AT&T [T] have launched the Microcell 3G device that aims to give those in bad reception areas a signal to use their phones over a broadband connection.
The 3G Microcell device attaches up to your home router and creates a small femtocell network in your home and routes calls over your broadband connection to AT&T and on to the person who you want to call. It allows for several sessions at once to be active and can transmit both voice and data over the Microcell device. AT&T comment that the 3G Microcell device is the only one of it’s kind that supports both 3G data and voice services.
The device is built by Cisco [CSCO] and will cost $149.99 when launched and have no other costs associated unless you want to upgrade the services.
Once purchased and activated you can log in to a console at AT&T and specify numbers that are allowed to connect to the device preventing others nearby using the service without your authorisation. Up to 10 lines can be specified for use with 4 phones being able to use the service at any given time.
When calls are made you use your regular minutes and no charges are incurred on the Microcell device with the $150 being a one off payment.
In addition, AT&T will offer a companion rate plan option for MicroCell customers especially customers on Family Talk plans ” who want to supplement their existing voice plans. For $19.99 a month, individual or Family Talk customers can make unlimited calls through a 3G MicroCell, without using minutes in their monthly wireless voice plan.
If you do decide to opt for the above mentioned calling plans then you can get the 3G Microcell for $50 as opposed to $150 by using a $100 mail in rebate.
Although I can’t say I’d enjoy having to buy a device to boost a signal for a company I am paying to get a signal from in the first place, I could still be tempted if I was in a far out location where I’d normally expect reception to be bad (assuming I could also get broadband at that far out location).
More details available over at AT&T.
Via: Giz
Can’t wait until Verizon gets iphone contract. Then we don’t need to pay AT&T their blood money to get the reception that Verizon already offers!