AT&T MicroCell Prices and Would You Pay Them?
We all new AT&T’s MicroCell was coming, and we all knew the pricing was likely to be (what’s a more insane word for insane than insane?). Now Sascha Segan from Gearlog has word on the Charlotte, North Carolina launch, and just what those insanely insane prices are:
According to an AT&T rep in Charlotte, the MicroCell costs $150 and service is free (heck, you’re saving AT&T money by using it) unless you sign up for AT&T’s “unlimited talk” option, which gives you unlimited minutes of calling over your microcell. That costs an extortionate $20/month, though it also gets you a rebate on your device.
It uses GPS to verify your location during setup, so don’t try to use it out of AT&T coverage zones or internationally (you know, where the pricing may actually be worth it).
Is it just us or is this like going to MacDonald’s, not getting fries in your combo meal, and then being told if you really want them, bring your own potatoes and for a couple bucks extra they’ll let you cut and fry them up yourself?
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Before the iPhone, I had a BlackBerry on T-Mobile. T-Mobile allows you to make VOIP calls against your minutes no matter where you are in the world (for instance, in my in-laws’ basement in Canada, where you can’t get any Rogers signal, I’d make calls, using my T-Mobile minutes on their WiFi). That should be the standard.
I would agree… I would rather see the iPhone/ATT support voip calls over wifi. However, living in a basement I would gladly pay a $150 for this device. The $20 a month for unlimited calls is a bit steep, so I wouldn’t go with that add on.
I have cable internet in my home.. I had two choices for the modem.. pay the company monthly, or buy one myself.. I bought one myself for $100.. even though I am using their service.. so, this idea seems pretty standard.. they don’t just give away equipment.. thankfully though, I don’t need this.
I agree this is insane, my home does not get AT&T service at all and been told many times by AT&T too bad.. but I have a iPhone that I don’t want to give up. I think for people who have made a case with AT&T of no service in the area should get this completely free after all they advertise on their website and in their stores that my area has strong coverage, yeah whatever!
What really is the point of this? I understand uma that works at any wifi location but it strike me that you’d have to cart this device with you from location to location, attach it to each network you use (if that’s allowed) just to come close to the benefits of uma. Then you have to pay at$t for the device and the service? You’d have to be an idiot.
Hey, I have a better idea: Build a network that functions properly with plain old towers, and we won’t need this garbage. I think a better option is to find another carrier.
This is extortion, and idiots will pay for it. It’s AT&T’s responsibility to expand their network – not ours.
This is 100% extortion.
I hope this isn’t their grand bandwidth increasing idea.
CEO: Hey! I have an idea! Lets charge customers too much for a device and then charge them monthly so that they can lend us bandwidth for the service they’re paying for!
Has anyone hear ever had another cell carrier other then AT&T?.. I mean come on.. I call people all the time in their homes and their service sucks, and cracks, and acts crazy.. Verizon, Sprint, T-Mobile.. there is interference in the home.. they have to get up, and go outside to talk.. its crazy.. everyone, every single network is dead at my place of employment.. its a dead zone.. this thing would help folks that want to get rid of a house phone, but didn’t feel like it was reliable enough.. $150 is a little much.. but $100 is about right.. the $20 monthly fee isn’t needed.. its only for people that want the option.. Why is this so bad?
I’d just like to remind everyone today is the last day of summer and I have yet to have MMS…that is all.
AT&T is really missing the boat here…
@dev
100% extortion? What a drama queen. No one is forcing you to use this or AT&T’s services for that matter. Get a clue.
The majority of people willing to do this (including me) only do so to have a better signal for an iphone. Otherwise we would have gone to another carrier. As soon as AT&Ts exclusivity changes on the iPhone, so will their rules.
I agree with d.allen, this is not a solution to the network and has nothing to do with that, it’s simply a solution to help boost your bars at home if needed. Honestly, I live in the DC Metro area an there are very few places I go that I don’t have 3G. I’ve been happy with AT&T yet realize other haven’t and honestly, I will stay with them even if the iPhone dies go to verizon because I’ve always had problems with verizon. Anways, off topic, I personally won’t buy this but I think it’s great that AT&T is offering this.
