AT&T 3G MicroCell to cost $150, require no monthly fees

[AppleInsider]

Users have reported AT&T's new 3G MicroCell has been test launched in the Charlotte, North Carolina market, with a $150 price tag and no required monthly fees.

A report published by GearLog answered some outstanding questions about the new device presented earlier.

Citing an AT&T representative in Charlotte, the report said the femtocell device provides 3.2Mbit/sec 3G service, which is on par with AT&T's existing towers in areas of ideal service, but not the maximum 7.2MBit/sec speed supported by the iPhone 3GS. Of course, most users won't be using the device's 3G for data, as they presumably will be using WiFi for that.

What the device will do is blanket 5,000 square feet (about a 40 foot radius from the device) of home or office space with excellent voice, text, and data service coverage to prevent dropped calls or delayed messages. SMS messages, like voice calls, require mobile data service and can't be sent over WiFi.

AT&T's device will support up to four users making simultaneous calls, and up to ten users on 3G standby available for incoming calls and messages. In order to support that bandwidth, the 3G MicroCell needs to be connected to an appropriately fast broadband connection. Typical DSL service provides 1.5Mbit/sec downloads and 0.7Mbit/sec uploads; a voice call consumes around 0.04Mbit/sec upload and download.

Cost of use

The upfront cost of AT&T's 3G MicroCell fits between Sprint's $99 Airave and Verizon's $250 Network Extender offering, although AT&T's supports fast 3G voice and data with UMTS features such as multiple party calling; Sprint and Verizon only offer relatively slow, legacy 2G CDMA2000 service.

Sprint also charges a $5 monthly "Enhanced Coverage Charge" fee just to use the Airave product, in addition to an activation fee. This makes AT&T's 3G MicroCell the cheapest option for users who just want to patch a dead service hole for their mobile, and of course the only option for iPhone users.

For $10 per month, Sprint allows unlimited calling for calls made using the device. That option will cost $20 on AT&T, but will be optional for users who want it. Verizon does not offer a "bring your own pipe" unlimited calling option at any price. Calls originated on a femtocell device are handed off to the mobile network if you leave the coverage area during the call, but remain counted against that unlimited coverage plan.

Opting for AT&T's $20 per month MicroCell unlimited calling plan is relatively expensive, costing an extra $240 over two years. However, compared with the $960 users could save by downgrading their exiting $120 unlimited mobile plan for a 900 minute, $80 contract, the option can provide a large net savings for users who place most of their calls from a single location.

AT&T's new device, which should begin being rolled out across the nation over the next several weeks, will allow users who live or work in dead spots to solve the issue themselves without waiting for AT&T's network improvement plans to reach them. That promises to help Apple's sales of the iPhone, which users in some areas have been forced to return due to specific service outages where they live or work.



The ability for users to offload traffic from AT&T's existing mobile network onto their own Internet connection for "last mile" service between their phone and AT&T's back end may also help balance the company's remaining bandwidth available to other users, effectively crowd-sourcing the problem of keeping up with the iPhone's voracious appetite for bandwidth.

[stokessd]

AT&T is asking the customers to pay more money and use the connectivity they paid somebody else for to compensate for their shoddy network. Well done AT&T, you guys suck and you NEED to fix your network. You (AT&T) are getting a giant pile of money from iPhone users, you could, you-know, use it to improve the network you own.

IF the network didn't suck, there would be no need for this product. Thanks for the suck...

Sheldon

[camroidv27]

So, in all four cases, in order to improve the cell company's service, you have to BUY a mini-tower for your home/office? Last I checked, schools rented out their light posts to cell companies so they could put cell towers on them for a few extra bucks. They wouldn't be there if it were the other way around since we all know how much money schools have (especially in my state!)

On top of that, since it uses the internet to do its magic, one has to have a high speed internet connection (correct me if I am wrong here) which is an added cost. I'm sure the ISP is going to love the extra load on their network since AT&T can't get coverage where they should have.

Lets add the idea that if this is used in an office or home, and most offices and homes already have a land line phone, then isn't this a little redundant? I know that call forwarding on a cell phone has been around since 2002, and you can set it to forward to another number when you are out of service areas. (I haven't checked an iPhone, but I know my old school free Nokia from 2002 had this feature).


