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SFR becomes second Euro carrier to launch femtocell service
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.
SerComm intros 3G femtocell / DSL WiFi router combo
Ubiquisys is on a serious tear here at Mobile World Congress, dishing out not one, but two partnerships in the integrated home gateway arena. If you'll recall, we already heard that said outfit has helped Netgear push out a femtocell / DSL WiFi router combo, and now it looks like SerComm will be doing likewise. Its FC210U is now readily available to deliver increased cellular coverage, WiFi and DSL services in homes, though you can bet this one's currently reserved for markets not named USA. Which is a crying shame, for the record.
Netgear to demo femtocell / WiFi router combo at MWC
Netgear and Ubiquisys have been toying with this whole femtocell residential gateway thing for years on end, but it looks like the stars are aligning for a full-scale demonstration at Mobile World Congress. For those who can't quite remember back, what we'll be seeing is an all-in-one contraption that essentially combines a femtocell with an ADSL2+ WLAN router, giving users extended cellphone range and providing traditional WiFi services in one handy box. Sadly, we aren't told where or when the DVG834GH will be released, but given just how pervasive these femtocells are becoming in America, we'd say they better hurry up and lock down a provider. Or, you know, just leave it open for us to choose.
Netgear, Ubiquisys develop femtocell residential gateway
It wouldn't be too surprising to see a networking firm and a developer of intelligent 3G femtocell access points work in harmony to crank out a dazzling all-in-one contraption, and it looks like Netgear and Ubiquisys have done just that. Aiming to simultaneously enable mobile operators to provide enhanced cellular coverage in the home and allow consumers to access and control a range of home networking services via standard 3G handsets, the two have joined forces to stuff Ubiquisys' ZoneGate into future Netgear WAPs. The currently unnamed solution will reportedly pack an integrated DSL modem, WiFi, VoIP, and 3G femtocell technology into a single box, and while it's not scheduled to go commercial until early next year at best, operator testing should go live by Q4 of 2007.
