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UK Gets Europe's First 3G Femtocell

Posted by kdawson on from the atto-boy dept.

judgecorp writes "Femtocells have been on the horizon for a while, but the UK just got the first 3G femtocell launch in Europe, by Vodafone. The device connects to handsets in the room and links them to the cellular network over broadband. It's a classic win-win, because it gives the user better coverage and takes traffic off the service provider's network. The only complaint might be from the broadband provider, who could be carrying traffic for a rival. Vodafone isn't pushing the data angle, but since it has HSPA, the product could work just fine with laptops and dongles. Femtos have been in limbo waiting for serious launches, but judging from the list of speakers at the World Femtocell Summit in London, Vodafone might not be the only one."

9 of 114 comments (clear)

  1. I love it! by L4t3r4lu5 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I can pay for overpriced mobile data charges while paying for over-subscribed and under-performing broadband!

    It's fucking win-win for big business.

    --
    Finally had enough. Come see us over at https://soylentnews.org/
    1. Re:I love it! by Canazza · · Score: 4, Interesting

      It's just another slashvertisement.

      Chodeaphone sucks. their coverage sucks in particular, which is why they're pushing this.

      I'm just waiting for someone to figure out how to hijack what is essentially a wireless connection to someone's broadband...

      --
      It pays to be obvious, especially if you have a reputation for being subtle.
  2. Uh no.... by EdIII · · Score: 5, Insightful

    It's a classic win-win, because it gives the user better coverage and takes traffic off the service provider's network.

    Uhhh, no. It's a classic fuck-the-consumer, what-the-fuck-were-they-smoking, you-have-to-be-fucking-kidding-me deal.

    I got this spiel from Verizon (USA) a little while back. Unlucky enough to have marginal service where I live, I asked a Verizon store rep what could be done about it. He then came back with a nice box and said, "It's really cool. It's called a thingmajiggy and it will boost your cellphone service through your Internet connection." I thought, "Wow, that's pretty cool of them".

    Just one thing everyone forgets or wants to gloss over in this massive techno-wankathon over how cool it is.... Verizon tried to charge me $250. Two-Hundred-And-Fifty-Bucks.

    This is what you are getting for $250. The ability for ANY Verizon phone within range, which from what I understand is about as good as an access point, to PREFER your "femtocell" and place the calls across your Internet connection back into Verizon. Everyone still gets charged for their usage.

    Why would I PAY Verizon to basically expand their own coverage area? Why would I incur the bandwidth costs for unknown cellphone users around me? Yeah, I couldn't fucking figure it out either.

    Before anybody gets real hot about how cool these things are, just realize that you are paying these people directly to expand their service coverage. That's just plain nuts. If it was $40 or $50 bucks like a cheap router and I could restrict access by IMEI, *maybe* it might be an interesting deal.

    from outright purchase at £160, to bundling with contracts around £15 per month. ------- Femtos will first be deployed to offer better indoor coverage and keep customer loyalty ----- an Shepherd, consumer director, Vodafone UK. "We are committed to delivering the best, most reliable network and this is another step towards maintaining a seamless service."

    Wow. In the UK it seems, not only will you pay to increase their service coverage, but monthly as well. I hope a reach-around comes with that deal. Gotta admit, that's one hell of a commitment to increasing coverage and creating a reliable network. Let's make everyone pay multiple month's of service up front along with an additional monthly service cost to put them to work for us.

    Total. Fucking. Insanity. /END RANT

    1. Re:Uh no.... by PhilHibbs · · Score: 4, Informative

      With this Vodafone one, "The device will support up to four voice calls, and users will register the handsets they want to use it on the web", so only you and your family/friends can use your picocell.

    2. Re:Uh no.... by quarkoid · · Score: 4, Interesting

      I would agree with you entirely, were it not for the fact that Voda appear to be locking this box down to certain handsets.

      However, I agree entirely - why should I pay an additional monthly fee to Voda just so I can use their service from my house when I can walk fifty yards down the street and not have to pay? Further, not only am I paying Voda for the privilege of saving them money, but I then have to fork out for additional bandwidth on my home broadband.

      All that having been said, one of only two reasons my company has an office is for mobile coverage. If I can get coverage at home (and those of my staff), there's no reason not to move to home working any more. The additional cost of the cells would still result in a saving if we don't have to pay for the offices.

      Ho hum.

      Nick.

  3. What about wifi? by javilon · · Score: 4, Interesting

    What stops you from doing the exact same thing using wifi? You connect your phone through wifi to a VoIP gateway that will route the call to any phone number you want to call. You just need a VoIP client installed on your handset. If you have a open handset, for example an Android one, that's easy and you can use this today within any wifi network you have access to.

    --


    When his defense asked, "Which computer has Jon Johansen trespassed upon?" the answer was: "His own."
    1. Re:What about wifi? by TheThiefMaster · · Score: 4, Informative

      All "3" mobile phones have a skype client, the sticking point is the wifi.

      On the other hand "3" seem to have gone completely off their rocker and aren't charging for the data skype uses on their wireless network. Net result? Free calls. Completely free calls.

      !?

  4. Only phones you register will be able to connect by NoNeeeed · · Score: 4, Informative

    Lots of people seem to be assuming that this is you paying the network to extend their network for anyone to use.

    It isn't.

    If you read the article (I know, radical), you'll see that only four phones, which you need to register, will be able to use the femto-cell. So no, you won't be providing your neighbours with improved service over your own connection (unless you register their phone).

    While it's pretty expensive, I'd actually be tempted by this. I can't get a reliable mobile signal in my flat, because of the construction of the building (mobile reception outside is fine).

    Of course, it doesn't say if calls made over the femto cell are cheaper than over their network. I would hope they were, it would mean I could pretty much ignore my landline, which I only use because I can't be mobile reception.

    --
    Paul Leader
  5. I had this back in 2008 by Avian+visitor · · Score: 4, Informative

    "It's certainly the first of its kind in Europe, and I see Vodafone says it will work over every home broadband line,"

    I had a Samsung Femtocell installed in my basement last November running over a residential DSL line. It's from a Slovenian mobile operator Mobitel - I even written a blog post about it.