AT&T MicroCell program in limited rollout
Here’s an idea whose time more than a little overdue — turn your home into a “five bars everywhere” mini cell site. However, pricing and available details are still a bit sketchy as Ma Bell plays catch up in yet another wireless category.
AT&T 3G MicroCell (via Engadget) Web site has gone live months after Sprint and Verizon began their own (limited) rollouts. The advantage of being one’s own microcellular site is guarantied reception at home (not always a given with traditional cell towers alone) and, depending on what services you’re already getting from Ma Bell, that any minutes used won’t count against the plan.
Apparently for AT&T customers that have mobile, landline and broadband subscriptions, this add-on feature is free, though additional equipment is required (which may or may not be “free”) and there’s apparently a fairly involved set up. It’s being suggested that other AT&T customers, such as landline and iPhone account holders, are also eligible for this service with monthly charges stating at $9.99.
There’s good, there’s not so good
This Crunchgear write up notes that calls initiated on a MicroCell that leave the home and get picked up by AT&T’s towers will not be charged against the user’s plan minutes
Thereupon, before you get your 3G knickers in bunch over the prospect of using AT&T MicroCell, you need to know that it’s currently only available in Charlotte, North Carolina right now — some roll out.
Are there any Verizon or Sprint “microcell” subscribers out there? Let the rest of us your impression of this type of service, because it certainly sounds hot…
What’s your take?
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