Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
AT&T Set to Roll Out Nationwide 3G MicroCell Availability Beginning Next Month
- Thread starter MacRumors
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
Single Wireless Provider
We are still living in the relative infancy of wireless services. Right now, the providers want to charge us one fee for cell phone service, another for DSL home Internet, a third for TV, a fourth for iPad 3G, and perhaps a fifth for laptop connectivity.
Let's hope that the day will come when connecting to the Internet will only require one wireless service, and you'll be able to access it from anywhere, on as many devices as you own. I don't think it will be too much longer before some of these can be combined, and hopefully all of them eventually. Clearwire may be one example of a company that is trying to do something along those lines, but the customer reviews posted online are not very good for them yet.
We are still living in the relative infancy of wireless services. Right now, the providers want to charge us one fee for cell phone service, another for DSL home Internet, a third for TV, a fourth for iPad 3G, and perhaps a fifth for laptop connectivity.
Let's hope that the day will come when connecting to the Internet will only require one wireless service, and you'll be able to access it from anywhere, on as many devices as you own. I don't think it will be too much longer before some of these can be combined, and hopefully all of them eventually. Clearwire may be one example of a company that is trying to do something along those lines, but the customer reviews posted online are not very good for them yet.
When did it become a cell phone users *right* to have Cell reception *everywhere*?...
When we paid money for services rendered time and time again. Times change, coverage and offerings should grow with advancements. It's not very confusing. Provide what the customers demand ( when it reasonable and will eventually result in further profits or a lack of lost revenue when people jump ship for the provider willing to jump through the next hoop ).
...and this is exactly why they should get this device free. By providing it for free it ensures they get to have that customer which will far exceed the device cost.
Cell companies should provide service most everywhere to meet the demands of customers, it's not hard to understand. Cell phone providers in this country suck and are well overpriced especially for the lack of service we receive.
I've worked for T-Mobile and AT&T as a field tech and also as a NOC Tech watching over their main cellular infrastructure. The large telco companies, they just refuse to get with the times, innovate or simply do what's right for their customers and themselves. I'm rather amazed anything telco related works to any reliability really with what I've seen over the past 10 years.
it pathetic how 90% of the people here cant read. just shows how spoiled the 
community is. they want everything free. I WANT FREE INTERNET ON MY IPAD. I WANT FREE TETHERING. I WANT ATT WIFI WHEN I DONT EVEN HAVE A 3G IPAD. yet att is giving you the best deal out of all 4. you people discussed me.
community is. they want everything free. I WANT FREE INTERNET ON MY IPAD. I WANT FREE TETHERING. I WANT ATT WIFI WHEN I DONT EVEN HAVE A 3G IPAD. yet att is giving you the best deal out of all 4. you people discussed me.It probably won't work.
1. In the FAQ, can not switch from microcell to microcell
http://www.wireless.att.com/learn/why/3gmicrocell/faq.jsp#using
2. These randomly placed cells are likely to have varying levels of overlap between other micro cells in several areas (won't always be used on some remote farm out in the boondocks. Can also with some frequency get dense locations with duplicative overlapping devices. ). You cannot just generally plop down towers anywhere and get a stable network. Because the microcell is tied to a single (or up to 10) number(s) then don't really have to worry about roaming effects between cells.
If you get decent coverage you don't need one.
I agree. Why are I paying ATT's already too expensive monthly rate? This "guaranteed" connection sounds like admission of guilt. They have finally admitted their service is not guaranteed. I smell Class Action law suit.
Did you miss the part where his example where mentions his folks already own a cell phone. There is no new customer in that example. Just one where the device works in more locations. There is no new revenue though.
(only perhaps if they switch from a "pay go" plan to a monthly always on plan )
Nobody gives away free hardware. They may bury the costs in some other payment/invoice but it isn't free. All that happens when you hand out subsidized hardware is the monthly bill goes up. Countries where phones aren't sold on credit ( which is what subsidized really is), generally have much lower month charges.
Most cell carriers have drill down maps which outline where they do not have coverage. The only places that is misleading is from inside of buildings or deep urban canyons. Folks who are in the boonies, know they are in the boonies.
If you can find a place in your ATT contract that guaranteed coverage then you might have something. It is extremely doubtful that ATT ever even remotely promised universal coverage in a contract though.
There is no way in hell any service provider whether it be, Satellite, Internet, Phone(land lines too), would guarantee service, since there are times when you won't be able to get service.
Apparently it is confusing for you. Regardless of whether US telcos are decades behind (which I believe they are) when you pay for service, you are not paying for better future service, you are paying for the service you have already received. The motivation for a telco to provide better service is to get more costumers, NOT because they signed a contract with their costumer wherein they promise to use the fees to create a better product.
Your idea is nice, but its far from the reality of any business where you pay a monthly fee for a service. I can't off the top of my head think of an industry where this is the expectations. But I can think of dozens upon dozens of examples where what you pay for is what you get, and no more (see every one of my monthly bills).
I don't complain because my gym doesn't add new equipment fast enough. When I signed up for my gym I checked everything out, and made a business decision. I decided that what they were providing was worth the price, and if they provided more in the future, awesome.
If the same service suddenly costed more, OR if the same priced service suddenly lost functionality, I would understand the complaint. However neither of those scenarios applies to AT&T offering the Microcell.
The basis for your theory is that every costumer that they don't provide this free (yet expensive to provide) device to is a lost costumer. In my opinion this basis is extremely flawed. Costumers don't leave because a company provides a new service, and keeps the current service the exact same.
They should, and this device helps them do that. We both agree about this it seems, we just don't agree on whether the costumer should have to pay for better service, or if it is somehow an inherent right.
However what you are paying for is NOT "better future service" or "100% coverage", and any costumer who thinks that is a fool.
As a person in a technical field with general understandings of communication infrastructure, I agree 100%. But just because some other country provides the people different color water on demand, with temperature control down to the half degree and for less money, doesn't mean I suddenly have the right to demand the same thing from my own water provider for free. At least IMHO.
How is this negative? It's better than not offering it at all and they don't force you to get a subscription just pay for the hardware. In my experience most people that get bad reception are either in the sticks or building materials are the cause. At least they have the option to get this and still use their iphone in their cement safe room.
Femtocells are an inherently dumb idea if their owner also has to pay for using them. I can see some justification for having to pay for the device itself, but after that I am using my hardware, located on my real estate, using my, paid for 'backhaul' to connect to the network. The carrier has little to do with any of it.
This complaint is not specific to AT&T. All cellular carriers tend to behave like worthless parasites.
This complaint is not specific to AT&T. All cellular carriers tend to behave like worthless parasites.
Wtf? You think a wireless connection, using radio waves, is guaranteed? Exactly what are the laws of physics like where you come from? And where in your cell phone contract did you mistakenly read this "guarantee" of service at?
You HAVE to have been born in the late 90's to consider what you just said is reasonable
Femtocells are an inherently dumb idea if their owner also has to pay for using them. I can see some justification for having to pay for the device itself, but after that I am using my hardware, located on my real estate, using my, paid for 'backhaul' to connect to the network. The carrier has little to do with any of it.The carrier still has a LOT to do with it. You may either go educate yourself on communication infrastructure, or take my word for it.
And $20 a month for unlimited calling? That's less that most land line companies who also want you to pay for using "your hardware, on your realestate, using your paid for 'backhaul'".
Agreed
Yes, because the other 3 major carriers who have been selling a similar product for at least a year now have been sued
Oh, and since I know it's coming, before anyone whines that they can't use it overseas to avoid roaming and accuse AT&T of being greedy, it's because these microcells broadcast on licensed spectrum and AT&T has to own the licenses in the area where the microcell is located for it to be legal. Obviously AT&T doesn't own licensed spectrum in foreign countries.
When did the idea that a cell tower having a "dead spot" is a bug, or a mistake? Seriously, did you guys not grow up with radio? Exact same fracking concept.
Using your cell phone everywhere is no more of a right, either inherent to the service or to the laws of physics, than is listening to the radio everywhere. In the mean time Technology is coming out to provide better coverage. Yes, it's decades behind parts of the world. And yes, it isn't free. But it *IS* better coverage, and no one is being forced into it.
Using your cell phone everywhere is no more of a right, either inherent to the service or to the laws of physics, than is listening to the radio everywhere. In the mean time Technology is coming out to provide better coverage. Yes, it's decades behind parts of the world. And yes, it isn't free. But it *IS* better coverage, and no one is being forced into it.
Wow, I could have chosen a variety of posts that I have read up to now, but it is so heartening to see so many "TEA Party" activists here on MacRumors!
Considering the "progressive ideas" of the liberal left that are being put into play courtesy of the current administration, the idea that "Let me get this straight... I have to pay MORE money to use my 'insert what you will here' that I pay for 'insert what you will here' so that I would have 'insert what you will here'? No thanks... Such a ripoff. (remember that in November! -
OT
His folks "deal" with their predicament, other's don't and certainly would jump at any other real viable option. So by providing what keep their customers is generally in the best interests of the the company. It's not just about increased revenue it's also to KEEP your customers and thus your revenue. If they had that device they're much less likely to change carriers.
It's funny about subsidy because I bought my original iPhone at full price when they weren't subsidized. Meanwhile others bought them at the subsidized price at no real extra cost per month, so I can't help but think I was screwed while yes I could just drop my service if I wanted because I had no obligation contact wise.
It would be easy to add this device into any sort of subsidized cost. I'd add a year to my contract if I got one free or even cheap. The phone company make so much money that in 2 years they easy pay off the cost of that extra $400 dollars they had to subsidize.
What's funny is how terrible reception is in places it shouldn't. Yet when I visit the boonies I get great reception. While sometimes getting T1's out to locations can cost extra in the boonies, land rental is generally cheaper as well. Worst case also they can set up MW connections ( which they do a lot in AZ and in remote regions ) to bridge those gaps.
I'm going to give AT&T a choice
They can either give me the device for free or I am cancelling my service. I just moved and the reception is piss poor in my house. My building is standard wood construction, no metal or concrete, so I don't want to hear about that building materials argument. My room mate has Verizon and has excellent 3G coverage (or whatever the heck Verizon calls their high speed network)..
My phone goes from 3G to EDGE... 4 bars down to 1... back to 4... It's crazy. I have dropped calls, some people call me and my phone never rings, and then I get the voice mail 10 minutes later, delayed texts, you name it. I'm not paying $110 a month for this garbage, and then having to pay an extra $150 for a device they should be giving to their customers for free since it is their lack of network quality that is causing the issues.
They can either give me the device for free or I am cancelling my service. I just moved and the reception is piss poor in my house. My building is standard wood construction, no metal or concrete, so I don't want to hear about that building materials argument. My room mate has Verizon and has excellent 3G coverage (or whatever the heck Verizon calls their high speed network)..
My phone goes from 3G to EDGE... 4 bars down to 1... back to 4... It's crazy. I have dropped calls, some people call me and my phone never rings, and then I get the voice mail 10 minutes later, delayed texts, you name it. I'm not paying $110 a month for this garbage, and then having to pay an extra $150 for a device they should be giving to their customers for free since it is their lack of network quality that is causing the issues.
You moved to an area that AT&T does not provide coverage. How is this AT&T's problem?
Are you going to complain when you move to a remote desert island too? Or could it be that your expectations are unrealistic?
It seems the pricing is backwards, AT&T should be paying us for off loading data from the 3g network.
This should be a FREE app for a WiFi phone as long as you pay for a monthly service. Once 4g and Wi-Max are main stream most of the plans will be this way anyway. Minute plans are a thing of the past; just let it go AT&T and embrace the future.
This should be a FREE app for a WiFi phone as long as you pay for a monthly service. Once 4g and Wi-Max are main stream most of the plans will be this way anyway. Minute plans are a thing of the past; just let it go AT&T and embrace the future.
THAT is what people find confusing. The average Joe may not understand that. I think the perception is that this device relays everything from your phone through your internet connection.
If that were the case, people would be rightly PO'd. As far as I understand it, you're paying $150 for your own personal cell tower in your house. That's pretty bad ass, actually.