Anyhow, I just have a big problem with having to PAY the telco's more money for cleaning up their own coverage / bandwidth mess. (I'm not saying just AT&T here, though from what I hear around here, they are the ones with the most problems.)

[iansilv]

Why don't these assholes* knock 10% off people's bills' who install it? I mean, it allows anyone to connect their cell phones and 3g right? Where's sideways-head-guy to talk about this and ask us to have compassion for AT&T?






* by assholes, I mean AT&T

[iphonedeveloperthailand]

Over here in Thailand we get unlimited data plan (edge, 3g, tethering and wifi) for only $17 per month.

[ghostface147]

Originally Posted by stokessd

IF the network didn't suck, there would be no need for this product. Thanks for the suck...

Sheldon

T-Mobile and Sprint offer the same thing. So I guess 3 out of 4 networks suck. Verizon doesn't suck only because they don't have devices that pound their network. Bunch of chickens.

[wobegon]

So, is the $20/month fee for unlimited voice in addition to the customer's monthly iPhone voice/data plan?

Or would this replace the user's voice/data plan, making it so they pay just $20 per month for unlimited voice (aside from the upfront $150 for the microcell and the monthly wired DSL internet fee)? Also, this is only available to AT&T DSL users, right?

[camroidv27]

Originally Posted by wobegon

So, is the $20/month fee for unlimited voice in addition to the customer's iPhone voice/data plan?

Or would this replace the user's voice/data plan, making it so they pay just $20 per month for unlimited voice (aside from the upfront $150 for the microcell and wired broadband plan)?

Its in addition to.

[noexpectations]

5 Bars all thru out my house.....I can get this unlimited plan for $20 a month and get rid of my landline which costs $50 per month......I'm ahead by $30 a month!

[Foo2]

What's the price then for unlimited on a Family Plan? Is it $20/month add'l per handset?

[addabox]

Holy shit, did everybody get smacked in the head with a two by for at the same time?

The $20/month unlimited via the femtocell is in addition to any plan you already have. As the article points out, if you're already paying for unlimited and you run up a lot of minutes at your home or office where the device could be installed, you'd come out ahead by downgrading to a 900 minute plan.

As far as what AT&T "should" be doing, meh. As has been pointed out, other carriers offer femtocells for local coverage and charge more, so the usual AT&T sucks mantra doesn't make much sense, in this case. Not saying there aren't legitimate grievances, but automatic unconsidered AT&T hate is foolish.

At any rate, one time charge of $150 doesn't strike me as that onerous if I happen to live in an area with poor coverage and it gives me great coverage.

In case we're still having trouble with reading comprehension, short of springing for unlimited, I don't have to pay any additional monthly fees after that.

[macdanboy]

OK so I have 3 iphones, wife, daughter and of course mine. I make as many calls from work as I do at home and my daughter is in college off campus in a house and I visit her several times a month. So if I buy 3 of these units, does the $20/month cover me across all 3 units or am I looking at potentially $60 a month for my phone and $20/month for the wife and daughters phones? If its the $60 option ($20/Microcell/phone) AT&T might want to check with the Feds and see if they can add it to nationalized health care and ram it down our throats.

[floccus]

Originally Posted by addabox

Holy shit, did everybody get smacked in the head with a two by for at the same time?

The $20/month unlimited via the femtocell is in addition to any plan you already have. As the article points out, if you're already paying for unlimited and you run up a lot of minutes at your home or office where the device could be installed, you'd come out ahead by downgrading to a 900 minute plan.

As far as what AT&T "should" be doing, meh. As has been pointed out, other carriers offer femtocells for local coverage and charge more, so the usual AT&T sucks mantra doesn't make much sense, in this case. Not saying there aren't legitimate grievances, but automatic unconsidered AT&T hate is foolish.

At any rate, one time charge of $150 doesn't strike me as that onerous if I happen to live in an area with poor coverage and it gives me great coverage.

In case we're still having trouble with reading comprehension, short of springing for unlimited, I don't have to pay any additional monthly fees after that.

Yay, some one who isn't stupid!!!

[walshbj]

Why not free unlimited SMS? Should it not be treated like voice on the MicroCell? What's the difference?

