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AT&T 3G MicroCell Site Goes Live, Monthly Fees to Be Up to $19.99?
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I live in west loop, 3 blocks west of Sears tower and ATT 3G is weak. Also it's not device specific so BB is not gonna help you. I have two towers nearby and my download speed is around 500kbs down, 50k up on a good day. Sometimes only Edge is available. Service in downtown area is all over the place in terms of quality.
I live in Charlotte, so I'm definitely a candidate for one of these. In my case, I live downtown and already get excellent reception in my home, so it's not like I need it to improve my signal quality -- if I got one, it would be expressly to add the Unlimited plan, which is cheaper via MicroCell ($19.95/mo) than it would be without MicroCell ($60 more/mo).
A lot of you are scoffing at this, but for the person who just wants to make and receive a ton of calls from home or from the office, the MicroCell is a really good idea and at $19.95 per month for multiple phones, it's cheaper than the usual Unlimited plan at $99/mo per phone.
A lot of you are scoffing at this, but for the person who just wants to make and receive a ton of calls from home or from the office, the MicroCell is a really good idea and at $19.95 per month for multiple phones, it's cheaper than the usual Unlimited plan at $99/mo per phone.
Agreed, but there are work arounds. I live up in the mountains and reception has been spotty for years. Recently they put in a few towers disguised as a pine tree. Sure, if you look for it you can find int really easily, but it's not incredibly noticeable like a big tower would be. Rather smart solution and reception has gotten better!
I just called my local AT&T store (in the Charlotte area.)
I can get the Microcell if I want today. It costs $150 for the unit. If I sign up for the $20 unlimited Microcell talk plan they will send a $100 rebate (so it nets just $50 for the Microcell unit.)
The $20 unlimited Microcell minutes applies to a PLAN. So if you have multiple phones on a Family Plan, they would all benefit from it.
If you have multiple phones, each on their own plan, the $20 would need to be on each plan that wants unlimited calling.
Any AT&T 3G phone can use it (that is configured to use it so no mooching) and if you do not have a $20 unlimited Microcell plan, it just uses your normal minutes.
Hopefully that made sense. I might just have to try it. If they still have one left by the time I get to the store, I'll try it.
-Benster
I can get the Microcell if I want today. It costs $150 for the unit. If I sign up for the $20 unlimited Microcell talk plan they will send a $100 rebate (so it nets just $50 for the Microcell unit.)
The $20 unlimited Microcell minutes applies to a PLAN. So if you have multiple phones on a Family Plan, they would all benefit from it.
If you have multiple phones, each on their own plan, the $20 would need to be on each plan that wants unlimited calling.
Any AT&T 3G phone can use it (that is configured to use it so no mooching) and if you do not have a $20 unlimited Microcell plan, it just uses your normal minutes.
Hopefully that made sense. I might just have to try it. If they still have one left by the time I get to the store, I'll try it.
-Benster
This is a completely great deal.
$20 extra bucks for UNLIMITED minutes on FOUR lines? And I can elimate Skype?
Sounds like a deal.
$20 extra bucks for UNLIMITED minutes on FOUR lines? And I can elimate Skype?
Sounds like a deal.
Doesn't T-Mobile's offering use UMA, which means only a subset of their phones will work with that service?
How much does Verizon cost for unlimited calls through theirs?
Verizon's device is $250, and Sprint charges $30 a month. So yes, they are cheaper in Bizarro world.
EXACTLY!
Finally someone who GETS IT!
It's only $20 if you want/need that option.
I can see people getting the $20 unlimited plan and cancelling their landline. Or if you run a small biz outta your home.
THis is perf!
This is amazing. ..... 40 ft in any direction. Lets see, I have a NORMAL 2 story home, 2300 sq. ft. At&T Uvers Router upstairs in one corner of the house.... It's more than 40 ft. to my downstairs bedroom where I use the iPhone at night. A lot of good this would do.... At least they could give something capable of 100 ft at this price.
Wow! What a release, considering we are on the brink of 4G.
I think AT&T is going to be a while for 4G. That's why they are pushing up the data speed for 3G.
seems i'm missing something.
i pay att already for some 900 minutes per month and i have about 300 minutes per month left. i have unlimited weekend and night minutes on top of that.
why would anyone pay additional 20 dollar to use even less of there minutes that they have in excess and use up internet bandwith instead? what is the use of that?
even if I would exceed my 900 minutes per month wouldn't it be better to pay the 20 dollar for more minutes in the normal contract. then i could call from everywhere and would not be dependend on my internet connection.
i pay att already for some 900 minutes per month and i have about 300 minutes per month left. i have unlimited weekend and night minutes on top of that.
why would anyone pay additional 20 dollar to use even less of there minutes that they have in excess and use up internet bandwith instead? what is the use of that?
even if I would exceed my 900 minutes per month wouldn't it be better to pay the 20 dollar for more minutes in the normal contract. then i could call from everywhere and would not be dependend on my internet connection.
