AT&T 3G Microcell kills dead spots in Charlotte

att-3g-microcell-handson

AT&T’s 3G Microcell is now officially ready to put the smack down on wireless dead spots in AT&T’s 3G network. The 3G Microcell basically crams a miniature cellular tower into its cable modem-sized package, giving signal-seekers full strength reception for both voice and data services. If you live or work in a building that stops AT&T’s signal at the door, the 3G Microcell should help you put an end reception woes. But, only if you’re in Charlotte, N.C.

The 3G Microcell femtocell (read more on femtocells here) hooks up to a broadband internet connectino and can handle simultaneous voice and 3G data communications – a feature its two main competitors Sprint and Verizon can’t claim with their respective femtocells. That means you’ll not only get to make five-bar-strong voice calls in your home, you’ll be able to surf AT&T’s 3G network at full speed. The 3G Microcell is a subscription-free device, so the only cost to AT&T customers is the initial $150 purchase price.

But that’s still a hard pill to swallow. AT&T is essentially asking customers in dead spots to pay out of their own pockets for access to the network. Building cellular base stations around the US costs money – a lot of money. The AT&T 3G Microcell basically allows AT&T to fill in the gaps in their network one building at a time, and at the customer’s expense.

This is how a femtocell works

On the other hand, it’s almost impossible to expect any wireless carrier to completely blanket the US with a seamless network. The femtocell is a compromise, but at least it’s a compromise that delivers on its promise. In fact, femtocells from Verizon and Sprint have been selling well despite higher price points and lesser features. And, T-Mobile has been successful with its WiFi-based HotSpot @Home UMA service.

For now, AT&T has launched their 3G Microcell in Charlotte. It’s not clear when other markets will be added, but a previous report pinned the nationwide roll-out on early Q4 2009. Those North Carolinians lucky enough to have an AT&T dead spot at home can get their hands on the 3G Microcell for $150.

Check out AT&T’s new 3G Microcell page here.

[Via: Mashable; Image credit: Engadget]

About The Author

Will Park

Will hails from The City of Angels - Los Angeles, California. He spends his time playing with his numerous gadgets and looking forward to seeing what future holds for mobile technology. An avid promoter of a fully "digital" life, he promotes the widespread adoption of truly mobile, paper-less living. He dreams of the day when he can go completely digital. No more snail mail, paper receipts, bound books, notepads/spiral notebooks, credit cards, hard currency. He's a digital warrior - fighting for the converged life. He is an idealist and a realist - he has a perfect view of what the world should be but knows that the world is not perfect. Can we ever hope to see Will's dream become reality? We'll see...

John

At&t is a scam artist. Avoid it at all costs. I was told I would receive a rebate in 4-6 weeks for the modem I purchased 2 months ago. The sales representative at the store filled in all of the information on the rebate form and informed me that all I had to do was fill out my address and mail it in. I never received the rebate. When I called to find out why not, I was told, well even though we received all of your paperwork, we canceled your rebate because the ‘skew’ number was not written on the form. After complaining and threatening to stop paying my bill altogether I was finally transferred to a supervisor who admitted that the skew number was on the receipt I provided, but that they had not bothered to input it into their system so that I could receive my rebate. I may receive the rebate in another six weeks! Everyone else who purchased a modem at that store (and likely all over the country) who does not call to complain will not receive their $100 rebate. This is an organized scam for At&t to steel millions of dollars from its customers. Someone should sue them for false advertisement and theft. Where is the alpha?
Shimmy

I’ll admit, the people in the rebate dept aren’t exactly the sharpest people…but I actually very rarely get calls from people who have rebate problems anymore. It unfortunately sounds like you had a lot of bad luck with this situation, and I’m glad that you were at least be able to get some kind of resolution.

In the future, I’d just double check every single thing on the rebate form before sending it in, and making copies of everything you send in. Or, go through a place that doesn’t do rebates, like Best Buy.
Vern C

My cell phones are not 3G, do I have to go out and buy 2 new cell phones that support 3G? If so then it gets expensive.
Vern