I know - SMS pricing was bogus without the MicroCell -- so there's no reason it shouldn't be bogus pricing with it too.

[solipsism]

I disagree with the people that think it should be free. Don’t get me wrong, I think that AT&T is making out like bandits to get the consumer to pay for a device that not only gives the customer service but will also alleviate activity on their network; I just don’t think that it’s logistically feasible to give it away to anyone that wants it as people who don’t need it will get one, thus abusing the system and likely reducing supply to those that really do need it.

I think that AT&T should require a deposit for the device and then reimburse a small amount off their bill each month for its use or just hold the deposit in an interest yielding account until the device is returned to them.

[LE Studios]

Originally Posted by wobegon

So, is the $20/month fee for unlimited voice in addition to the customer's monthly iPhone voice/data plan?

Or would this replace the user's voice/data plan, making it so they pay just $20 per month for unlimited voice (aside from the upfront $150 for the microcell and the monthly wired DSL internet fee)? Also, this is only available to AT&T DSL users, right?

Well I may consider this after I get a Upgrade from Comcast to Extreme 50 where I get 50Mbps Downloads and 10Mbps Uploads. I get this after that then AT&T Unlimited that's $100 plus $30 for Data then $20 for Unlimited text and now $20 MicroCell Tower. I get it just gotta make money. All of this is a bit much to have a phone service with a iPhone 3GS. I don't have a home phone I use my cell for everything so yeah I will get this.

[noexpectations]

http://www.wireless.att.com:80/learn/why/3gmicrocell/

This is very nice for those of us where signals are blocked by natural (or man made) barriers.

[GQB]

Ok... so when does the rest of the country get this? I'm tired of having to crawl up onto the roof to make a call.

[graf1k]

Originally Posted by iansilv

Why don't these assholes* knock 10% off people's bills' who install it? I mean, it allows anyone to connect their cell phones and 3g right? Where's sideways-head-guy to talk about this and ask us to have compassion for AT&T?






* by assholes, I mean AT&T

Actually from what I read yesterday about MicroCell on Engadet I believe, other people will be blocked out from using your MicroCell which makes sense because your neighbors could jump on your MicroCell all the time, potentially blocking you out from using it, while eating up your internet bandwidth at the same time.

This might end up being quite popular in my household if the unlimited calling on the MicroCell includes overseas calls (which I doubt).

[iansilv]

Originally Posted by iphonedeveloperthailand

Over here in Thailand we get unlimited data plan (edge, 3g, tethering and wifi) for only $17 per month.

Yeah but Thai women are really beautiful! So...

yeah I got nothing...

[SpamSandwich]

Originally Posted by iphonedeveloperthailand

Over here in Thailand we get unlimited data plan (edge, 3g, tethering and wifi) for only $17 per month.

Another good reason to move to Thailand.

[Abster2core]

Originally Posted by iphonedeveloperthailand

Over here in Thailand we get unlimited data plan (edge, 3g, tethering and wifi) for only $17 per month.

About twice the size of Wyoming.

Wonder how many towers they have.

[randythot]

Hey! Thanks for hunting this down.

After all the ranting subsides, I think people will come to their senses, and pass on this if it doesn't make sense, and get on board if it does. I think it can and will save a lot of headache and money for a lot of people.

My Last Question(s):
----------------
The only last question I have is, will it be possible to have more than one 3G MicroCell, and will it cost more per plan for it? (As others have already mentioned). As a corollary question, will it be possible to have only one or both 3GC's on the unlimited plan?

A Few Suggestions:
----------------
Drop the price of the unlimited plan, even $5.

There should also be a bundle discount for the 3G MicroCell if you already have AT&T DSL! (perhaps $50 off per AT&T DSL account).

Also, considering it would be rather unconventional, perhaps calls routed through the 3MC could count as half minutes? We are providing half the bandwidth, aren't we?

Finally, since this has limited simultaneous cell connections, perhaps it would be courteous to allow (as an option), for one of the four connections to be DMZ'd, so outsiders could benefit? I can imagine not many households would simultaneously use all four connections often, and that one extra line may benefit the general network. (Perhaps calls only? or an option for calls and data too.)

Although I have no idea if my ideas can float, economically speaking, from a marketing value perspective, I think they make a lot of sense and would help the service appeal to so many. If you adopt these last suggestions, I'll be on board!