Yeah, I was wondering that too. The site states you can get more than one of these units but that would get rather pricey. We'll just have to wait and see what other that actually have the device report on how well it works I guess.
"those with both home phone and Internet service from AT&T will be able to utilize the 3G MicroCell service for free."
Sounds good to me!
Great way to keep people happy if they have a land line but with more poeple going cell only that is an issue. I feel it you have lets see just 3 services from AT&T it should be free. Those services being internet, TV, Home Phone and cell.
So if you have AT&T Uverse it should be free. But no.
As for people bitching about it it only cost you money if you want unlimited minutes. Lets face it most people have tons of roll over any how so not like it will effect them.
Also people bitching about AT&T coverage in doors or around buildings compared to Verizon need to remember CDMA is much more powerful signal than what GSM phones use and is able to punch though building a hell of a lot better.
Top it off in a heavy CDMA areas GSM phones drowned up by the more powerful CDMA signals.
hmm...
One thing that wasn't clear, was you mentioned that if you had multiple phones, each with their own plan, then you'd have to add the $20 unlimited minute deal to each plan. But why, if you could just add it to one, then authorize the other phones in the house to have access to the device? why wouldnt everyone just benefit from the microcell just being added to one plan. Im confused. This should just be free. ATT sucks.
One thing that wasn't clear, was you mentioned that if you had multiple phones, each with their own plan, then you'd have to add the $20 unlimited minute deal to each plan. But why, if you could just add it to one, then authorize the other phones in the house to have access to the device? why wouldnt everyone just benefit from the microcell just being added to one plan. Im confused. This should just be free. ATT sucks.
Yes, basically ....
I spoke with our AT&T business account rep. and one of their network engineers about this technology last year, when they brought it up as something new they were working on.
Honestly, the places I can see it working well would be areas where people generally don't expect their cellular coverage to be any good anyway. (Sprint, for example, was rolling out their own version of this technology, and their primary focus was on subway tunnels, where people were losing their cellphone signals otherwise.)
AT&T suggested in our case, for example, we might purchase one of these microcell transmitters to install in our building's basement, so our employees would always have a functional phone down there, where they normally have spotty coverage at best.
It makes sense when implemented that way, but if they market it at consumers - they run the risk of people interpreting it just like you did. People generally expect their cellphones to "just work" in their own homes, and see it as the carrier trying to "get out of paying for their own network build-out" if they ask you to buy a box like this to make it work better for you at home.
I spoke with our AT&T business account rep. and one of their network engineers about this technology last year, when they brought it up as something new they were working on.
Honestly, the places I can see it working well would be areas where people generally don't expect their cellular coverage to be any good anyway. (Sprint, for example, was rolling out their own version of this technology, and their primary focus was on subway tunnels, where people were losing their cellphone signals otherwise.)
AT&T suggested in our case, for example, we might purchase one of these microcell transmitters to install in our building's basement, so our employees would always have a functional phone down there, where they normally have spotty coverage at best.
It makes sense when implemented that way, but if they market it at consumers - they run the risk of people interpreting it just like you did. People generally expect their cellphones to "just work" in their own homes, and see it as the carrier trying to "get out of paying for their own network build-out" if they ask you to buy a box like this to make it work better for you at home.
The $20/month plan seems to be OPTIONAL. So if you had bad coverage at home, just buy the device, but don't sign up for the unlimited plan.
For people with home phones + cell phones, it may make financial sense to ditch the home phone and pay the $20/month to be able to use the cell phone as freely as they want at home, like they did with a landline home phone.
More info: The AT&T 3G MicroCell unit costs $150 for the hardware, which is all you really need. There is a $100 rebate available if you sign up for the $19.95/mo MicroCell Unlimited plan.
What?
850mhz punches through buildings a hell of a lot better than 1900mhz.
Much of Verizon's network is 850mhz.
AT&T's moving 3G to 850mhz in the markets where it can.
It's the frequency of the service (850mhz/1900mhz), not the format (GSM/CDMA), that has the most impact of it being able to punch through. Nextel, at 700mhz, was crazy.
Andi, the point is that you could cut back on your mobile plan (drop down to the 450 minute plan, for example) and switch to the Unlimited plan. Whether it makes sense depends on how many of those minutes you use while in your house. You need to do the math. People who are currently on the $99 Unlimited plan and who mostly use their phones in their homes could save considerable money by switching to the MicroCell Unlimited plan.
To me, this feature is great. All cell companies have some problems inside buildings. So bitching that they should have a cell tower near your house anyway is just sour grapes. You can return your phone for free when you prove that your provider's phone signal won't work in your house anyway.
Regarding the cost, it is probably a bit steep at $20/month for me to get it, but if that goes down to $10, then I'd probably do it. $20 might be worth it if it doesn't cost me minutes while I'm calling from my WAP-enabled home.
Regarding the cost, it is probably a bit steep at $20/month for me to get it, but if that goes down to $10, then I'd probably do it. $20 might be worth it if it doesn't cost me minutes while I'm calling from my WAP-enabled home.