Verizon Wireless Extends Networks
Written by Anonymous on 12:03 AMUS teleco Verizon Wireless has started peddling a gizmo that boosts mobile phone signals within a home, and which it says makes it easier for customers to rely solely on wireless.
The company said that it will help a small number of its clients who cannot use their mobile phones in their homes because of structural or geographical difficulties.
According to a press release, the Verizon Wireless Network Extender, which needs to be connected to a broadband internet line, acts like a mobile phone tower. It listens or signals from a subscriber's mobile phone over a 5,000 square foot area.
The move follows the successful trail of rival Sprint Nextel, which started selling a similar product last year. Others are expected on the market from competitors next year.
The Verizon Wireless and Sprint femtocells are made by Samsung Electronics and relay voice and low-speed data connections.
Verizon's "Network Extender" device is priced at $249.99, a flat fee that will not be supplemented – or subsidised – by any monthly pricing. The device is manufactured by Samsung.
However, there is a major question about whether or not the gear is really worth the cash. While press releases tout it as being like having your own mobile phone tower in your home, it has extreme limitations.
For a start, it only supports better voice reception and can't improve EVDO or Media FLO reception. All it does is take voice traffic over its mobile network and route it over the user’s broadband connection. AT&T is working on a 3G version at the moment which is probably better value for money.
By Nick Farrell
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