We've been talking for a few years now about how femtocells are fundamentally a useful idea -- given the devices route wireless calls over your home broadband connection. The problem has always been that carriers seem intent on sucking all value out of the devices, despite the fact they ease local tower congestion and can be a useful customer retention tool. For example Verizon's 3G Network Extender costs $350, fails to give users full security control, and in some instances eats user wireless minutes. While AT&T and Verizon have been known to give these devices away, exactly who gets them has always been inconsistent. A user over at Droid Life indicates that Verizon has been sending out text messages to some users that includes a phone number and a promise for a free Network Extender, though when users call -- not everybody gets to participate in the offer, which the message states is for a limited time.
Free is good, my parents have the older non 3G extender and it works great. They live on the edge of a service area where basically they have service until they enter their subdivision. So having this device in their house let them keep Verizon as their cell provider. Just to bad they had to pay for it, although at the time I think they only paid $100 after rebate.
I wouldn't mind having one of these if they were free. I think VZW should offer it for free if its open, but gives numbers you specify priority. Or, buy it for $199.99 and have it locked down to only numbers you allow.
I don't think femtocells should be distributed completely free of charge. Wireless carriers can not possibly be expected to provide 100% perfect signal coverage in environments they can't control -- such as your private residence.
That being said.. it is ludicrous to expect the the end user to pay for the privilege of using the device! I think it is reasonable to expect subscribers to pay ~$100 for the femtocell, with the provision that all voice and data usage through the femtocell is not billed. Also if owners of the femtocells are expected to leave it open to the general public, the owner should be compensated in the form of a flat-rate or usage-based credit to their bill. After all, you are freeing resources on the provider's network.
I was offered one last week for $100 because for some reason in my home my signal is full bars. When I get on a call the signal drops to 0 bars from full. I don't see any reason for this so Verizon offered me a 3g femtocell for $100.
I don't think femtocells should be distributed completely free of charge. Wireless carriers can not possibly be expected to provide 100% perfect signal coverage in environments they can't control -- such as your private residence.
LOL It's not about having a perfect signal. If you can't get reliable service in your home, you should be given one of these.
Not bullshit. If you complain about your service and threaten to switch (helps if you are out of contract), they will give you one for free. Free, as in no upfront or monthly charges.
UMA started on Blackberry with T-Mobile, and I too think that this is the best way to extend coverage. This means if I'm in a hotel, I have it, if I'm overseas I have it, if I'm in a bunker 250 feet underground I have it, and no need to lug a device around with me...
I moved right outside NYC and the service here is kinda crappy especially in my house and its a known issue to VZW. I called about it and argued the point and was given the OK to cancel with no fee. I said I was going to and would port my number to whoever I landed with. A couple of days later I got a call from VZW and after some haggling I explained I would cancel before I paid them another penny for the privilege of sending them $100+ a month. I was finally asked what I was willing to pay and said $50. The rep agreed and I was sent the extender.
No, if you used your brain and thought it through you would understand that the cost of 2 phones to replace the 2 I have with VZW would've clearly cost moe than $50.