[souliisoul]

Originally Posted by iphonedeveloperthailand

Over here in Thailand we get unlimited data plan (edge, 3g, tethering and wifi) for only $17 per month.

about $20-25 per month here in India.

[souliisoul]

Originally Posted by Abster2core

About twice the size of Wyoming.

Wonder how many towers they have.

WEll China is slightly smaller than USA and their offer cheaper plans. Maybe we need a person from Russia to comment, since it is slightly less than 1.8 times bigger than USA.

http://www.insidervlv.com/landmass.html

[KennMSr]

Originally Posted by randythot

Hey! Thanks for hunting this down.

After all the ranting subsides, I think people will come to their senses, and pass on this if it doesn't make sense, and get on board if it does. I think it can and will save a lot of headache and money for a lot of people.

My Last Question(s):
----------------
The only last question I have is, will it be possible to have more than one 3G MicroCell, and will it cost more per plan for it? (As others have already mentioned). As a corollary question, will it be possible to have only one or both 3GC's on the unlimited plan?

A Few Suggestions:
----------------
Drop the price of the unlimited plan, even $5.

There should also be a bundle discount for the 3G MicroCell if you already have AT&T DSL! (perhaps $50 off per AT&T DSL account).

Also, considering it would be rather unconventional, perhaps calls routed through the 3MC could count as half minutes? We are providing half the bandwidth, aren't we?

Finally, since this has limited simultaneous cell connections, perhaps it would be courteous to allow (as an option), for one of the four connections to be DMZ'd, so outsiders could benefit? I can imagine not many households would simultaneously use all four connections often, and that one extra line may benefit the general network. (Perhaps calls only? or an option for calls and data too.)

Although I have no idea if my ideas can float, economically speaking, from a marketing value perspective, I think they make a lot of sense and would help the service appeal to so many. If you adopt these last suggestions, I'll be on board!

I would be glad to share my bandwidth so more of my neighbors (or business Customers) could get great service while in my area. The more AT&T customers the more iPhones the greater the value of my Apple and AT&T holdings in my IRA. The 40 ft radius is what sucks I get 250 feet out of my Apple Airport Extreme and yes I share my Guest Network 8A-10P. 40ft doesn't reach out to the pool house. I do wholeheartedly agree that if we are helping AT&T fill holes in their network we should be compensated. Hospitals and Municipalities are paid to be able to install Cell towers on Buildings and Water Towers. We the consumer pay for the privilege of using their phones and to some ISP for Broadband internet why pay additional to use our own service. That's like paying a car company every month additional monies for the mileage we put on OUR car (not a lease, because yes you do).

[Mandricard]

This all still seems confusing to me:

This makes AT&T's 3G MicroCell the cheapest option for users who just want to patch a dead service hole for their mobile, and of course the only option for iPhone users.

Now, I have a mobile, and have a dead area. Do I just pay the $150 and it fixes it?

OR

[unlimited calling] will cost $20 on AT&T, but will be optional for users who want it.

Huh? Am I the only one who is confused? What good is patching a service-hole if you can't make calls on your phone? How could it possibly be optional to purchase that?

OR is the "unlimited calling" aspect just an addition to your plan if you want it; otherwise you just use your own minutes on the Femtocell antenna?


?!?!?!

Hope Springs Eternal,
Mandricard
AppleOutsider

[isaidso]

Originally Posted by addabox

Holy shit, did everybody get smacked in the head with a two by for at the same time?

The $20/month unlimited via the femtocell is in addition to any plan you already have. As the article points out, if you're already paying for unlimited and you run up a lot of minutes at your home or office where the device could be installed, you'd come out ahead by downgrading to a 900 minute plan.

As far as what AT&T "should" be doing, meh. As has been pointed out, other carriers offer femtocells for local coverage and charge more, so the usual AT&T sucks mantra doesn't make much sense, in this case. Not saying there aren't legitimate grievances, but automatic unconsidered AT&T hate is foolish.

At any rate, one time charge of $150 doesn't strike me as that onerous if I happen to live in an area with poor coverage and it gives me great coverage.

In case we're still having trouble with reading comprehension, short of springing for unlimited, I don't have to pay any additional monthly fees after that.

