Sprint just released their Airave box, which works like a miniature cell tower (covering 5000 sq ft) anywhere you have a broadband connection, with the added advantage that all calls that go through the Airave box can be completely unlimited. It requires an existing Sprint voice plan plus a DSL/cable modem connection, but it supports up to three calls at one time, with a charge of $100 for the box and unlimited calling using the Airave for $15/month for one line or $25/month for multiple lines. It even will automatically transfer a call from the Airave box to the Sprint network (if available) when you leave the Airave coverage area.
They don't point this out, but I also don't see a reason that you can't take this with you when you travel and have unlimited calling wherever broadband is available (Edit: it may work only in the US/Puerto Rico, see scoobydooby's post below). It's basically VoIP that uses your existing Sprint wireless phone.
Alternately, if you just want the box to provide Sprint coverage where it's either nonexistent or spotty but you don't want to have unlimited calling, it's only $5/month.
Edit: This works with ANY existing Sprint wireless phones, unlike T-Mobile @Home which requires a landline phone, or T-Mobile Hotspot calling which requires special wireless phones.
It will be available at Sprint stores starting August 17.
Nice, instead of adding towers, they do this While making you pay for it. Monthly.
bigmi
Member
posted: Aug. 1, 2008 @ 11:46a
It sounds pretty good..but is it really practical? Usually when people come home after work, it'll be considered nights/weekends minute anyway no? I think this is only useful if you're planning to stay home 24-7 or your running a home based business.
Wait... what advantage does this give me over a cell tower again? If I'm under my plan minutes every month, how does this benefit me?
mtags19
New Member
posted: Aug. 1, 2008 @ 11:53a
It sounds like it will give you reception in your house if you have bad service. I can't get a signal in my house, so this would be perfect. Only $5/month to be able to use my cell in my house is worth it to me. Hopefully I would be able to cancel my home phone if it works.
I remember reading about this in the news several months ago. Glad it is being released.
1. Its too bad that there isnt an option to just pay one time fee and own the box upfront. I have poor sprint reception at home and I have been a sprint customer for 10 years(other service providers excluding ATT also have poor reception in my area). Sprint shouldnt ask me to pay $5 per month just to get decent reception at home. Or at the very least - give me an option of paying $50 - $100 upfront and no monthly charges.
2. what would be cool is if this device could be carried when i travel international - giving me unlimited sprint coverage where there is an internet access point in hotels abroad - but I believe I read in the article that they may restrict the usage of this device to US only by looking at the IP address of the internet connection - to block if the IP address is international. We will find out. But it is only going to be a matter of time before a clever person comes up with a way of hosting a proxy router in US that will accept these devices that are traveling internationally. fun begins!
Besides Vonage ($25 per month), what are the other least expensive VoIP providers?
They don't point this out, but I also don't see a reason that you can't take this with you when you travel and have unlimited calling wherever broadband is available. It's basically VoIP that uses your existing Sprint wireless phone.
The device has a GPS antenna, and will only work where Sprint is allowed to broadcast, which means it won't work abroad.. The reason T-Mobile can work anywhere is because they just use Wi-Fi. The Airave uses CDMA, which is not approved for use in all countries. Since the box is just another part of the Sprint network, they can only let you use it where Sprint has a license.
FWIW; I have not tested this myself, but I read through the user manual. Without a GPS signal, the thing won't even work.
Redbeard25 said: Wait... what advantage does this give me over a cell tower again? If I'm under my plan minutes every month, how does this benefit me?
Um, how does VoIP benefit someone? This is VoIP with the advantage that you don't have to have two phone numbers/voicemails/etc to be reachable, plus allowing you to use your wireless phone where wireless service isn't otherwise available. Alternately, if you use a significant number of your anytime minutes at home (or office, or wherever you want to put the box), you can use this to reduce your plan minutes. It actually seems pretty self-explanatory to me.
bigmi said: It sounds pretty good..but is it really practical? Usually when people come home after work, it'll be considered nights/weekends minute anyway no? I think this is only useful if you're planning to stay home 24-7 or your running a home based business.
Why limit yourself to home usage? Unless your company has weird firewalls, bring it in to work and stick it under your desk. I think it's great since it seems like Sprint always has bad reception in the center of an office building on the first floor (or lower).
Actually, I don't think the goal is to fix 'minute usage'. People who talk on the phone 18 hours a day buy VOIP phones or $100/mo unlimited plans. This product is intended to fix poor Sprint network coverage.
The device has a GPS antenna, and will only work where Sprint is allowed to broadcast, which means it won't work abroad.. The reason T-Mobile can work anywhere is because they just use Wi-Fi. The Airave uses CDMA, which is not approved for use in all countries. Since the box is just another part of the Sprint network, they can only let you use it where Sprint has a license.
