Nice! If you have Sprint, they give you this for free:

[preslove]

What I don't understand is why the carriers aren't just giving these out like crazy? Why the hell is AT&T charging for them? Femtocell seems like a really cheap way to extend a carriers network and get away with using their users' data. Hell, make the femtocells open to everyone on their carrier, and now that one customer is providing a virtual cell tower to everyone in the area, and paying for the data, to boot!

What am I missing?

 

[Zeze]

What I don't understand is why the carriers aren't just giving these out like crazy? Why the hell is AT&T charging for them? Femtocell seems like a really cheap way to extend a carriers network and get away with using their users' data. Hell, make the femtocells open to everyone on their carrier, and now that one customer is providing a virtual cell tower to everyone in the area, and paying for the data, to boot!

What am I missing?

The device cost >>>>>>>>> 1 person's bandwidth usage?

 

[shortylickens]

Yeah, they probably bought it with the 300 dollars they stole from me.

 

[NutBucket]

It also uses GPS to check that you are using it within Sprint's service area. Theoretically, one could take this box overseas and use it with their Sprint phone...something Sprint (or any other carrier) definitely wouldn't want.

 

[MetalMat]

Sprint is awesome, been on the SERO plan since 2007

 

[Red Storm]

Do other carriers do this?

I get Verizon service everywhere, even down in the Metro, so no need.

While it's cool that Sprint does this for their customers, it doesn't speak very highly of their coverage.

 

[Raizinman]

Are you sure it's free? I had the same problem a year ago and they told me it was free for the first 3 months so i switched to Verizon.

I ordered one about a year ago. They told me it was also free. Then about a year or so later I find a charge for it on my bill. I called Sprint and complained. They told me that it is only free for a period of time and my time was over. I promptly returned it. Same thing happened to a friend of mine who ordered one and was also charged for it after a period of time.

 

[Wonderful Pork]

What I don't understand is why the carriers aren't just giving these out like crazy? Why the hell is AT&T charging for them? Femtocell seems like a really cheap way to extend a carriers network and get away with using their users' data. Hell, make the femtocells open to everyone on their carrier, and now that one customer is providing a virtual cell tower to everyone in the area, and paying for the data, to boot!

What am I missing?

I agree that they should be giving these out like crazy, especially to office buildings/complexes and malls and stuff that don't have repeaters. It would be FANTASTIC to have coverage inside of buildings, especially if I don't have to pay extra (as an end customer). Or even better if I get up to 10% off my monthly bill for using a femtocell (they can even apportion the minutes if they want).

Unfortunately, it seems the carriers see this as yet another revenue stream, so it won't happen anytime soon.

 

[Svnla]

I am with Sprint right now ($30/month SERO and loving it). I will contact Sprint and get me one.

 

[preslove]

The device cost >>>>>>>>> 1 person's bandwidth usage?

Maybe, but they could allow more than one person to access that femtocell, so 4 or 5 people's bandwidth might > the device cost over time.

 

[Zeze]

I am with Sprint right now ($30/month SERO and loving it). I will contact Sprint and get me one.

No way you have SERO paying $30/mo using a smartphone.

 

[bigrash]

When I was on AT&T, I called them numerous times to try and get one for free. My reception at home was terrible, but they never gave me one. Finally when I called to cancel my service they kept offering to send me one for free if I stayed with them, but it was too late. Stupid AT&T.

 

[Evadman]

I have had one for years. The only issue is that about 90% of the time, the call will be dropped when moving from the picocell to a regular tower.

 

[MetalMat]

No way you have SERO paying $30/mo using a smartphone.

The older windows based smartphones work on that plan. If you plan on using newer phones it goes up to 40 a month, for anything with 4G (and the Iphone I think) there is a 10 dollar per month add on as well.