Oh great…somebody else calling themselves dev…time to change my name, sigh.
Yes, AT&T should be beefing up their own network rather than charging customers to do it for them. That does not make it extortion. At worst, it makes it insultingly overpriced.
@Therealtruth
It is extortion. Nowadays, folks are consolidating their multiple phone lines into one phone – their cell phones. When you buy your phone, you look at coverage maps, etc. You get home and realize that your house is an AT&T dead zone, whatever the reason may be.
So, AT&T acknowledges the problem and becomes aware of their dead zones. Instead of upgrading their infrastructure via their own towers, they place the burden on their subscribers. “You bought the phone; if you want the reception, buy your own MicroCell.”
In my eyes, this is no different than buying an iPhone, and then AT&T turning around and saying, “if you want better reception, you’ll have to shell out an additional $150 for the ‘upgraded’ internal antennae.” Could if you just spent $200 on a cell phone, only to learn that for it to function as it should, you’d have to purchase an additional $150 component? This MicroCell technology is, essentially, no different.
*While Europe and Asia forge ahead with more expansive, faster networks, here in the US, we’re focusing on expanding networks with personal MicroCells, which don’t bring any other benefit but reception. I was in Switzerland this past Summer, at 14,000ft on top of a mountain; I had 5 full bars of 3G on my iPhone. These MicroCells are as “revolutionary” to the cell phone industry as when AT&T will finally bring MMS to the iPhone.
This is just another futile innovation that doesn’t do anything to make the domestic network infrastructure itself any better.
I guess I dont understand – if you have access to a device like that, you would be using WiFi. Why would ATT not just activate the capability of a VoIP type function? That would reduce the stress on the networks alot of place would be my guess. I would not want to give up the feature of talking on the phone while looking up something on the web however.
Paying for the device doesn’t seem unreasonable. It’s your choice. But to charge for unlimited callig over it?
Plain ad simple, every call that goes over this thin should be totally free since you’re doing AT&T a favor and saving them money by not using their network!
Two thing left out of this article.
1 No $20 fee for unlimited if you have AT&T land line and broadband. $10 if you only hve one or the other.
2 Calls initiated on microcell under the unlimited plan are totally free I you leave and hand off to the cell network continuing your call.
I agree with dev
build out your own network and their will be no need for this.
Not sure if it’s extortion, but everything else he says is spot on. Especially if the coverage map says you should get coverage. Only thing with that is the coverage map doesn’t quite say how strong that coverage will be.
@dev
Extortion: “the practice of obtaining something, esp. money, through force or threats”
so AT&T is forcing and threatening you to use their products?
Why didn’t all of you that are complaining make sure that your phone worked in your home, before you went through with the contract.. you have 30 days to decide if you want to stay with the company.. If I went home, and my phone I just payed 200 bucks for, didn’t work.. I wouldn’t stay with that cell carrier.. period.. I understand if some have moved.. but thats probably not the case.. they are offering these to people who aren’t in good coverage areas.. thats a great idea for someone that needs it, cause in all likelihood.. they couldn’t just switch to Verizon to fix the problem.
Man people crack me up! Taylorh, good on you for reading about making unlimited calls over your microcell for the $20 and not costing you to hand the call over to the cell tower when you leave your house. I dont know why so many people are complaining about this. If you dont want to pay the $20 a month for unlimited. Its just using your minutes off your current plan. This is awesome! And for the people wanting AT&T to just upgrade their network, as everyone knows all carriers have “dead zones” you cant expect every inch of the US to be covered by cell service from one carrier. There isnt enough Spectrum for everyone.
