Sprint gets ready to rock out with its 3G femtocell out
Following AT&T’s recent and repeated claim that it is on schedule with a 3G femtocell solution to be released before the year is out, Sprint’s VP of device and technology development Mathew Oommen has officially thrown down the gauntlet:
Just like Sprint was the first with 2G, we’ll definitely be the first in the 3G space as well. We’re not talking about trials; we’re talking about full commercial service.
Pow… Take that, AT&T. For those unfamiliar with the technology, a femtocell is basically a small base station that provides a bridge between cellular and wired broadband connections. Long story short: It’s your own personal cell tower. Sprint’s Airave was indeed the first 2G femtocell to hit the scene and according to Oommen, Sprint’s 3G offering will follow suit. What’s more, Sprint is apparently prepping both a consumer solution and an enterprise solution. EV-DO Rev. A femtocells at home and at the office? Mmmm.
[Via Phone Arena]
@ bonesb
Thank you oh kind one for sitting me strait. Im glad your waste of a life includes time for you to research things for me and then come here and making post telling me to learn something.
Again Thank you
This device has a 25km distance limit for e911 purposes (15mi) and uses GPS to register itself on the network. There are other parameters as well for compliance, FCC regs, but it works well. It does require dsl or cable access to tunnel the cdma signal (voip) to the nearest tower. It is not for data use since it connects to your home internet connection. It allows for up to 50 users registered but only 3 simultaneous call at a time with a 5000 sq ft radius. You can extend the antenna to get coverage as you need a GPS signal (near a window).
Next (early 2010) will be the enterprise edition which will have 6 simultaneous calls and then one with 32 for business purposes. These devices are used on the fringe of coverage or where the signals do not penetrate the structures. We have other antennae for enterprise needs, but they require a commit and probably 25 phones plus.
I’ve had an Airave for years. It can be set up to allow only restricted Sprint customers (your phones) or all Sprint customers within range to utilize it. As Frank said above, I was given mine for free due to a dead spot in my neighborhood…which was in the middle of town, no less. They also waived the monthly access fee.
Thankfully I moved so I no longer have this need, but I can certainly vouch for the value of this product, and a 3G version will only be better.
Forget 3G! Bring on the 4G Femtocell! That’s cutting edge, and revolutionary…
Posted from BGR Mobile (iPhone) at: Findlay United States
Sadly after 12 years of reasonable service,
over the past year, since moving into one of those neighborhoods in L.A.,
however,I did turn down the Sprint Airave,since for important calls I can simply switch over to free roaming for a couple of hundred minutes in a month.
In addition, you need to have the seperate expense of an IP,i.e Cable/DSL wired Internet service, which in turn goes against the wireless lifestyle concept.
Someday in not too distant future, we will have a true wireless booster, now that I would be intersted in, by that time I will i have probably moved again. C’est la Vie!
Thank You
Sorry,please disregard “however” in the first paragraph!
Thank You
I hope they get rid of the recurring charge to use minutes