AT&T New Wireless Plans And Femtocell (Microcell) Costs More?

AT&T New Wireless Plans And Femtocell  http://snapvoip.blogspot.com/
As usual Andy from VoIP Watch has brought up a questions and three answers regarding AT&T's press release on new wireless plans yesterday or rather what is not in the press release,

"The other detail missing from the press release is the apparent fact that femtocell traffic ("Microcell" in AT&T parlance) is *included* in counting towards the quota, but WiFi traffic is *excluded*." Dean Bubley

that makes you think AT&T is out to gouge you while helping other carriers like cable gouge you as well. You might find paying for the same service twice. Here are Andy's answers, you can find the question on Andy's post;

1) You pay AT&T for the traffic even if it really isn't going over their wireless network
2) You will pay for the the pleasure of having a Microcell in your own network, possibly carrying your neighbors traffic because of coverage gaps in the AT&T network
3) Users are better off using WiFi

VoIP Watch

AT&T 3G MicroCell Coming At The End Of 2009!

AT&T 3G MicroCell
Since we reported about the AT&T's debut into femtocell market, the original page where the above logo came from has been locked away. If you are wondering what this femtocell and microcell is read, AT&T 3G MicroCell Out But Where?

According to unstrung, AT&T's executive director for radio access network delivery, Gordon Mansfield at the Femtocells World Summit in London has confirmed that about 200 users are testing the femto service in targeted customer trials.I am sure those are happy as rabbits with their bars on cell phones multiplying and staying top. Unstrung also mentioned that the device is, as we thought it was femtocell device is supposed to have been made by Cisco.

Mr.Mansfield has also mentioned, "we will expand that into a marketing trial of the AT&T-branded 3G Microcell, which will be open to customers through our AT&T stores… in a handful of cities.

"We're on track for a full national launch by the end of 2009."

Mansfield also confirmed that AT&T will launch with a standalone 3G femtocell, (as opposed to a femtocell that's integrated into a residential gateway). But integrated femtocells are not out of the picture either, "Certainly we're looking at integrated femtocells," said Mansfield "Some people think that integration is putting a femto into a residential gateway, and that's one aspect."

Unstrung

Tags: femtocell, AT&T 3G MicroCell, Cisco

AT&T 3G MicroCell Out But Where?

http://snapvoip.blogspot.com/
There is a page for registering and managing the device, 3G MicroCell. (The page says it is under maintenance when I visited it last) but I have not been able to uncover any more information than the photo and some operational information.
If you are wondering what the 3G MicroCell is, it is your own little micro cell tower to be placed at home or at office. It covers 5000 foot square area and gives you to talk without doing those funny (sometimes not so funny) acts you do when there is no signal.
AT&T 3G MicroCell is capable of servicing upto 4 cell phone connections via internet if the reception is weak in any area. The internet connection has to a broadband connection to support the bandwidth needs. The femtocell device is supposed to have been made by Cisco.
Following the practice of Sprint and Verizon, AT&T allows you to configure the 3G Microcell to select which phones will be able to access the service and the service is supposed to provide unlimited talk time if the calls are made throught he device. But if you were thinking of using it abroad to make cheap calls, forget it. It is supposed to carry a GPS device and only allowed to use within AT&T service area.
BGR has some screen shots related to this device and some more information.

Tags: femtocell, AT&T 3G MicroCell, Cisco