Uh yea that's a 2X4; and anybody who would pay money to ATT so that ATT could turn around and use YOUR home internet service to make up for their crappy cellular service, needs one. Right between the eyes.

[brucep]

Originally Posted by addabox

Holy shit, did everybody get smacked in the head with a two by for at the same time?

The $20/month unlimited via the femtocell is in addition to any plan you already have. As the article points out, if you're already paying for unlimited and you run up a lot of minutes at your home or office where the device could be installed, you'd come out ahead by downgrading to a 900 minute plan.

As far as what AT&T "should" be doing, meh. As has been pointed out, other carriers offer femtocells for local coverage and charge more, so the usual AT&T sucks mantra doesn't make much sense, in this case. Not saying there aren't legitimate grievances, but automatic unconsidered AT&T hate is foolish.

At any rate, one time charge of $150 doesn't strike me as that onerous if I happen to live in an area with poor coverage and it gives me great coverage.

In case we're still having trouble with reading comprehension, short of springing for unlimited, I don't have to pay any additional monthly fees after that.

Also so good for 5 users and up to ten . The femocell also comes with a Ballistic Nylon 40 SQ foot blanket that you spread out between trailer park mobile homes ,and your locate your plastic lounge chairs at ramdom places and sit on them and make very many very important phones calls to other lounge chairs callers or even other 40 sq foot blanket groups on the far side of the trailer park.

A warning tag states that folding the 40 sq foot blanket in half does not double coverage . It only

[fattito]

2 QUESTIONS:

• Will it do seamless handoff to the cell network? - If i leave my house while on a call, will it drop the call when I go out of range, or will it handoff to the cell network? (I'm afraid I have a feeling what the answer to this question already is)

• Does it require device registration? Will there be an option to have it open so anyone in range can use it without registering their device with the MicroCell? Will there be a way to lock it down and restrict access only to allowed users?

[RockTheGlobe]

Originally Posted by fattito

2 QUESTIONS:

• Will it do seamless handoff to the cell network? - If i leave my house while on a call, will it drop the call when I go out of range, or will it handoff to the cell network? (I'm afraid I have a feeling what the answer to this question already is)

The 3G Microcell will do seamless handoff to the cell network when you take a call away from it; however, you can't transfer a call from the network to the Microcell.

Originally Posted by fattito

• Does it require device registration? Will there be an option to have it open so anyone in range can use it without registering their device with the MicroCell? Will there be a way to lock it down and restrict access only to allowed users?

Yes, the device requires registration. You can register up to 10 phone numbers that will be able to be able to use the Microcell, restricting access to only those 10 numbers. The Microcell also has GPS verification, so you can only use the Microcell to enhance service in areas already served by AT&T -- basically, you can't take the Microcell and use it in Guam if Guam doesn't already have AT&T coverage.

[addabox]

Originally Posted by Mandricard

This all still seems confusing to me:

Now, I have a mobile, and have a dead area. Do I just pay the $150 and it fixes it?

Yes.

OR is the "unlimited calling" aspect just an addition to your plan if you want it; otherwise you just use your own minutes on the Femtocell antenna?

Yes.

[m2002brian]

The United States themselves need competition. We the people aren't like many in this world. We can't cross a country line expecting similar weather and atmosphere. Mexico is 3rd world and Canada is cold (sorry yall). If we were more like Europe with more small countries there would be a lot more competition that would benefit the people. I'm sure some will want to me to explain exactly how. I don't know, it's just a feeling. How is it that Europe, made a many different countries, has superior mass transit that the US which has no other country to cooperate with in an effort like that.

The holders of the data lines tomorrow will become like the holders of the oil today. There is a ton of collusion going on in the industry. If Apple wanted to take the industry on they need to take some of that $30,000,000,000 and start dedicated wireless ISP.

[Abster2core]

Originally Posted by souliisoul

WEll China is slightly smaller than USA and their offer cheaper plans. Maybe we need a person from Russia to comment, since it is slightly less than 1.8 times bigger than USA.

http://www.insidervlv.com/landmass.html

Yep. Right now China Unicom 3G charges $27 US for 60 MB.

Keep in mind that most countries outside of the US and Canada are or were heavily subsidized by tax payers.

