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Editorial
AT&T 3G Microcell Will be Hot
Monday, February 16th, 2009 at 3:30 PM - by John Martellaro
One of the weaknesses of a modern cell phone is that a good signal is far more likely in business locations than homes, which are often in rural locations. AT&T is about to fix that, and it'll be a hot, must-have accessory for every iPhone 3G owner in 2009.
AT&T recently let it be known that they'll be releasing a device that connects to a broadband connection and generates a localized 3G radio signal. The device is perfect for rural homes and businesses where AT&T's 3G signal is weak or non-existent.
That's the situation I am in. Just about anywhere I go in Denver, I can get an AT&T 3G signal, but it's especially strong in dense business locations. Where I live, however, the iPhone 3G is practically useless. If the wind is coming from the right direction and the moon is in the right phase, I might have a usable signal.
The "AT&T 3G Microcell" is essentially a low power 3G radio transmitter that connects to a home router and is said to blanket the local area with a range of about 70 ft. (5,000 square feet.) That's enough for most home users, who have an Internet connection, to get 5 bars right in their home.
Photo credit: IntoMobile
I exchanged some e-mail with Mark Siegel, AT&T's Executive Director of Media and Industry Analyst Relations for AT&T Mobility. He said:
"As you know, this is a technology we see potential in. We are currently engaged in employee trials and plan a market trial for the second quarter. We don't have details beyond that at this point."
Because the device isn't shipping, he couldn't provide a photo of the device, but I suspect it'll be something the size of the current 3G "modems" for Macs and PCs." Of course, the first things I thought about were:
- Is the power low enough to be a negligible contribution to the radio signals levels in my house? I already have "g" and "n" Wi-Fi base stations plus an extra Airport Express and wireless phones.
- Will I have to mess around opening ports on my primary firewall/router - just downwind of my cable modem? I suspect I will.
- Will there be a monthly fee? No one know for sure yet since AT&T has made no official announcement of product plans.
It's expensive to build cell towers everywhere and there are limits on cell phone power output (2 watts). That dictates how close a user must be to a tower. A blanket of towers to fill in the holes would not be practical for AT&T, so this device, paid for by the user, solves a significant problem.
Of course, Comcast, who would like to sell me digital voice, isn't going to like this, but considering the trouble they've already gotten into in the past, the new spirit of oversight in Washington D.C., and AT&T's experienced attorneys, I don't foresee a problem.
What I do foresee is a new wave of smartphone technologies driven by this product. In the past, we used our smartphones when out and about, often in a business setting. Once home, however, with possible spotty cell phone coverage, a land line and access to a Mac or PC on broadband, smartphone usage becomes a secondary. The AT&T 3G Microcell could change all that and breathe even more life and excitement into smartphone software and technologies.
Suddenly larger screens on a 3G enabled handheld that always has five bars in the home changes the rules of the game.
It's also the kind of product that can spawn new ideas, especially of the device is small enough to travel with and there are no other limitations. I'm really looking forward to this hot product, and I'm betting every iPhone 3G user will want one too.
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