AT&T Starts Rolling Out 3G Microcells

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By Chris Scott Barr

Way back in January we told you that AT&T was rolling out a 3G femtocell for their customers. Of course it’s now September and we’ve hardly heard another word about it. I’ve been anxiously awaiting its release, as I get almost no signal in my house. I’d like to ditch my home phone, but with the unreliable service, I can’t justify it. Thankfully, it seems as though the mobile giant is finally rolling out these devices.

AT&T’s new 3G Micrcell is officially available to the general public, but only in Charlotte, NC. For those in the area, they can purchase the device for $150. There is no monthly fee, however, you will still use your minutes while making calls if you don’t already have landline or DSL service with AT&T. If you have neither and want unlimited calls, you can pay $20 a month (and get a $100 rebate on the hardware).

I’d like to say something about why you shouldn’t need one of these, but in all honesty, there are some places where it’s just not possible to get signal. I live in a rather large town, and I have full 3G signal everywhere except in the small valley where I live. Short of putting in a new tower in the valley itself (which wouldn’t affect enough people to justify the cost) I’ll never get better reception. I’d be ecstatic to get one of these and drop my monthly home phone bill. If you’re listening AT&T, lets go ahead and start rolling these out in Indiana ASAP.

[ AT&T ] VIA [ Crave ]

4 COMMENTS

  1. AT&Ts lack of full coverage is why I switched to Sprint. Even living in a major Metropolitan area like Chicago, I would get service every other block (if I was lucky) and I would have to hang out my dining room window just to use my cell phone. Glad AT&T is FINALLY working on a fix (8 years too late).

    Fastest G3 network? Yeah at dropping calls!

  2. This is not an adequate measure to address lack of proper network infrastructure investment. With these on the market, why build towers at all? Just tell the customer that their problems with QoS are due to not purchasing the proper equipment. With AT&T also selling home internet access this can, in effect, double-bill the customer for AT&T's lack of proper coverage.

  3. I just bought a Wi-Ex extender for my apartment. We went from zero bars to full bars. I live on the bottom floor of my apartment building in San Francisco, and get full bars outside. Until they use signals that better penetrate buildings, this is the way to go. Building owners should offer it as an amenity.

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