Verizon 3G/CDMA femtocell
Ok after digging around the internet I found out that Verizon is in fact getting a 3G femtocell! If you live in spotty area this is great news.
It's made by Samsung and looks alot better than the 2G Network Extender. Same color and size but looks more modern and of course has 3G.
Here's the copy/paste of the news article:
Verizon's current Wireless Network Extender is cool and all, but it's got one huge Achilles' heel: it only does 1X data, which is pretty egregious by 2010 standards (or 2007 standards, for that matter). Enter Samsung's revised 'combo' femtocell, so named because it offers both 1X and EV-DO service simultaneously. It's got support for up to eight connections -- up from the original unit's four -- and sports a decid...
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It's made by Samsung and looks alot better than the 2G Network Extender. Same color and size but looks more modern and of course has 3G.
Here's the copy/paste of the news article:
Verizon's current Wireless Network Extender is cool and all, but it's got one huge Achilles' heel: it only does 1X data, which is pretty egregious by 2010 standards (or 2007 standards, for that matter). Enter Samsung's revised 'combo' femtocell, so named because it offers both 1X and EV-DO service simultaneously. It's got support for up to eight connections -- up from the original unit's four -- and sports a decid...
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Just in time for the "all smartphones have Wi-Fi" transition.
Everyone who cares about 3G has a smartphone, so this is only going to be an improvement for people like me who are still rocking a Storm 9530 and a Tour 9630.
So, I can spend $250 on a 3G femtocell to get better data at home on my Storm, or I can spend $99 on an Eris and connect it to the Wi-Fi that is already in my home.
This enhancement is bordering on pointless. It really only holds value for mid-range handsets like the enV Touch which lack Wi-Fi. This is going to be a small market.
Everyone who cares about 3G has a smartphone, so this is only going to be an improvement for people like me who are still rocking a Storm 9530 and a Tour 9630.
So, I can spend $250 on a 3G femtocell to get better data at home on my Storm, or I can spend $99 on an Eris and connect it to the Wi-Fi that is already in my home.
This enhancement is bordering on pointless. It really only holds value for mid-range handsets like the enV Touch which lack Wi-Fi. This is going to be a small market.
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Do these devices only work for data, or do they also work for voice. I've posted before that we have good service but sometimes you gotta turn your head to keep the call. Something like this would help with us having steel siding on our house. So would this also cover voice or only data?
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The current Network Extender that VZW offers is voice and 1XRTT data only (MAX 80 kbps).
The new one he's talking about here is voice + 3G for full data coverage on the handsets.
The current model would help you with your indoor coverage problems, provided you have an internet connection with over 400 kbps on the UPLOAD side.
The new one he's talking about here is voice + 3G for full data coverage on the handsets.
The current model would help you with your indoor coverage problems, provided you have an internet connection with over 400 kbps on the UPLOAD side.
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Oh yeah! If you've got a broadband connection, one could be in an area with ZERO coverage and the phone works. I wonder how that would work in Europe? Someone HAS to have tried it...
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The reason I like this product is because this will be good for everybody. Whether you have WiFi or not wouldn't it be good to get 3G data without having to activate it on your device? I'd like to think so. I think Verizon has great coverage but in reality no carrier is going to fully defeat the beast that haunts all cell phone users...indoor use.
Cell towers are built outside in dense areas or on tops of building or hills, not in your back yard. When inside large buildings, in your basement, some apartment buildings, and houses that have brick or steel making up the house, cell coverage in hindered. Whether you have WiFi or not that doesn't mean everybody lives in a smartphone world. Some people have 3G phones without WiFi. That's...
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Cell towers are built outside in dense areas or on tops of building or hills, not in your back yard. When inside large buildings, in your basement, some apartment buildings, and houses that have brick or steel making up the house, cell coverage in hindered. Whether you have WiFi or not that doesn't mean everybody lives in a smartphone world. Some people have 3G phones without WiFi. That's...
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Yes, but why is having data on cell phone so important if you are in your home with your computer? I just don't know of a Verizon phone that I would prefer to browse on more than my laptop.
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Its more than just browsing the web. I have the current network extender and it has helped for sure, but 3G would be very welcome.
Wifi destroys battery life!!! So having a more standard 3G option would be great.
Also, there are more uses than just surfing the web.
-Messenger services
-Sending emails
-Picture messaging
-browsing various app stores
I dont want to have to use my laptop for everything, thats why I have a blackberry. Thankfully verizon is creating solutions to better improve coverage for people in low signal areas.
Wifi destroys battery life!!! So having a more standard 3G option would be great.
Also, there are more uses than just surfing the web.
-Messenger services
-Sending emails
-Picture messaging
-browsing various app stores
I dont want to have to use my laptop for everything, thats why I have a blackberry. Thankfully verizon is creating solutions to better improve coverage for people in low signal areas.
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cwcanty said:
Wifi destroys battery life!!!
Do you lack a phone charger in your home (where the proposed 3G network extender would be located anyway)?
If so, you have bigger problems then lack of indoor 3G!
Of all people on this board, I should be the one on here most excited about this, because I'm still rocking 2 non-WiFi Verizon BlackBerries on my account. And yet, I'm still less then convinced this is significantly better then the 2G femtocell. The only way to sell these 3G models over the 2G models is going to be by making them the same price. I don't think they'll be able to make more money off the 3G variant.
