  ptrowski Got Helix? Premium join:2005-03-14 Putnam, CT clubs: | Ripoff... $20 a month to extend THEIR network using YOUR bandwidth? No way. | |
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 |   Hazy Arc
join:2006-04-10 Greenwood, SC | Re: Ripoff... Quite sad, isn't it? At least Verizon doesn't charge monthly to use it. | |
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 |  |   ptrowski Got Helix? Premium join:2005-03-14 Putnam, CT clubs: | Re: Ripoff... Yes it is. While we get decent service at our house, it would have been a nice way to extend our minutes a bit. But no way now.
I guess AT&T is worried about people lowering their packages if they use this. Sad..... | |
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join:2001-05-17 Glen Carbon, IL
2 edits | extend their network for your own use (you add authoriziezed users). so ya you get to use your bandwidth for your calls. don't want it - don't get it. besides - its free if you have wireless, landline and internet - which by the way you should have all 3 or its of no use to you to get it anyway. duh | |
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 |  |  |   ptrowski Got Helix? Premium join:2005-03-14 Putnam, CT clubs: | Re: Ripoff... $20 a month is still not worth it. I have used AT&T and their previous incarnations for years, but between the MMS debacle on the iPhone and now $20/month for the aircell they are getting to be ridiculous. | |
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 |  |  |  |   Matt Take me down to the paradise city Premium join:2003-07-20 Jamestown, NC
·North State Commun..
| Re: Ripoff...
said by tubbynet :said by Ivas :
besides - its free if you have wireless, landline and internet - which by the way you should have all 3 or its of no use to you to get it anyway
love to know how you came up with that one?  since there is a good number of people who have att wireless service who *don't* even have the *ability* to purchase things like att landline or uverse - this is a pretty ridiculous pricing scheme. q. That's what I was about to say, because that is exactly the boat I am in. Thanks. | |
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join:2006-09-22 Pittsfield, MA
·Verizon Online DSL
·RoadRunner Cable
| said by lvas :extend their network for your own use (you add authoriziezed users). so ya you get to use your bandwidth for your calls. don't want it - don't get it. besides - its free if you have wireless, landline and internet - which by the way you should have all 3 or its of no use to you to get it anyway. duh duh. What if you live in an area well covered by ATT cell service but not most other providers? However, the kicker is that your landline exchange is primarily served by Verizon, yet Verizon's signal sucks in many spots(like most providers here) unless you have a mobile antenna. However, you can't carry that mobile antenna everywhere. Staying near it is not practical for everyone.
However $20/month is ridiculous. I would like free minutes but would probably still buy in without it. I wouldn't mind buying the femtocell either. I see it as an excellent alternative to buying a repeater or other booster device that costs more and probably gives less bandwidth. But $20/month for what? ATT's crack habit? I won't be buying in. That would be helping AT&T and having them charge you for it, on top of getting the equipment yourself. The signal inside my house is good enough for good voice service. Better data service would have been nice, but I think I'll just trade my non-capable phone up for a wifi-enabled one with WinMO and install Skype. Wait, I already have wifi! Goodbye $150 equipment too =) | |
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join:2003-07-19 Sidney, NE | That statement doesn't even make sense anymore! -- if you fail to plan, you plan to fail | |
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 |  jimbo2150
join:2004-05-10 Youngstown, OH
| said by ptrowski :$20 a month to extend THEIR network using YOUR bandwidth? No way. I agree, big ripoff. I would be willing to pay for the device itself (either in full or on a monthly "$30 for 6 months"-type payment plan), but not a continual monthly fee on top of paying for the service itself and lowering their costs by using your bandwidth and taking stress and bandwidth off their towers.
Companies seem eager to pack costs onto consumers but not so eager or, in this case, greedy to tack fees on to something that most-likely lowers their costs. To me, this is just another "our customers are too stupid to notice a scam when they see one" idea on their part.
