Verizon Launches Femtocell Device > Unclear if plans minutes will be used or not

Unclear if plans minutes will be used or not

From FAQs describing the device on the Verizon site -

Do I have to pay additional fees to use a Network Extender? No. There are no additional costs to use the Network Extender. You only need to purchase the unit. All rates and policies associated with your chosen calling plan also apply when connected to the Network Extender.

The way I read this, plan minutes ARE used when connected to the Wireless Network Extender.

From the article mentioned:

reply to a1rodger
Not according to what Verizon's own site says right now.

It's been mentioned they will probably offer a seperately monthly feature that will allow unlimited minutes.. but as it is right now, the unit only gives you better coverage in your home, and your plan minutes do apply just like they would any other time.

Agree, current device is very limited.

From a marketing standpoint, future devices could be engineered to serve as Wifi routers as well and thus be part of a unified communications solution. Cell phone companies would love to have user paid for managed routers that also provide cellular service. For Verizon, such a box would enable them to gather customers outside their traditional wire-line territory in anticipation of a Verizon FIOS deployment.

Jim Callahan
Orlando, FL

I got the extender as soon as it was available and I love it.
I live on the outskirts of the closest verizon tower and can only make a call in my house if I stand by the front window and plan on losing the call after 2 minutes.
ATT coverage is just a tad worse and T-mobile users can get a signal at all. The town I live in won't let Verizon or ATT put up at tower even though everyone in the town complains, go figure.
Anyway for me it is a godsend. The call quality is better then if I were getting the strongest signal using a cell tower. Yes it uses up minutes on your calling plan and in network calls don't count again your minutes.
250.00 was a bit steep, but again I probably would have paid 2 or 3 times that much. My choices were continue with no cell phone service in the house or move.
The only thing I'm not crazy about is the open access, my neighbor connects to the extender when he is on the side or front of his house closest to my house. But all in all I'm very happy. It's been 2 years without cell phone service in the house and now I can walk all over the house and get 4 bars.

reply to a1rodger