AT&T Set to Roll Out Nationwide 3G MicroCell Availability Beginning Next Month
AT&T today announced that AT&T 3G MicroCell plans to begin its national roll out beginning in mid April, with new markets activating in cities across the continental U.S. for the next several months. AT&T 3G MicroCell is an innovative solution that allows residential customers to route wireless phone calls and data connections (or sessions) across a home broadband connection. This solution is designed to benefit customers who live in homes that have coverage impediments that consistently interrupt wireless spectrum, such as dense wall and roof construction or unfavorable terrain.
Customers have the option of using minutes from their normal cellular phone plan or signing up for a $19.99/month companion plan that allows unlimited calling over the customer's MicroCell without utilizing their cellular minute allotment.AT&T's 3G MicroCell began service in the Charlotte, North Carolina region last September and has expanded to other test markets in recent months as the company has geared up for full nationwide availability. AT&T, currently the sole iPhone carrier in the U.S., has received a significant amount of criticism over its network performance, particularly in high-density areas such as New York City and San Francisco. The company has, however, seen improved performance in recent months putting it on par or ahead of other carriers in many major markets.
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28 months ago
So now AT&T wants to piggy-back off MY internet connection? Seriously?
God forbid AT&T actually improves the cellular coverage. This is a band-aid fix to an enormous problem!
AT&T is basically admitting that their service is garbage and if you want good service then, well, you're just going to have to pay more.
This company is a joke, I can't wait until their exclusivity expires.
God forbid AT&T actually improves the cellular coverage. This is a band-aid fix to an enormous problem!
AT&T is basically admitting that their service is garbage and if you want good service then, well, you're just going to have to pay more.
This company is a joke, I can't wait until their exclusivity expires.
28 months ago
God forbid AT&T actually improves the cellular coverage. This is a band-aid fix to an enormous problem!
Did you not read the last link in the post?
AT&T Tops 3G Wireless Performance Study
28 months ago
Let me get this straight, AT&T wants me to pay them for the privilege of using my own DSL connection for 3G cellular service, instead of them building a 3G tower? :mad:
28 months ago
Awesome! As if 3G weren't overtaxed with traffic enough. Lets add a ton more users and send it right down the crapper again.
And who the hell designed that freaking enclosure? Try to fit that in anything conveniently.
And who the hell designed that freaking enclosure? Try to fit that in anything conveniently.
28 months ago
So can someone hijack your microcell and start using your cell minutes / cell bandwidth? This sounds like a great band-aid if your coverage is subpar (like it is for me where I live) but it also feels like a terrible security risk.
I only hope I completely misunderstanding the technology.
I only hope I completely misunderstanding the technology.
28 months ago
God forbid AT&T actually improves the cellular coverage. This is a band-aid fix to an enormous problem!
Yeah, don't hate just to hate. Building materials, proximity to tall buildings, and many other factors impede cell reception.
$149 isn't terrible for a guaranteed great connection. And if you can use your standard minutes from your cell plan, all the better!
28 months ago
Let me get this straight... I have to pay MORE money to use my internet connection that I pay for taking up more of my bandwidth so that I would have 3G coverage in my home? No thanks... Such a ripoff.
28 months ago
Let me preface this by saying that from the rumors we have been hearing during the beta, this article is wrong, and that AT&T will not be charging the user's minutes for this phone. However, in case this article is correct:
And AT&T shoots itself in the foot once again.
Why in heaven's name would they charge an extra fee for something that is going to cost them NOTHING, improve their network, and drastically reduce complaints?
I am okay for them requiring users to buy the unit (as long as users are then allowed to use it as they please) at cost, or even a slight profit. But why should it eat into the user's minutes when the call isn't even touching AT&T's network?
And AT&T shoots itself in the foot once again.
Why in heaven's name would they charge an extra fee for something that is going to cost them NOTHING, improve their network, and drastically reduce complaints?
I am okay for them requiring users to buy the unit (as long as users are then allowed to use it as they please) at cost, or even a slight profit. But why should it eat into the user's minutes when the call isn't even touching AT&T's network?
28 months ago
I can see paying for the device, but if the call is then routing through your ISP, then I’d expect minutes to cost similar to Skype. $20/month (or eating into your cell minutes when you’re not even using the cell network) seems too high to me.
Especially when the very need to have it is the fact that AT&T has a gap in their coverage. (Yes, I know every company has gaps and always will—it’s still their lack of service though.)
Simpler and more fair: subsidize the device so it’s $50, and have NO additional contract or cost, BUT have it count against your cell minutes (to account for the subsidy). And subsidize it to the point of free for people who are in a dead zone: an incentive to be an AT&T customer (paying them money every month forever) when they otherwise couldn’t be.
But what do I know?
Especially when the very need to have it is the fact that AT&T has a gap in their coverage. (Yes, I know every company has gaps and always will—it’s still their lack of service though.)
Simpler and more fair: subsidize the device so it’s $50, and have NO additional contract or cost, BUT have it count against your cell minutes (to account for the subsidy). And subsidize it to the point of free for people who are in a dead zone: an incentive to be an AT&T customer (paying them money every month forever) when they otherwise couldn’t be.
But what do I know?
28 months ago
...and yet, no tethering, even though it's been possible for three years already.
Right.
Why provide service people can actually use when you can nickle & dime them to death and sell them a pile of devices to boot?
Some company needs to target the opposite end already. They'll have all the steady business in the country.
Right.
Why provide service people can actually use when you can nickle & dime them to death and sell them a pile of devices to boot?
Some company needs to target the opposite end already. They'll have all the steady business in the country.
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