Sprint introduced their AIRAVE box (right), last summer, but Verizon’s not far behind, says Engadget. Their Wireless Network Extender is expected to be available in Verizon stores and online starting January 25 for $249.99.
The cell carriers like them because it saves them the expense of erecting new towers. You provide the backhaul.
Most femtocells today support up to four simultaneous users. PicoChip, Percello and Ubiquisys make the chipsets.
The little black box will puke out a cloud of CDMA covering up to 5,000 square feet of domicile with support for up to three simultaneous calls — enough for you, the hubby / missus, and little Joey / Susie to all be yapping away at the same time. Like Sprint’s solution, the Wireless Network Extender uses GPS to verify that you’re not creating little tiny Verizon networks in Laos, Kenya, or Uruguay and plugs into the internet source of your choice via Ethernet.
In other news, Motorola last week unveiled a WiFi hotspot that combines WiMax, Ethernet and VoIP. The Motorola CPEi 775 (pdf) will be available only to carriers initially and not offered for retail markets. The second generation CPEi 775 device incorporates adaptive switching techniques, making for easy installation, because it does not need to be rotated for optimal signal strength. It’s not yet available in Portland (I checked yesterday).
Sidecut’s Paul Kapustka likes Cradlepoint’s battery-powered Wi-Fi router with a WiMax dongle for backhaul (although it’s no Femtocell).
“I see every iPhone user as a future customer,” said Clearwire’s Chief Strategy Officer, Scott Richardson. Cradlepoint is expecting to release the device soon. No word on price. Here are more Clearwire videos.
Related Dailywireless articles include; Femtocell Comes Home, Sprint Rolls Out Home Femtocells, AT&T: Femtocells R Us, EdgePoint Femtocell, T-Mobile Expands Hotspot@Home, Ericsson: Wi-Fi is Dead, Dead, Dead, Femto Forum Expands, Sprint; Femocell at Home, Google Invests in Femocell Company, Hotspots for Cellphones and Cable/Sprint Pole Dance.