This device is perfect for someone, like me, who gets great service OUSIDE their home/condo but doesn’t get any or little service inside due to thick walls/windows. If I open my balcony door, I get great service BUT my balcony door has to be open. Not gonna work in the winter. This device will allow me to have a phone inside without having to open the balcony door. Its not AT&T’s fault (for once) because I get perfect service right outside my door….its due to the wall/windows. Everyone has this problem in my building (except sprint which works pretty well – different frequency?). Plus, I have tons of rollover minutes and do not need to pay for the unlimited Microcell plan – just let me pay my $150 or whatever it is and have service in my home.
Well first off what happened to AT&T’s wonderful coverage. Appearently the joke is over and people are finally getting their signal sucks to say the least. Also they should rather other a free voip service for the iPhone seeming this would take the load off the towers that AT&T admitts are crap. I don’t see why anyone would get this service thought. Why not use something like Skype that’s under $3 a month?
@d.Allen:
No, its probably aluminium siding.
I’ve seen this so many times. Stand in a window, good coverage. Move behind a wall, no coverage.
If you have 3g coverage outside, but not inside, buying a cell repeater might make more sense than paying 20 bucks a month for this service from ATT.
http://tinyurl.com/cezcz
@icebike..
sometimes its windows and walls as the gent above mentioned.. sometimes, you’re just in a dead area.. it happens.. you aren’t forced to spend the 20 a month though.. and as taylorh noted.. its free unlimited if you have 2 att services, or only $10 if you have one.. Giving people this option, isn’t a bad thing.. I personally don’t need it though.. so, I don’t care.. but the option is there.. and that will be nice for some folks. Its seems the people here, want to bash, just because.
BWAHAHAHAHA!!!
Fools!!! It’s not the network that sucks in your region, it’s your damn iPhones! The coverage maps aren’t perfect, but they’re correct. It’s your phone that has a weak connection to the network. I’ve been with AT&T for 7 years, upgrade phones on average every 9 months because I’m a phone geek and love my gadgets. I’ve bought HTC winmo phones, blackberries and Nokia’s. NEVER had a problem, ever. Bought my iPhone and next thing you know, dropped calls, failed calls, and slow or dropped Internet connections. Not all the time, but it happens frequently throughout the week, and it happens at the spots where I’ve always used my phones before, like the office, home, my running trails, etc. So AT&T has a solution to help you, and yet you complain?! Don’t like it, get a different phone! AT&T owes you nothing, you’re the one who wants the iPhone. You want the tower for free, tough luck! I’m sure the investors like to receive dividends instead of handing out free towers to people. You want unlimited minutes while connected to the device? Same answer as the previous question. Not…..going…….to…….happen.
ps. – @Sylv, it’s not the 25th yet, maybe you missed the previous press release.
and icebike.. the repeater you posted.. thats $350.. I could have bought my iphone and the microcell for that(being that I still wouldn’t need or want unlimited minutes)
Verizon has the same type of device called a Network Extender that will only give you voice and not data plus it is almost twice the cost of the Microcell!! These types of devices are great if you live in an area that you can’t get reception at home. Eliminates the need for a home phone with a monthly fee. I am all for it and will be picking one up on friday!!!
Also as stated by AT&T on Facebook, Prices arent Final, Its going through a public trial process in the “selected area” Its $150 for the device with a $100 main in rebate. IT COSTS NOTHING IF YOU USE YOUR OWN MINUTES WITH IT. If you want unliminted minutes for upto 4 phones. Its $20 a month. Meaning if you have 3 friends come over to watch the football game, While you are hosting the game, you can provision their phones to make unlimited calls over your microcell. Add WiFi to that and you have unlimited data to boot. Plus all calls started over the MIcrocell and handed over to an AT&T tower when you are out of the Microcell coverage dont count against your personal minutes. So you could be talking at your house, drive off in your car while still talking, and be using your unlimited minutes from your microcell an hour away from your house. Until you hang up that call. This is amazing.
@D.Allen:
I’m not objecting to this device being available, but I just see no reason ATT should profit monthly from it.
