Sprint has their AIRAVE femtocell, Verizon has its Wireless Network Extender, and T-Mobile has its HotSpot@Home. That left AT&T among the States’ big four carriers without a femtocell solution for providing cellular service inside the home. Until now. AT&T is getting into the microcell game, notes Engadget (below).

AT&T’s 3G MicroCell boosts cell phone signals within a residence and costs $250, reports the AP. The AT&T box reportedly covers up to 5,000 square feet, allow up to four simultaneous voice or data connections (locked down so that your neighbors can’t pilfer the signal). It will only work with 3G phones.

While Samsung supplied the femtocell boxes for Sprint and Verizon, the AT&T femtocell is reportedly supplied by Cisco. Cisco has worked with U.K. femto firm ip.access to develop a home base station product for AT&T, says Unstrung. Cisco is a strategic investor in ip.access.

By comparison, Sprint’s Airave costs $100, but charges an extra $5 per month for use. Verizon’s “Network Extender” costs $250 but has no monthly fee and works with their CDMA phones. T-Mobile’s HotSpot@Home requires a Wi-Fi router and special dual-band WiFi/Cellular phone that can place calls over Wi-Fi (in addition to regular wireless calls).

All these “femtocells” require a terrestrial broadband connection – paid for by the user.

For the most part, customers do not need to update their plans or add minutes for calls using these boxes. That’s because their cell phone connection is routed through their own (terrestrial) broadband connection. Only when you step outside your home does the signal shift to the nearest cellular antenna (and cellular charges apply).

The micro cells offered by Sprint and Verizon only offer only 2G service (no EV-DO). AT&T’s provides 3G (HSPA) service but requires a 3G phone. It connects to AT&T’s network via DSL or cable modem.

Another option to DSL or Cable modems might be Clear’s Mobile WiMAX service. The company plans to offer voice services through their wireless broadband gateway. Plug your landline phone (or your inexpensive home cordless phone), into their box and you can talk all you want, whenever you want.

Clearwire’s box is not a “femtocell”, but it costs only $14.99 (after $35.00 Instant Rebate).

Motorola this month 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. You can plug a landline or home cordless phone directly into the integrated WiFi /WiMAX unit. It’s not yet available in Portland.

Related Dailywireless articles include; Verizon’s Wireless Network Extender, 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.

Posted by Sam Churchill on Monday, January 26th, 2009 at 12:45 pm.