AT&T's 3G MicroCell goes nationwide the middle of next month

3. basschica posted on 25 Mar 2010, 09:39 0 0

It actually gives you the voice cell signal. Even if your phone has wifi, that doesn't really help you for calling unless you have UMA like with T-mobile. That being said, I'd really rather have Google Voice get the wifi calling for free rolling with Gizmo and then all you need is the wifi for calling and it wouldn't use any cell minutes. C'mon Google!!!! But anyway, for all the Iphone lovers out there with their lack luster coverage, I am sure this is a great investment.

7. cellgeek82 posted on 26 Mar 2010, 10:11 0 0

In short, it's a device that produces cellular signal like a cell tower does. The reason it's compared to a WiFi router is because it connects to your existing broadband connection to give you that data that's needed and the WiFi router transmits the access via the WiFi router. Instead of the device broadcasting WiFi internet, it produces cellular signal. It's like having your personal cell tower at home. You can still get "internet" service from a femtocell, but instead of it being in WiFi it delivers it to you the same way a cell tower and your phone ususally does. WiFi is still faster. You will only be able to download/stream as fast as the phone, carrier, technology allows it to.

8. cellgeek82 posted on 26 Mar 2010, 10:15 0 0

You're right about one thing, the femtocell won't help GSM become a better technology or AT&T's network being a "better network". It's always been a worse technology than CDMA. That is just a fact of life. But as for improving the network...well it may help free up some bandwidth. If users try using a femtocell instead of a cell tower then that may allow more data use on that particular tower. Just one customer not using a tower is good in dense areas. But having a femtocell won't help a community with cell service, just that one home or office if anything. The better fix for this is just go to Verizon where the 3G (and soon 4G) is plenty for everyone.