They should put it in for a set fee, and let you keep it for as long as you have cell service with them for no additional charge.
If they can give it to you free on their network, why not on comcast or ADSL or whatever?
Why should you have to pay ATT to use your OWN bandwidth?
Why PAY them to extend their network on your own facilities?
And as for the 350 for a cell repeater being too high, do the math:
150 Purchase of Microcell (its actually a femtocell). 240 /year for unlimited Total one year cost = 390. Add to that some percentage of your Boradband bill, say, $5 per month, and you are up to $450.
IceBike, what dont you understand here? Your not paying $1 for it monthly UNLESS you want unlimited. If you already have unlimited on your cell plan its free. If you have 450 minutes on your line and IF YOU PAY $20 a month TO CHOOSE unlimited over the cell you can have that for up to 4 phones. Currently the device it $150 with $100 mail in rebate. So your paying $50 plus using your cell minutes over it. Unless you want unlimited over the cell then its $20 for upto 4 devices.
@ Gregg
AT&T will use my internet data .Will AT&T pay me for that ?
@ Sohail
you’re the one who needs/wants the service. Why would AT&T pay you for that? They’re just trying to help you out by giving you additional options.
@Gregg:
I see, so if you live within your current minutes, you can extend their network to your home for a $50 one time fee?
That’s not how the article explained it, but I never went to ATTs site to check it out.
Anthony Sux, thank you. And icebike. Yes. Currently thats how it works. If you CHOOSE to add the $20 a month for unlimited. That would cover 4 phones at the same time making unlimited calls over your microcell. If you have say 450 minute plan those minutes dont get used while you are talking over the microcell. As soon as you leave the microcell 5000 sq foot coverage of your house, If you are still connected to your current call, you are handed over to the cell tower but still using your unlimited microcell plan. Not using minutes off of your own cell plan. So if you have a Football party invite friends over. provision their phones on your Microcell all 4 of you can make unlimited calls over your microcell. If they walk out the door on a call and drive off. they are unlimited until they hand the call up. Then its back to their own minutes. Sounds kick ass to me.
@Gregg:
Above you said:
Wouldn’t that only apply if you opted tor the $20 unlimited option?
Without that, you are getting charged minutes anyway, No?
Yes this is saying you have unlimited through the cell. If you opt for the free option. You are using whatever minutes you have on your plan all the time. If you have 450 minutes on your plan and unlimited to the cell though you are still saving your 450 plan minutes unless you are away from your house. So basically at home its free all the time. Your on your cell but you arent using any 450 plan minutes. So that takes out all the minutes you use at home and leaves the 450 minutes for you to use away from the house.
When I said at home its free all the time. I mean unlimited minutes for the $20 a month.
How is this hard to understand? This is no different then VzW and Sprints Network Extenders…. The only difference is unlike the other two AT&T give you an option that allows you to have unlimited minutes at your house for 20 bucks….
How is that a ripoff? I have sold people network extenders for VzW… SO VzW is allowed to sell a Network Extender but AT&T is not?
This option works great for me. My house is in a deadzone where i live for all 4 carriers in my area. The Carriers cannot put anymore towers where i live because the City Council continues to deny them the right to add more towers despite the fact that our population exploded from 10,000 to over 50,000 in the span of 10 years. So our cellphone coverage where i live sucks (AT&T being the best in my area.)… I would love to know how a Cellphone carrier is jacking me when my County is the one that denies them the right to build towers for us?
Lolipopjones:
So go to council meetings and demand they reverse this policy.
Actually, there is a US supreme court ruling that takes radio towers out of the hands of local government for precisely this reason. Ran into this when a Ham operator friend was told he couldn’t put up a ham radio tower. City took him to court, he cited chapter and verse out of the CFR, and case dismissed.
The problem at my house isn’t the signal, it’s the inability for AT&T to handle the amount of people making calls. My calls will drop mid-call while holding 5 bars. With sprint, if I had one bar, the call would never drop. At football games, it’s impossible to make calls and send/receive texts because AT&Ts network sucks so much. Sprint-I never had this problem. As soon as the iPhone or something better comes out for sprint, I’m GONE!
This whole “no cell carrier has good coverage through thick walls” argument is nonsense. Verizon has GREAT coverage in my building, and AT&T does not. Yes, I got the iPhone knowing that. But I also got the iPhone knowing that AT&T promised better coverage in the future. Is charging customers $150 really what they were talking about? Laughable. And AT&T has sent out a whole team of people to visit these blogs and write, “What’s the big deal about paying an extra $150 for good service?” Laughable if it wasn’t so sad…
I’m sorry but a good portion of you are idiots. I don’t care what carrier you are with there are always dead zones. My friend has Verizon and can’t get a worth while signal in his house. There are areas of my house that are not too good. I’m pretty sure some people with Sprint have dead zones in their house or business. Upgrade the network instead of providing this? Are you serious? There is NO carrier that provides good service to 100% of homes. And if you think that, you are ignorant.
If you need this for signal reasons then great! Don’t pay a monthly fee! But don’t think this is to fix signal issues. ALL carriers have signal issues and just because YOU don’t doesn’t mean it’s the same for everyone. And it doesn’t matter if you are AT&T, verizon, sprint, tmobile, or your mammas service. People WILL have dead zones. Personally I will pay monthly because 90% of my talking is done around my house and 1400 minutes ain’t enough. With this I will save lots if money switching to a far cheaper plan and adding $20. Peace of mind of not worrying about my minutes is worth it. And to you morons that are going to reply with sprints unlimited mobile to mobile …. Ummm no. Because of the heavy minute usage and me being very social I speak mainly to land lines. This is a way for me to ditch a land line COMPLETEL.
Icebike.
Radio Towers and Cell Towers are not covered under the same clause…
Carriers generally rent from private owners whom lease the land for them to build their towers. Just because Radio is covered does not mean Wireless Cellphone providers get the benefits…. I suggest you look up it up and actually learn what that ruling means.
Greenpaz… CDMA has better building penatration then GSM… thats a fact. CDMA is also a dying technology that is going to be gone in the next 5 years… thats another fact.
No carrier states then can give you indoor coverage… VzW has better indoor coverage then sprint, at&t, and t-mobile due to VzW being on the 700 spectrum.
Fa
@lolipopjones
Federal law gives carriers the explicit right to ask state or federal court to overturn local zoning decisions that would prohibit wireless provisioning in an area, and has for about ten years, if memory serves. Similar federal policies explicitly forbid zoning bans on cel phone towers due to health concerns as lacking solid research.
The carriers still have to fight in court, which is an expense, but these laws actually give them an easier time of it — and better chance of winning — than radio operators have. A NY Times article on the subject from 2005: http://tinyurl.com/logbnw .
Hey it’s just an option,if you don’t whant it just don’t get it.everyone has dead zones that is why every carrier has their own version of signal amplifier. Now paying $20 for unlimited mnts is very stupid Or maybe ignorance has a big factor,because with a free app. Called skype and a subscription for $3 a month you got unlimited mnts to any landline or cellphone in USA and Canada all you need is wifi, meaning if you r abroad or in any wifi hotspot you can use this service.and if you have a jailbroken iPhone you don’t even need wifi you got unlimited mnts anywhere as long you got edge or 3g all u need to do is download voipover3g for free or 3g unrestrictor what this apps do is that it patches the restriction that AT&T forces the developers to put on their apps in order to be approved. Well alot of people know about this info but I hope this can help someone save some dough
Tried the skype thing. It is extremely inconvenient for the following reasons. 1) It does not work with your phone. You pretty much have to treat your iPhone and your calling application separate because skype does not integrate with the rest of the phone in regards to me going to a web page and clicking a number. If I go to maps and click a number it will not phone through skype. 2) Have to manage the application and have absolutely no control over things like ring tone volume or type. 3) voice mail does not work through visual voice mail. 4) have to manage two phone numbers for constant phone and txt messaging. Very social people will most likely find this to be a pain.
I would much rather pay $20 for the convenience of being able to use my phone as intended without having to mess around with anything. A phone that is integrated with all of my apps. Something that JUST WORKS. Does that mean I’m ignorant? No … I just don’t compromise like a douche.
are people on crack?
honestly, taking the load of att towers for reception and you pay them to do this?
sorry but no. this junk should be givin out with every phone purchase at no charge, but greed > service right?
on that note, the people here that posted supported this and its pricing, pls send a check to me for using your browser to veiw someone elses website since i clearly allows you to do this…
I have no issue with the cost of the device, but I would like to see unlimited minutes since they are back hauling over the Internet. In building coverage will be an issue for all carriers in some locations for some time if not forever. The metal roofs on my office and home are personal issues that I currently overcome with a signal amplifier, but the microcell device is quicker and simpler to install. Let’s remember that these are trial prices and may change before nationwide roll out.
mark do you work for at&t?
honestly, you pay them for service, if they cant build out to give service in certain places why should the customer pay to use there bandwidth, monthly for there service, i would be thrilled if it just gave dead spot coverage and used my minutes then pay extra to support there network.
@bugs Absolutely NONE of the carriers can provide coverage to 100% of homes and buildings. And of you think this you are extremely ignorant. I work at the eBay Datacenter here in Phoenix. We are given Verizon phones to use, but absolutely everyone is getting better service on certain floors with their AT&T and Tmobile phones. We actually had a meeting to see what we can do about signal in the building. Should verizon pay us our minutes because of our spotty coverage? Absolutely not. It is understood by most people that dead spots are part of life and it is impossible to get rid of it. Unless they develop a tech that penetrates deeply through 100% of materials and powerful enough to overcome all interference from other electronics and signals, then it’s not going to happen. Though, I will be afraid when someone does … Because that just means I will die of cancer within a year.
Things like this exist now for all of the major carriers NOT JUST ATT. Hell verizon has their femtocell that does the exact same thing for more money. $249 last I checked. Sprint does not give there’s for free either. So what makes you think AT&T is so special that they have to provide it for free? You are a bunch of whiney imbicils.
@christopher
its pretty simple actually.
t-mo @home which uses voip is the only execption
if you tell me, i have to pay for equipment then pay for my internet connect to support my cell phone you are very delusional.
i’m more getting at how people are accepting this pure bullshit over anything.
regardless of carrier tho, being sprint/tmo/att/vz
@Fassy: Your are wrong Federal Law does not in any way give carriers the restrict local ban… Why?
Because in section 704 of the Telecommunication act states that local government can enact bans on towers if they deem it can hurt property value (such as my country.) these bans are fully legal.
The argument that we can get rid of those bans in this county is so weak because the city council of my state had the lands that towers were on and submitted in writing that since property values were impacted negatively due to the current amount of towers in the area that the carriers would not be allowed to setup any more towers at this given time. WIth that they have rejected every carriers request and there is nothing a carrier can do…
Section 704 of the 1996 Communications Act gives local authorities the right to ban towers as per local zoning laws.. I.E since all of the Towers must be erected in residential areas the county compiled enough evidence to show that the towers would hurt property values. Since my county is going through huge amounts of property development the protection of property values is enough of a legit concern to disallow carriers the right to erect new towers and allow the county to state that the current towers in the area is sufficient.
If you guys want to continue arguing i suggest you read the provision in the Telecom act of 96 that gives local and state authorities the rights to ban towers as per local zoning concerns and property values.
@bugs. You have a choice.
SInce you are ignorant about Cellphone signals i suggest you take a course. Carriers DO NOT have to provide service in your house at all.. This is due to they cannot even guarantee that the signals will be strong enough to penetrate the walls of the building you live in..
Its simple actually on why. Verizon uses 700mhz spectrum while carriers like AT&T uses 1900mhz and now 850 in some areas. Low frequencies like 700mhz are great for building penetration but the big downside is 700mhz cannot carry as much data throughput as 1900mhz and is very hard on the device you use. This means you cut your throughput is half when it concerns data. 1900mhz is great for data for cellphone carriers due to it providing more data throughput but at the price of LOUSY penetration and smaller footprint.
In the most simplistic terms there isn’t an simple way a carrier can give you service at home without shooting itself in the foot in other areas. A femtocell is a great way to give you that service but since you live in some fantasy world devoid of logic you can’t understand that you have to pay for that equipment…..
You will never get 100% coverage in your house.
@Lolipopjones
your a tool only sprint to my recall had this clause, when i signed with verizon back in 00,01 they even promoted wide band cdma for indoor service.
verizon still does not have lte rolled out using 700mhz there still an a channel cdma carrier which should be 800mhz.
due to att being on 850 mhz is why gsm or analog a channel 850MHZ works indoors.
Lolipopjones get your facts straight before posting nonsense.
I call BS on this one!! It should be free outside of the hardware costs. In theory, ATT is retaining customers who are in low-signal areas with this device and they should encourage as much adoption of such a technology. Sprint gave my sister one of these for free (hardware and monthly service) to prevent her from jumping to ATT when she moved into her new apartment. I would think ATT might be willing to make some kind of similar deal but 19.99/mo is rediculous. Even if you are paying for it on Sprint, it’s only 4.99/mo!!
I am sorry but why would you be taking the load of ATT towers by having this??? Won’t you have to assign who uses your MICROCELL??? Similar to your wifi router, assuming you encrypt/secure your network. If anyone can drive by your house, start a conversation, and drive off using your bandwidth then yes that would stink, but it doesn’t work like that unless you allow it. I do think it should be free if you are paying for ATT DSL/or U-VERSE FIBER. Home Phone service, no it is a dying communications median at least on a residential level. Yes numbers support that last statement. In talking with a family member over the past holiday who is employed by ATT in Marketing/Statistics he sayed “ATT will try and roll this out and that the monthly charge that is built in to it, is a recoupe charge more or less. They are losing alot of home phone service customers each year and if they can gain $20/month for eveyone or 1/4 of eveyone signed up for cell service through ATT then this can work to negate the number decline. Similar to signing up for DSL service through them currently. And seeing a 20-35month price tag if you have phone service, versus 30-45month without. PROTECTING THEIR BOTTOM LINE is all. Every company does this in some way or another. I am happy with my iphone service in DFW Texas area…very happy!! And my 32GB 3GS is anxiously waiting for the 7.2mbps band to start transmitting…drool!
communications “medium” not median
@Lolipopjones
Next time, read what I said, not what you wanted me to have said. I never said zoning bans are illegal, just that federal law gives cellphone carriers an immediate, explicit channel for appeal that even radio operators lack. Since following the link I posted is too time-consuming for some, instead I will just quote the relevant section of the 2005 NYT article:
“As carriers expand their networks to cover more residential areas, they are invoking the federal telecommunications law, which allows them to ask either a state or federal court to overturn a local zoning decision to reject a tower if that decision has the effect of prohibiting the provision of cellphone services. The federal law prohibits towns from rejecting a transmission tower on the grounds that it poses health concerns, because there is no conclusive evidence the transmissions harm people at the levels allowed by the Federal Communications Commission.
The carriers, more often than not, are winning the legal skirmishes.”
Fill me in . I love my I phone with the broken screen and all but the this internal antena will give me coverage in the dead zone that my work happens to be in . Now I’m not sure of all the the cell phone services AT&T has how do I pick up that micro cell ?? Otherwise us cellular will be my next option paying the cancellation fee.. Any one ? Not sure what to do
GPS? Really?
How big is the antenna? Because I don’t get a GPS signal from my receiver when I’m in my office, but I do get a cellular signal.
We sure they aren’t just saying that, and are really using ip2cc or something similar to determine location?