I am glad I got rid of AT&T POTS, Wireless, and Internet years ago! --
- "Techie" Jim | |
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  I Use Dial
join:2004-01-04 Morgan Hill, CA clubs: | I'd buy it. But only if I get unlimited minutes. -- Time... beckoning me. | |
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  burgerwars
join:2004-09-11 Northridge, CA | It may be worth it. From what I've read on other forums, there is no requirement to buy one of the unlimited $10/$20 plans. If you buy the device outright (about $150), and don't subscribe to a plan, you just use your regular bucket of minutes. | |
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 |   TKJunkMail Enjoy the sun Premium join:2002-03-03 Avalon, NJ
·Sprint Mobile Broa..
·Comcast
| Re: It may be worth it. said by burgerwars :From what I've read on other forums, there is no requirement to buy one of the unlimited $10/$20 plans. If you buy the device outright (about $150), and don't subscribe to a plan, you just use your regular bucket of minutes. And that is confirmed on AT&T's femtocell web page: »www.wireless.att.com/learn/why/3gmicrocell/
Click on "Unlimited Talk Time" balloon and listen where they tell you that you don't need to buy a plan, but can use cellphone plan minutes. -- My BLOG .. .. Internet News .. .. My Web Page
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 Metatron2008
join:2008-09-02 Stockbridge, GA | Your world. Delivered. By idiots. More at&t stupidity. Femtocells would help the bandwidth they are having to upgrade due to the Iphone yet this will make sure no one buys into it. | |
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 flashcore
join:2007-01-23 Lutherville Timonium, MD
| AT&T, Your world screwed agian! How nice of AT&T to screw over everyone who cant get an ATT Landline or Internet. Just because I am lucky enough to be securely in Verizon FiOS territory (Which I love and would not give up for anything) should not mean I have to pay $20 for the unlimited minutes.
If it was unlimited minutes for free or $5 I would consider this but the fact is unlike Verizon Wireless (Which barely worked on the first floor on my house) I actually get 3G service and more then 1 bar at my house including in my basement. Where is the incentive to buy this and take the strain off there towers if I already have great service (Full Bars) on my iPhone at home and at work. | |
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 |  bn1221
join:2009-04-29 Cortland, NY
·RoadRunner Cable
| Re: AT&T, Your world screwed agian! Yes, it would be nice to even get 3G coverage here in my area. I'd backhaul 3G on my LAN so people can get fast email and contacts on their non-wifi Blackberries.
But they tell me they won't sell to me b/c I'm a business. And the GPS makes it little use in my warehouse where I cannot even get cell coverage. No cell coverage means the GPS isn't goign to lock on for me  | |
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 |  |  beaups
join:2003-08-11 Hilliard, OH | Re: AT&T, Your world screwed agian! No cell coverage has nothing to do with no gps coverage. I have heard (on other carriers) of people running extension cords, placing microcell near windows, etc. in order to get initial gps lock and then moving them wherever they'd like. | |
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@sbc.com | Re: AT&T, Your world screwed agian! GPS lock is not stupid. It ensures you have E911 coverage and are using the device in places where AT&T is licensed to transmit a 3G signal. | |
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@swbell.net | Just fyi the gps is not the only thing that att uses to make sure you are in their area. | |
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  jefe Premium join:2001-05-19 Northport, NY
·Verizon FIOS
| I'm ready to have one.... ....especially if I can pay for the Microcell outright and not incure an additional monthly fee using it.
I went to the live web site Karl pointed to and entered a bunch of zip codes from all around the country. "Unfortunately, the 3G Microcell is not available in your area..."
I wonder where it is available, and when it will come to the rest of us. | |
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  Matt Take me down to the paradise city Premium join:2003-07-20 Jamestown, NC | Penalized?
