Hi Rob
this is in response to your question on why anyone would buy a microcell when they are not getting any additional minutes added to their plan.
i don't have or need a microcell, but i recommended one to a friend of mine. despite living in a highly populated, exclusive area in san francisco, she is unable to get any consistent cell phone signal at her house on any carrier: att, verizon or sprint. this was a huge issue for her as she has a home office and if clients were to call her on her cell phone, she wouldn't know it until she were to step outside of her front door. she installed a microcell and now is able to get 5 bars of coverage throughout her house and even at her neighbors house.
i don't understand the correlation between using a microcell and why, as you say, that it should include additional or unlimited free minutes. i always assumed, maybe incorrectly, that a voice call still has to send a voice packet through att's network. maybe you could clarify that for me.
frankly, i'm glad that at&t doesn't just give out microcells to anyone who requests it. if that were the case, everyone would be requesting one, whether they needed one or not, and it would end up being like the squareup disaster, where they were giving out their credit card processing dongle away to anyone who requested one, then got slammed for not being able to keep up with demand and those that really NEEDED one were unable to get one. if att were to give unlimited or even additional minutes to anyone owning a microcell under those conditions, who knows how much more traffic that would add to an already overloaded network.
thanks rob.
paul
mill valley, ca
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Hi Rob,
I live in LA where AT&T claims that my place is located on their strong reception spot, but I don't have good reception at home. Most of the time, I don't get any calls, and people who call me complained that I never answer their calls. Even when I receive some calls, I get choppy voice or droped calls.
So I called AT&T, and AT&T technical support people tested my connection in my area for a few days. They asked me to go to AT&T store to swap a free micro sim card, and had still no changes on my reception. They put with a high level AT&T technician to deal with my connection, and a couple of days later, they called me back saying that there's nothing they can do about it. They said they can't provide every location with strong signal all the time, and I am just stuck with their contract. Plus Every time I called them for my reception problem, they suggest to get 3G Microcell, which costs $150, as an "option" to solve my problem. The technicians were trying to make the reception problem my fault by blaming it on my location and my sim card.
After few days later, I called customer service, and complained to them that I shouldn't have to pay any money for AT&T's lack of signal. I demanded for the solution or let me out of the contract. The customer service department was super nice, even I was being a jerk to them. They understood my point and frustration, and they offered me $50 credit on my bill and $20 credit back per month for 6 months if I decide to buy this microcell. So a total of $170 within 6 month to compensate for what I have to pay. So looks like, it would solve my problem. I am planning to buy that microcell tonight after work, and tell you more how it goes.
I love your show, and am always waiting for your new episode every week.
Peter from LA, CA
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Rob:
Here is a post I made to the ongoing discussion you linked to in #138...and my opinion about your question in #137, "Why would you pay for a 3G Microcell?" First, the post I made on TUAW...
Here's the short story on the many rebates now available...
Q. Are there rebates available with the purchase of 3G MicroCell? Where can I find the forms?
A. Certain rebates are available with subscription to additional features or services, including Unlimited MicroCell Calling and new AT&T broadband services. Forms can be printed from the links below. Please be sure to select the correct form based on the date range and the feature or services added:
Purchase Date: 07/25/10-09/18/10
$100 Mail In Rebate - with subscription to Unlimited MicroCell Calling Feature
Purchase Date: 07/25/10-09/18/10
$100 + $50 Mail In Rebate - with subscription to Unlimited MicroCell Calling Feature and/or AT&T Broadband"
Now, why buy a microcell? The thing about microcells that you might not appreciate is this: In-building RF penetration is not the responsibility of the carrier. Talk to any of them. I did this since 1985 - selling cell boosters for 800MHz and 900MHz spectrum so corporations could get in-building signal strength. So if you have poor signal strength in you home - at least the microcell is a solution.
For now, microcells are virtually free and unbundled DSL can help you eliminate wireline phone service ($$$ savings). Also, the unlimited microcell minutes plan can help you drop to a cheaper cellphone plan since you'll use less minutes overall. If you use the free "A List" feature you'll also pare minutes. I've gone from 1400 down to 900 and don't even have a microcell. Not an AT&T fanboy...just saying...
--PaulG in Lawrenceville
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Rob,
You requested some feedback on why it might make sense to own the AT&T MicroCell and there may be a couple of reasons.
I believe that there are (2) ways to own the MicroCell units:
1. Purchase for $150 and use it as your own personal cell tower and any data or minutes going through the device are pulled from your plan minutes as normal.
2. Purchase the device and setup a monthly (approx) $20 Plan that may give a refund on the MicroCell hardware. The benefit on this one is that your talk time while on this device doesn't go against your minutes when in this plan. Data would go against your plan if pulled through the MicroCell, but that would not normally be the case as you have the MicroCell plugged into your router. If you were not wireless on the router then you would have an issue.
Who would benefit from the $20/month plan:
1. People considering getting rid of their home landline and replace with iPhone and use the MicroCell so that they do not have to increase their minutes.
2. People that make most of there calls from the iPhone at home and want to decrease the minutes in their plan.
The other advantage that I see is that there is almost always a poor reception area in a home and this would minimize that situation.
FYI - My iPhone is setup to use one of these MicroCell units at work and it does work well. The building I work in has a steel roof and walls and is terrible for reception. The tower has resolved that problem.
One issue with MicroCell that we have had is the GPS location requirement to operate. If it doesn't see the GPS location it doesn't work correctly. It will have problems setting up and it will drop the call when you leave the covered area even when you pickup the cell tower outside. If the GPS position is know it will transfer to the tower correctly from what we had explained to us. If you are on a call coming into the building of MicroCell coverage it doesn't not transfer regardless of GPS position.
It is not easy to get the GPS position in a steel building...it would be nice if we could simply go online and enter the serial # of the unit in our account and the actual address and have it reset to that location. Appears that it is necessary for 911 related activities.
Regards,
Stacey S
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