[randythot]

Originally Posted by Mandricard

This all still seems confusing to me:

Now, I have a mobile, and have a dead area. Do I just pay the $150 and it fixes it?

OR

Huh? Am I the only one who is confused? What good is patching a service-hole if you can't make calls on your phone? How could it possibly be optional to purchase that?

OR is the "unlimited calling" aspect just an addition to your plan if you want it; otherwise you just use your own minutes on the Femtocell antenna?
?!?!?!

Mandricard, not aimed specifically at you, but more to the questions in general. Your questions and many others', make me recall all the confusion when cell phone plans started differentiating, and before much standardized in common understanding. AT&T would be much aided if they made a comparison chart to other services, and helped to standardize terms and terminology across carriers. I realize they are still tinkering with the terms (of contract) and terminology, but I could see how this could be very confusing for newer consumers.

Regarding two complaints:
1. Short range: This seems more like an FCC kind of limitation, although I'm sure the carriers don't want to coordinate lots of OTA bandwidth conflicts?

2. Our paying to purchase, install and maintain a box that should be included in the price of our already paid contracts for reasonable coverage: Yes, the point is well taken...this isn't right if the contract supposedly includes access to a network with supposed good coverage. However, I think it's better to think of it as, a luxury insurance of almost guaranteed highly localized coverage, with an option to add unlimited calling. I would still promote my ideas of at least 1/2 rate minutes while on a 3MC, a slightly cheaper unlimited plan, and a lower purchase cost, along with greater range and ability to share one or more lines publicly. Perhaps once the product reaches maturation.

[randythot]

Originally Posted by m2002brian

If we were more like Europe with more small countries there would be a lot more competition that would benefit the people. I'm sure some will want to me to explain exactly how. I don't know, it's just a feeling. How is it that Europe, made a many different countries, has superior mass transit that the US which has no other country to cooperate with in an effort like that.

The holders of the data lines tomorrow will become like the holders of the oil today. There is a ton of collusion going on in the industry. If Apple wanted to take the industry on they need to take some of that $30,000,000,000 and start dedicated wireless ISP.

I recall people hoping/rumoring that Apple would adopt some form of WiMax and beam from Apple Stores and set up other much greater range towers than what cell towers do, essentially forming an iPhone wireless system (before the first iPhone came out). I think negotiating with carriers to connect to their networks probably was the biggest barrier.

Considering AT&T is supposedly investing $18 Billion, and Verizon something similar, I'd say that Apple probably doesn't want to blow 2/3 of their cash on such a venture, when purchasing land/rights and to put up towers from scratch could be much more expensive than simply upgrading radios on the top of towers that Verizon and AT&T merely have to do. Plus, it would take too long for Steve Jobs' patience!

[Abster2core]

Originally Posted by randythot

I recall people hoping/rumoring that Apple would adopt some form of WiMax and beam from Apple Stores and set up other much greater range towers than what cell towers do, essentially forming an iPhone wireless system (before the first iPhone came out). I think negotiating with carriers to connect to their networks probably was the biggest barrier.

Considering AT&T is supposedly investing $18 Billion, and Verizon something similar, I'd say that Apple probably doesn't want to blow 2/3 of their cash on such a venture, when purchasing land/rights and to put up towers from scratch could be much more expensive than simply upgrading radios on the top of towers that Verizon and AT&T merely have to do. Plus, it would take too long for Steve Jobs' patience!

It takes a lot more than just putting up or upgrading towers.
http://www.wimax.com/education/faq

[fulldecent]

Let the device hacking begin!

[Gamrin]

I've been out of the loop for awhile. Let me see if I understand this...

So, I could buy this $150 device and pay $20 a month over my current 900-minute iPhone plan and get unlimited calls while I'm at home...

Or the FCC could bring the hammer down on AT&T and force Apple to allow VOIP apps on the iPhone and I can do unlimited VOIP calling at home for free.

Is that right?

[floccus]

Originally Posted by souliisoul

WEll China is slightly smaller than USA and their offer cheaper plans. Maybe we need a person from Russia to comment, since it is slightly less than 1.8 times bigger than USA.

http://www.insidervlv.com/landmass.html

Ok, had to do it...

In Soviet Russia, micro-cell call youuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu!