:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

SFR becomes second Euro carrier to launch femtocell service

Chris Ziegler — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 12:05:00 EST

Following Vodafone's lead, France's SFR has now become the second network operator in Europe to launch femtocell service for its signal-strapped customers. The Ubiquisys-sourced unit is being sold under the SFR Home 3G brand and runs €199 ($300), so you'd better really need a couple extra bars before you take the plunge -- though the good news is that they're not laying down any arbitrary restrictions requiring you to use it with SFR's DSL service. Coincidentally, SFR is minority-owned by Vodafone, so the move makes some sense -- so whether femtocells take off in Europe among any carriers without Voda interest remains to be seen.

SFR becomes second Euro carrier to launch femtocell service originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 25 Nov 2009 12:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Samsung's Ubicell CDMA base station going 3G in 2010

Ross Miller — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 00:27:00 EST

We're all for upping our cell service in-home, so a few cheers to Samsung for upgrading its Ubicell personal CDMA base station to 3G. Joining the femtocell party in 2010, all we know beyond its primary directive is built-in GPS for more accurate E911 calls. Mum's the word on price, carriers, or any more definitive launch date. The last Ubicell (pictured) was launched with Verizon, so nah, we wouldn't be the least bit surprised if this one here followed in its ancestor's footsteps.

Filed under: Peripherals, CDMA

Samsung's Ubicell CDMA base station going 3G in 2010 originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 17 Nov 2009 00:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Samsung's Ubicell CDMA base station going 3G in 2010

Ross Miller — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 00:27:00 EST

Filed under: Cellphones, Networking

Samsung's Ubicell CDMA base station going 3G in 2010 originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 17 Nov 2009 00:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

AT&T 3G MicroCell unboxing and impressions

Darren Murph — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 13:19:00 EST

We've already seen AT&T's 3G MicroCell picked up by a few desperate Charlotteans, but for those residing in North Carolina's only city to own a professional sports championship (sorry, Panthers), their time has finally come to secure what just might be the most anticipated femtocell debut in the states. You heard right -- Raleigh, NC has become AT&T's second test market for the device you're peering at above, and starting today, those in and around the Triangle can procure one from their local store. Needless to say, we jumped at the chance to give the unit a go, so feel free to hop on past the break if you're on the hunt for a few more impressions.

Gallery: AT&T 3G MicroCell unboxing and impressions

Continue reading AT&T 3G MicroCell unboxing and impressions

Filed under: Peripherals, ATT, GSM, EDGE, HSDPA

AT&T 3G MicroCell unboxing and impressions originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 28 Sep 2009 13:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

AT&T 3G MicroCell unboxing and impressions

Darren Murph — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 13:19:00 EST

Gallery: AT&T 3G MicroCell unboxing and impressions

Continue reading AT&T 3G MicroCell unboxing and impressions

Filed under: Cellphones, Wireless

AT&T 3G MicroCell unboxing and impressions originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 28 Sep 2009 13:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

AT&T's 3G MicroCell tested and reviewed by Charlottean: yes, it works

Darren Murph — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 12:08:00 EST

For those who missed the torrent of 3G MicroCell news yesterday, here's the long and short of it: the Cisco-built device is now on sale, but only in Charlotte, North Carolina. One fortunate Charlottean managed to scoop one up, but rather than keeping the experience to himself, he decided to bang out a full review for the rest of the world to see. By and large, Jason's experience with the femtocell mirrored our own with Sprint's AIRAVE. Installation and setup was a breeze, and once it was booted up and operational, it worked like a charm. Before picking this up, he was seeing one bar of EDGE (if he was lucky); afterwards, his entire house was blanketed with five bars of 3G. Not surprisingly, he noted that the before and after difference when fielding calls was "night and day," but he did take the opportunity to bark at the lofty $150 price tag. But hey, those desperate enough will cough up anything to actually use their phone, right?

Filed under: Peripherals, ATT, GSM, EDGE, HSDPA

AT&T's 3G MicroCell tested and reviewed by Charlottean: yes, it works originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 22 Sep 2009 12:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

AT&T's 3G MicroCell tested and reviewed by Charlottean: yes, it works

Darren Murph — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 12:08:00 EST

Filed under: Cellphones, Wireless

AT&T's 3G MicroCell tested and reviewed by Charlottean: yes, it works originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 22 Sep 2009 12:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

AT&T's 3G MicroCell gets unboxed, looks sufficiently cute

Darren Murph — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 18:03:00 EST

It's sort of outrageous how much publicity AT&T's very own femtocell has garnered here lately, particularly when you realize that it's limited to the Charlotte, North Carolina area alone. But look -- did you really expect us to pass up what appears to be the very first unboxing of the 3G MicroCell? No, you didn't. Hit the read link if you're somehow not quite past the point of saturation, and be sure to have a peek past the break for an unexpected treat.

[Thanks, Aaron]

Continue reading AT&T's 3G MicroCell gets unboxed, looks sufficiently cute

Filed under: Peripherals, ATT, GSM, EDGE, HSDPA

AT&T's 3G MicroCell gets unboxed, looks sufficiently cute originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 21 Sep 2009 18:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

AT&T's 3G MicroCell gets unboxed, looks sufficiently cute

Darren Murph — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 18:03:00 EST

Continue reading AT&T's 3G MicroCell gets unboxed, looks sufficiently cute

Filed under: Cellphones, Wireless

AT&T's 3G MicroCell gets unboxed, looks sufficiently cute originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 21 Sep 2009 18:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

China Mobile, Nokia Siemens team up to show first TD-LTE femtocell

Chris Ziegler — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 16:54:00 EST

LTE's being designed to support deployment in both frequency division (FD-LTE) and time division (TD-LTE) modes depending on bandwidth allocation and the legacy network that's being upgraded, and in China Mobile's case, they're looking at possibly rolling out a mix -- TD-LTE makes for an elegant and inexpensive upgrade path when you're starting with another tech with "TD" in its name, TD-SCDMA. Carriers around the world are looking to lean heavily on femtocells to boost LTE footprint out of the gate, and to that end, China Mobile has teamed up with Nokia Siemens -- a company that's been pushing a number of "world's firsts" lately -- to show off the first functional TD-LTE femtocell demo by streaming video over a base station in the carrier's labs. It's still a ways off yet before customers will actually have these tucked away in the corners of their homes, but it's a step in the right direction.

Filed under: China Mobile, LTE

China Mobile, Nokia Siemens team up to show first TD-LTE femtocell originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 21 Sep 2009 16:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

AT&T's 3G MicroCell runs $150 in Charlotte trial, service is free without unlimited calling

Chris Ziegler — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 13:37:00 EST

Gearlog has scooped pricing details on AT&T's entry into the up-and-coming femtocell market, the 3G MicroCell, where it's currently undergoing a public market trial in Charlotte, North Carolina -- and basically, it's a decent deal as long as you don't want unlimited calling. Stores are charging $150 for the unit itself and service is free (similar to Verizon's model, though Verizon charges $100 more upfront and the unit doesn't do 3G); if you want to tack on unlimited calling, you're paying another $20 a month unless you have some combination of AT&T landline or DSL service at your address. $20 is properly insane, though in exchange, the carrier throws you a bone with a $100 rebate on the device. All they've got to do is drop that unlimited service down to $10 a month to bring 'em in line with Sprint and T-Mobile and put some pressure on Verizon, which still doesn't offer any unlimited add-on.

[Via Mac Rumors]

Filed under: Cellphones, Wireless

AT&T's 3G MicroCell runs $150 in Charlotte trial, service is free without unlimited calling originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 21 Sep 2009 13:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

AT&T's 3G MicroCell runs $150 in Charlotte trial, service is free without unlimited calling

Chris Ziegler — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 13:37:00 EST

Filed under: ATT

AT&T's 3G MicroCell runs $150 in Charlotte trial, service is free without unlimited calling originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 21 Sep 2009 13:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

AT&T: 3G MicroCell and its pricing structure are in 'public trial,' Charlotte only for now

Chris Ziegler — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 10:38:00 EST

AT&T has let us know this morning that the 3G MicroCell site revealed last night is currently supporting a "public trial" in Charlotte, North Carolina alone -- and perhaps more importantly, pricing (including that $20 unlimited, we presume) is being considered a part of that trial. Unfortunately, they've got "no other announcements to make at this time," so it's anyone's guess when this will wrap up and the rest of the country can get its hands on some "more bars in your places" (to quote the MicroCell's perky introductory videos). We'll update you as soon as we know more.

Filed under: Cellphones, Wireless

AT&T: 3G MicroCell and its pricing structure are in 'public trial,' Charlotte only for now originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 21 Sep 2009 10:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

AT&T: 3G MicroCell and its pricing structure are in 'public trial,' Charlotte only for now

Chris Ziegler — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 10:38:00 EST

Filed under: ATT

AT&T: 3G MicroCell and its pricing structure are in 'public trial,' Charlotte only for now originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 21 Sep 2009 10:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

AT&T's 3G MicroCell site goes live

Chris Ziegler — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 00:35:00 EST

We still don't have all the details we'd like on pricing and availability, but AT&T's official 3G MicroCell site is now up and running where you can enjoy some video overviews and get a good gander at what the finished product looks like (it's way better than the version briefly shown a few months back, if you ask us). Availability of an unlimited calling add-on is confirmed here, and any calls that originate on the MicroCell before being handed off to AT&T's old-school towers will be kept completely out of your minute bucket as long as you sign up for the unlimited package. Also notable is that the carrier officially recommends placing the box near a window so that its GPS receiver can get reception -- like its cousins on Sprint and Verizon, the MicroCell includes GPS so that it can't be used out of the country. So far we're not able to find a ZIP code that works with the availability checker (including the rumored limited release markets mentioned last week), so if you get through, give us a shout.

[Thanks, joe_smith55]

Update: ZIP code 28201 works, though it doesn't let you see plans or buy online -- it just hooks you up with the addresses and phone numbers of nearby stores. There'll be a few calls being made in the morning, eh? Thanks, ryan0816!

Filed under: Cellphones, Wireless

AT&T's 3G MicroCell site goes live originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 21 Sep 2009 00:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

AT&T's 3G MicroCell site goes live

Chris Ziegler — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 00:35:00 EST

Filed under: ATT

AT&T's 3G MicroCell site goes live originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 21 Sep 2009 00:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments