If you live in one of those houses where making a call on your AT&T phone requires standing in a specific corner, knocking three times, and saying a short prayer, you were probably pretty jazzed to hear about MicroCell, AT&T’s broadband-powered cell tower for your living room. When we discovered mentions of the MicroCell in an iPhone update, you probably got outright excited. It seemed like it was just weeks away from launch.
That was February. 4 months later, AT&T has still been mostly mum on the matter – until now. Unstrung caught AT&T network delivery honcho Gordon Mansfield talking up the MicroCell, saying it’s “on track for a full national launch by the end of 2009.” A window of six months? Pah! That’s like a lifetime in the mobile world. There will be 14 new iPhones released by then!
So don’t worry, folks – by the time you have a flying car and a broadband connection in said flying car, you’ll be able to pick up a MicroCell to go along with it.
Wow, I was just thinking about the MicroCell yesterday. For some reason my new iPhone 3G S is having issues holding a call in my condo downtown Chicago. With my iPhone 3G I could go back into my den and hold a call, with the 3G S I drop it by the time I hit the kitchen. Very touchy subject. Please AT&T come up with something to help with the horrific reception that these new iPhones get. I am extremely unsatisfied to hear that they are this far away from releasing these things.
Wonder what the holdup is? Seems like it would take some strain off ATT’s network if some of the load were pushed off to subs’ (wired) home broadband connections. Ironically, in cases like mine (I have Verizon FiOS), adding to the load of their competitors.
Save your money – I use Skype for the iPhone in my home since I’ve got great WIFI converage throughout the house. Works with the iTouch as well
What AT&T should do is set up a little shop at the corner of Tacit Acknowledgment Ave & Mea Culpa Blvd. and GIVE these puppies away.
Isn’t cell phone service what the contract we signed promises? and in doing so: Isn’t coverage what we pay for?
Personally I LOVE driving past the AT&T billboards that read “Best Nationwide Coverage” … only to look down at my JesusPhone & read “No Service”
So i would suggest a contest or give-a-way of some sort: maybe a free microcell to the first 10 “early adopters” of the 3G in each of the lower 48
… or subsidize the price
… or even have it do double duty operating as both a 3G amplifier & something like an Airport Extreme
Anything less rewards AT&Ts mediocre network offering by allowing the company to profit from the sale of phones, the service contracts and NOW some form of supplementary coverage.
To charge for poor service – then charge an additional fee for potentially better service is nothing more than tiered pricing – and built on the same economic principles as an old school mob style protection racket.