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HUH? not sure what the charger has to do with any of this. But I dont want to have to use my phone while its on the charger all the time.
They will not sell both. When the 3G comes out, the 2G will reach end of life and will stop being sold.
This is good for people who have ACTUALLY USED THE PRODUCT. I have been a femtocell user since day one, and it has made my verizon experience much more pleasant. And yes, the 3G will make a big difference for me personally and I would welcome the change.
They will not sell both. When the 3G comes out, the 2G will reach end of life and will stop being sold.
This is good for people who have ACTUALLY USED THE PRODUCT. I have been a femtocell user since day one, and it has made my verizon experience much more pleasant. And yes, the 3G will make a big difference for me personally and I would welcome the change.
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I would welcome the change too. If I just want to surf the web then yes I'll use my home computer but you can't easily browse phone features like apps, pic messaging, email, or checking a web page briefly. The whole point of mobile phones is being MOBILE, not attached to a wall charger. And if the 3G femtocell works like the 2G one it should seamlessly jump to a tower when leaving home. WiFi can't do that.
There are also people who have dumbphones that don't have WiFi. Remember what I said earlier, not everyone has a WiFi smartphone. So if you want to brows apps or watch Vcast or send a pic message it's hard on 2G. One thing I discovered is when the phone barely gets 3G it'll still try to use it and very low 3G is worse than regular...
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There are also people who have dumbphones that don't have WiFi. Remember what I said earlier, not everyone has a WiFi smartphone. So if you want to brows apps or watch Vcast or send a pic message it's hard on 2G. One thing I discovered is when the phone barely gets 3G it'll still try to use it and very low 3G is worse than regular...
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"The whole point of mobile phones is being MOBILE"
Ummmmmm...okay. But you're at home. Yes. I welcome innovation. A $30,000 Tesla EV would be a welcome addition. How about the lithium ion battery with the silicon leads the Professor at Stanford has patented (assuming he lives)? A 3G Network Extender is just really low on my must have list. That's all. I know, I know... It is criticism... I do that sometimes.
Ummmmmm...okay. But you're at home. Yes. I welcome innovation. A $30,000 Tesla EV would be a welcome addition. How about the lithium ion battery with the silicon leads the Professor at Stanford has patented (assuming he lives)? A 3G Network Extender is just really low on my must have list. That's all. I know, I know... It is criticism... I do that sometimes.
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Easy there. I take it you have never worked in a call center listening to a customer who lives in a clear no coverage area (white on the map) complain that every since he moved he has no coverage in his home and "no I don't want to cancel. I love Verizon." (Seriously, I've taken this call). The Network Extender is just a nice little save tool to throw in there to keep management happy. I've never understood why someone would pay $250 bucks to have coverage in their home, but some do. It takes all kinds of folks...
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...most folks use cell phones now as their one and only phone. If Verizon had offered something like this years ago, I might have considered them. I'm with you though, on the data thing. As long as I have web access to send and receive picture mail & email, I don't care how fast or slow it is at home.
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Femtocells are great. I've said NOTHING that implies anything else.
I just see no real benefit to having a 2G + 3G model over a 2G-only model. What's the point? Your hypothetical customer would be equally well served by either style of cellular enhancer. There is no clear benefit from a 3G model.
P.S. If you really have spoken to someone who lives in an area where Verizon has zero coverage, I'll bet my hat they can't get a 500+ kbps upload DSL or cable modem service to plug one of these into, anyway! They really are a primarily urban/suburban service enhancer. An EVDO femtocell is not a game changer, it's just a product evolution.
I just see no real benefit to having a 2G + 3G model over a 2G-only model. What's the point? Your hypothetical customer would be equally well served by either style of cellular enhancer. There is no clear benefit from a 3G model.
P.S. If you really have spoken to someone who lives in an area where Verizon has zero coverage, I'll bet my hat they can't get a 500+ kbps upload DSL or cable modem service to plug one of these into, anyway! They really are a primarily urban/suburban service enhancer. An EVDO femtocell is not a game changer, it's just a product evolution.
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I'm one of those that would pay $250 for a 3G Network Extender. My cell phone is my only phone and I use it often. I live in a city but my house is in a spot where indoor coverage leaves much to be desired. Verizon has great coverage in the city but at home it could be better. I wouldn't buy a Network Extender if I were to move to a place that happened to have full service or if they upgraded the neighborhood service with a new cell site. But while 3G is weak and regular voice could be better too I'll make sure I have a Network Extender.
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See... They're everywhere and not just in the boonies. Many idiot communities don't want cell towers in their neighborhoods and are the first to call in about coverage. They will have DSL and Cable just fine though and a Network Extender is the perfect solution. (I can hear it in my nightmares. "I pay blah, blah, blah and I can use my phone everywhere except in my house." I agree that 2G SHOULD be enough, but once Sprint was going to support 3G, Verizon had to jump on it with their's as well. Can't have Sprint running commercials making them look silly. Even if the really silly part is someone wants to use their broadband home connection to play games on their cell when there is a super duper computer right there already.
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