AT&T is expanding its 3G Femtocell trials to Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, San Diego and Las Vegas. The AT&T 3G MicroCell (FAQ) acts like a mini cellular tower in the home. It connects to AT&T’s network using existing broadband Internet service. AT&T and Cisco developed the 3G femtocell for the home and home office.
AT&T claims the benefits include:
- Enhanced indoor coverage: Supports both voice and data up to 5000 square feet
- Compatible with 3G handsets: Works with any AT&T 3G device
- Supports up to four voice or data users simultaneously
- Device is secure and cannot be accessed by unauthorized users
- Offers simplified management with easy and secure online management of device settings
A femtocell increases signal strength of your cell phone inside the house. Another advantage of using a femtocell is seamless roaming inside and out. AT&T says a connection will automatically switch between a cell tower and the indoor femtocell.
It allows up to four simultaneous voice or HSPA data connections (you tell it which phone numbers are allowed to connect). The signal range is approximately 40 feet from the base station (in all directions), or about 5000 sq ft. Using your own broadband connection saves cellular minutes.
Unstrung says AT&T hasn’t confirmed an official launch date yet, but a second-quarter launch is looking possible. The carrier’s trials are also likely to extend to Los Angeles and San Francisco soon. AT&T is the first major US operator to launch a 3G femtocell, other carriers use slower 2G technology. Neither Sprint nor Verizon Wireless have announced customer trials for 3G femtocells yet.
