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Sprint to Launch Samsung Femtocell

Mar 28, 2007, 10:39 AM by (staff)

Samsung this week announced the "UbiCell" - a femotcell product - in both CDMA and WCDMA versions. Femtocells are cellular base stations the size of a wi-fi access point that provide cellular coverage in the home. Sprint is currently wrapping up a trial of the CDMA UbiCell, and plans to launch it in early 2008, according to Samsung. A WCDMA version for America is planned for trials in 2008. The UbiCell connects to the carrier's network via a home broadband connection (DSL or cable.) Phones must be authorized to use the femtocell - meaning the signal is not available to guests or neighbors - although up to four authorized users can use it simultaneously. The CDMA version supports both 850 and 1900 bands, plus EVDO and seamless handoffs to towers on the main network. Users can travel with the UbiCell and use it wherever there is power, broadband, and their carrier has licensed spectrum. A GPS system ensures it does not operate in areas the carrier is not licensed.

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Comments

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This forum is closed.

Morachy

Mar 28, 2007, 2:01 PM

I don't understand...

I don't understand... Is Sprint saying: "Yes we know our indoor coverage sucks... but now you can buy $100+ device to make it better?)

Someone explain this to me...

Vicious

1900 MHz signal does not perform well inside buildings. the signal is so compressed, it attenuates easily when passing through obstruction. this is common knowledge in the mobile industry, and im sure Sprint is aware, and has been aware of this, for m...
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nextel18

Everyone knows that in building signal, penetration is not that great for either 800 MHz but more importantly the 1.9 GHz band, and that is why they are coming out with these types of technologies to boost indoor reception. Frankly, these types of tec...
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...

SprintPCSGuy

Mar 28, 2007, 4:51 PM

Only where the carrier has spectrum...??

Ok... so... this past weekend I visited Safford, AZ, and I was roaming on Alltel. Sprint doesn't have any native coverage there. If I had one of these babies plugged into the net there, would it not work? I mean... why would Sprint have spectrum there and not put up any towers? Maybe someone could hack it and disable the GPS on it... then you could take that baby to Europe and use it... illegaly... but you could use it.

nextel18

Well according to what it says, I believe so. Check to see if there is a roaming agreement in place with EV-DO there because Sprint and Alltel have signed a nationwide roaming agreement.

Sprint has spectrum everywhere, well most places, but they n...
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Rich Brome

SprintPCSGuy said:
... why would Sprint have spectrum there and not put up any towers? ...

Because it costs a lot of money. 😉 That's actually quite common. Spectrum is just step one. It's not even step one, reall...
(continues)

crood

Mar 28, 2007, 1:40 PM

Are you still charged for minutes?

I'm a little confused by this. Is this just for people who don't have a good signal in their homes or will using this device and a broadband connection mean it won't go towards their monthly minutes allowance?

Vicious

it allows for connection to Sprints network in areas where Sprints network cannot always reach. so, yes, it will take from your minutes.
-Vicious

Rich Brome

Definitely #1. It gives you coverage at home if you don't have it.

Like UMA, it also has the benefit of offloading capacity from the network even in areas where there is coverage.

Either way, there's a huge benefit for carriers. If everyone had ...
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fahrende

Mar 28, 2007, 11:17 AM

Sign me up please

2008 is too long to wait. I want one NOW! 🤤

nextel18

Wait, or be a beta tester.

I feel bad for the people who are going to be waiting for the IPHONE even though it does not have HSDPA/HSUPA on it. They have to wait so wait for this.

...

mdhuber25

Mar 28, 2007, 3:26 PM

restricted to SPCS, or free to use all CDMA?

anyone know if sprint will/can restrict this for use with their ESN's or if it will be open to use with other CDMA carriers like Alltel and VZW?

Rich Brome

It's not just an issue of ESNs.

Alltel and VZW may offer such products themselves, but these types of products you will buy from the carrier, and will be preconfigured to connect back to that carrier only. It needs to connect to special Sprint (or ...
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Sprint to Launch Samsung Femtocell

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