So, I'm not in an area even served by AT&T for DSL or a landline, so I'm penalized simply because I have shitty AT&T wireless service and I'd like to improve it? | |
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 |  |   Matt Take me down to the paradise city Premium join:2003-07-20 Jamestown, NC
·North State Commun..
| Re: Penalized? said by tubbynet :said by Matt :So, I'm not in an area even served by AT&T for DSL or a landline, so I'm penalized simply because I have shitty AT&T wireless service and I'd like to improve it? of course - because in their eyes you could move to somewhere that had att landline service if you *really* wanted to save some money  . unlimited incoming voip, ftw! q. I am actually contemplating a VoIP solution, but I'm in an unusual situation where I could bump my plan up $20/month and likely never use the minutes, so once I figure in the expense of a VoIP setup, my contract should be over before I'd break even. | |
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 |  |  |   tubbynet reminds me of the danse russe Premium join:2008-01-16 Chandler, AZ
·Cox HSI
·Callcentric
·Sprint Mobile Broa..
·FrontierNet Intern..
| Re: Penalized? said by Matt :I am actually contemplating a VoIP solution, but I'm in an unusual situation where I could bump my plan up $20/month and likely never use the minutes, so once I figure in the expense of a VoIP setup, my contract should be over before I'd break even. depending on your usage patterns, you could come in under $10/month. by leveraging an incoming did, cheap outgoing rates (possibly using a roll-your-own pbx solution), and possibly something like google voice, your costs could be under the cost of a plan upgrade (with probably a higher level of satisfaction).
while i won't bore you with the details -- our voip forum has a lot of smart people (much smarter than i will ever be) in it. additionally, you could hit me up offlist to talk about some options and what i'm currently using to get away with dropping my vzw cell.
q. -- "...if I in my north room dance naked, grotesquely before my mirror waving my shirt round my head and singing softly to myself..." | |
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 |  |  |   TKJunkMail Enjoy the sun Premium join:2002-03-03 Avalon, NJ
·Sprint Mobile Broa..
·Comcast
| Re: Penalized? said by Matt :said by TKJunkMail :said by Matt :So, I'm not in an area even served by AT&T for DSL or a landline, so I'm penalized simply because I have shitty AT&T wireless service and I'd like to improve it? You still can. Just use the minutes on your cellphone plan and don't buy unlimited minutes. You improve coverage and pay no more per month than you do now. You will just have to buy the device. $10 a month is $30 less than $150 amortized over 12 month, plus I get unlimited minutes. You don't get the device for free - even if you pay for a monthly unlimited plan. You lay out that $150(if that is what it costs) in either case. -- My BLOG .. .. Internet News .. .. My Web Page
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 |  |  |  |   Matt Take me down to the paradise city Premium join:2003-07-20 Jamestown, NC
·North State Commun..
| Re: Penalized? said by TKJunkMail :You don't get the device for free - even if you pay for a monthly unlimited plan. You lay out that $150(if that is what it costs) in either case. Ohhhhh, I didn't know that. I thought you didn't pay the $150 if you added the monthly plan. Good to know. | |
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|
 Network Guy
join:2000-08-25 New York
·PHONE POWER
·Broadvox Direct
·Verizon Online DSL
| No thanks Personally, it's pretty balsy of any carrier to charge extra to help improve their coverage when it's easy for any subscriber to switch to the one that works best for them.
Their business plan isn't the customer's problem, it's theirs. Sometimes people forget that telcos sock it to you if you let them. | |
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 |   TKJunkMail Enjoy the sun Premium join:2002-03-03 Avalon, NJ
·Sprint Mobile Broa..
·Comcast
| Re: No thanks said by Network Guy :Personally, it's pretty balsy of any carrier to charge extra to help improve their coverage when it's easy for any subscriber to switch to the one that works best for them. The problem is for people whose house layout, construction, etc degrades cellphone service "IN THE HOUSE" from any cellphone provider. For those people a femtocell is a good deal.
For those people, switching providers isn't a solution.
