Femtocell Now on the Market

And folks I still have a problem with it! Sprint has released its AIRRAVE femtocell device for purchase. This device essentially operates as a mini cell tower with a back link to the Sprint backbone via your broadband connection. Here are some of the features:

• Works with any Sprint phone — up to three users at the same time.¹
  Installs in minutes with your existing broadband Internet access, such as DSL, cable or T1.
• Unlimited incoming and outgoing calls, including nationwide long distance, when using your Sprint phone and initiating your call on the device (requires an AIRAVE unlimited calling plan)

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• Automatically transfers calls to the Sprint Nationwide Network once you leave your home or office.
• Limit access to your AIRAVE by creating a list of up to 50 approved Sprint phone numbers.

Now I think it is kind of nice for Sprint to provide the enduser the ability to lock the unit down. Very nice. But me? I think Sprint’s marketing department out to be fired. Think about it.

Bottom line, the customer is getting ripped in my view. Its usefulness is limited. You don’t get any sort of rebate off of your bill for providing Sprint additional coverage. If you lock it down it becomes a private pop. If you don’t then up to 3 devices can steal your broadband connection to Sprint’s benefit.

But being a tech guy I am excited!! I fully expect to see these going to $50-60 on eBay in a year or so. By then I fully expect that the DD-WRT and Asterisk guys to have written modules for the device. Then we can have a cellular based private pop that connects my cell to anyone VoIP provider of my choice. Sprint won’t be able to do a thing about it either. We live in great times!!

Linky.

PS: I am not ragging on Sprint. I enjoy their ingenuity. But Femtocell with this business model does not make sense. The carriers themselves should be using this in liew of full towers in areas that have shadows.