Archive for September, 2009

Ever experience a cell phone “dead zones” in your house?

AT&T’s solution to this is simple,just place a “mini cellular tower” called 3G Microcell in areas of your home where AT&T cell phone coverage is awful. There user can simply
plug the 3G Microcell to a high-speed Internet line and make and receive clear internet calls.

The technolgy behind this concept is called femtocell and is not  new. Other wireless provider like Verizon, Sprint Airave and T-Mobile each had launched theru version as early as 2007 (T-Mobile’s launched Hotspot@Home ). And that’s not the only competition that AT&T will need to deal with.

Majority of the consumers, in particular the Web community don’t really like the price tag behind this late comer.  AT& T’s charge a USD150 for the 3G Microcell hard ware and offer plans of $19.99 a month for unlimited use, and $9.99 if you subscribe to AT&T Wireless and home phone service. Only when you get wireless, landline and Internet service from AT&T, then its free.  A quick comparison to other competitors and you will know why are thery upset about as follows

Verizon Wireless’s Network Extender

Up Front Cost $250
Monthly Fee: Zero

Sprint’s Airave

Upfront Cost: $100
Monthly fee : $5
Monthly Fee(Optional) $10 for unlimited calls.

T-Mobile’s HotSpot @ Home

Upfront Fee: Zero ( no hardware needed, only your own wireless router,
Monthly Fee: $10 a month,
Limitation:It only works with phones that have UMA support.

Nevertheless, AT&T will only be released as a public market trial in Charlotte N.C., there is no news when they will lauch it to the rest of the nation.