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Comment on Heavy Data Use Puts a Strain on AT&T Service

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There were reports months ago AT&T has started testing home microcells -- that plug into your home broadband, and create a tiny cell zone for voice/etc traffic that's then routed over the internet.

Has anyone seen or tried such a thing?

Since we're already paying for service, femtocells seem like an insult (unless they're free, which I doubt).

Not only should they be free, in my opinion they should discount my monthly fee if I handle traffic for phones not on my account. That would give people an incentive to set these things up all over the place.

I think I saw a price point of around $100 for the device, with no monthly charge (beyond your existing internet uplink costs).

I agree AT&T should offer them subsidized or even free to help offload traffic from their oversubscribed towers. Still, at a one-time-cost of $100 per location, if it gave myself and others near-perfect coverage at home and work, it would be a bargain.

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