P.S.>> Sprint recognizes those situations and gives their Airave femtocell away for free. I got mine for nothing and even got a credit for the monthly $5 fee. -- My BLOG .. .. Internet News .. .. My Web Page
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 |  |  Network Guy
join:2000-08-25 New York
·PHONE POWER
·Broadvox Direct
·Verizon Online DSL
| Re: No thanks Then get broadband and VoIP service for the home. If one is looking into this, then one must already use broadband. Do some research and find a VoIP provider that works best for you. Customers shouldn't subsidize yet another cash cow for these douche bags. This is paying them extra 'cause one is too stupid or lazy to consider any other alternatives, or you trust the "brand" or whatever nazi-like loyalty there is.
I find Verizon's debiting from your monthly airtime usage via femtocell particularly insulting. It's almost like the company successfully recognizes subscribers' typical stupidity and raids their wallets accordingly. | |
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 JSRoman Premium join:2005-03-10 Callahan, FL | I see no benefit to consumer All these devices just seem like a rip off for the customer and a net gain for TELCO -- »www.seabee.navy.mil | |
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 Neoistheone
join:2007-01-13 Tornado, WV | I was gonna buy until...... ...... I read that I had to pay a monthly bill to use my own internet connection's bandwidth...... -- When you ASSUME, you make an ASS out of U and ME. | |
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 |   TKJunkMail Enjoy the sun Premium join:2002-03-03 Avalon, NJ
·Sprint Mobile Broa..
·Comcast
| Re: I was gonna buy until...... said by Neoistheone :...... I read that I had to pay a monthly bill to use my own internet connection's bandwidth...... You don't need to pay an extra monthly fee: »Re: Penalized? | |
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 tivoboy
join:2004-05-10 Menlo Park, CA
| cell booster the cell booster listed above, and even the smaller one that the same company sells actually work quite well. I went from 1 bar in my house to easily 4-5, so my phone now actually works with it running. It was only 60$ at amazon, so it was totally work it. | |
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  Neyland
join:2003-02-04 USA
| Can you move it? As long as it's inside the US, can you move the unit for when you're traveling on vacation?
We travel to the Isle of Palms, SC and the cell coverage inside our family's condo is horrible. If we go there for a week, could we take the unit and still use it? Better yet, could we sign up for the service there where we have ATT DSL then take it home and use in on our Comcast connection? | |
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 |   snailspace
join:2000-11-27 Montevallo, AL
| said by Neyland :As long as it's inside the US, can you move the unit for when you're traveling on vacation? We travel to the Isle of Palms, SC and the cell coverage inside our family's condo is horrible. If we go there for a week, could we take the unit and still use it? Better yet, could we sign up for the service there where we have ATT DSL then take it home and use in on our Comcast connection? Installing your device near a window is strongly recommended to ensure access to Global Positioning System (GPS). A GPS link is needed to verify the device location during the initial startup. The 3G MicroCell device is portable. The device may be moved, provided the new location is within the AT&T authorized service area and properly registered online. | |
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  trparky Bite My Shiny Metal Ass Premium,MVM join:2000-05-24 Cleveland, OH clubs: | What about for those of us who have uVerse? How is the pricing going to be for us? -- Tom | |
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 Your20G
join:2009-06-30 | range of device does anybody know the range of the Femtocell technology | |
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 |   snailspace
join:2000-11-27 Montevallo, AL | Re: range of device Enhanced coverage indoors supports both voice and data up to 5000 square feet | |
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 |  voiptop
join:2009-02-06 | It will cover up to 5,000 square feet and allow four data or voice connections -- Consumer VoIP Reviews | |
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  NY Tel Premium join:2004-04-09 Smithtown, NY
·VOIPo
| Here's an industrious person... forget where I found this (may have been here at DSLR) but...... | |
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 |   en102 Canadian, eh?
join:2001-01-26 Valencia, CA | Re: Here's an industrious person... LOL... even if I did have an iPhone and wanted to ditch AT&T, I don't think it would be VZW that I'd be going to. -- Canada = Hollywood North | |
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 |   ILpt4U Premium join:2006-11-12 Lisle, IL | Re: Is AT&T DSL Direct considered a landline? My Dry Loop DSL/DSL Direct line only has a bogus phone number for billing purposes, and there is no dial tone... | |
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