FWIW; I have not tested this myself, but I read through the user manual. Without a GPS signal, the thing won't even work. Good point, but there's no reason that it won't work in the US/Puerto Rico, right?
The Phone Number security is neat, I don't want to give my neighbors free cell service.
KneeYogi
Thrifty Member
posted: Aug. 1, 2008 @ 12:24p
hpmax said: Putting GPS on it seems a bit odd since it is inherently designed to work indoors and GPS doesn't work well in buildings. I wonder how this works. I believe the cabling for the gps antenna is pretty long, so you can place the transmitter wherever and string the gps antenna over to a window.
jonnythan
Member
posted: Aug. 1, 2008 @ 12:26p
Redbeard25 said: Wait... what advantage does this give me over a cell tower again? If I'm under my plan minutes every month, how does this benefit me? It doesn't.
IMHO, T-Mobile Hotspot @ Home service is better. Sure, you do need a special phone to use that service (you need that special box for Sprint though), but it does not require for you to be within range of a proprietary box. You get unlimited calling if you're in ANY WiFi network you can connect to, including all T-Mobile Hotspots. That makes a huge difference. Sprint's service is useful ONLY at home, but T-Mobile's is usefull all over the place (if I go to my friend's, relatives or any open wireless area, I have unlimited calls.). AND, T-Mobile is $5/month cheaper and you don't have to have a special wireless box. Any wireless router will do.
All these advantages makes it worth it to get a new handset. And, UMA (technology behind WiFi calling) is an open standard, so I expect some nice phones based on Android or OpenMOKO to have that feature as well.
Disclaimer: - I don't work for T-Mobile. I'm just a happy customer. I've had their service for over 2 years now, but had problems with coverage inside my new apartment. Got the Samsung T339 and WiFi calling has been great.
Here's how I see it.
T-Mobile - Special phone needed - Yes - Special wireless box needed - No (any wireless router would do) - Where do I get unlimited calling? - Anywhere I have WiFi access. - Cost? - $10/month additional
Sprint - Special phone needed - No - Special wireless box needed - Yes - Where do I get unlimited calling? - Just within the range of that special box. I should lug it around if I need access at other places. - Cost? - $15/month additional
Note that above comparison does not account for upfront cost of the wireless box/special phone.
aFriend said: I remember reading about this in the news several months ago. Glad it is being released.
1. Its too bad that there isnt an option to just pay one time fee and own the box upfront. I have poor sprint reception at home and I have been a sprint customer for 10 years(other service providers excluding ATT also have poor reception in my area). Sprint shouldnt ask me to pay $5 per month just to get decent reception at home. Or at the very least - give me an option of paying $50 - $100 upfront and no monthly charges.
Uh...I believe you do pay for this up front, $100 in fact. AND you get to pay the monthly charge included!
Sprint: Sprint AIRAVE Base Station - $99.99/each (requires activation at time of purchase and subscription to an AIRAVE plan. Excludes taxes.) AIRAVE Enhanced Coverage Charge - $4.99/mo. (required per AIRAVE unit)** Single Line Unlimited Calling Plan (optional) - $10/mo.** Multi-Line Unlimited Calling Plan (optional) - $20/mo. per account**
oh yeah and the ** from above, means the following extra charges:
**Monthly charges exclude taxes, Sprint Surcharges [incl. USF charge of up to 11.4% (varies quarterly), Administrative Charge (up to $1.99/line/mo.), Regulatory Charge ($0.20/line/mo.) & state/local fees by area]. Sprint Surcharges are not taxes or gov't-required charges and are subject to change. Details: sprint.com/taxesandfees.
Redbeard25 said: Wait... what advantage does this give me over a cell tower again? If I'm under my plan minutes every month, how does this benefit me?
It benefits you only if you suffer from lack of signal inside your home. For me, I get absolutely no signal at home except when I am standing right next to the window.
dealmaddy said: IMHO, T-Mobile Hotspot @ Home service is better.
You forgot to mention that you have to have t mobile cell phone service to get the tmobile hotspot plan and with sero plans and retention plans, many of us are not tmobile customers.
crazypalooza said: dealmaddy said: IMHO, T-Mobile Hotspot @ Home service is better.
You forgot to mention that you have to have t mobile cell phone service to get the tmobile hotspot plan and with sero plans and retention plans, many of us are not tmobile customers.
Well, so is the case with Sprint. Yea, T-Mobile did not have attractive plans such as SERO, but I was just trying to make comparison based on common ground between the two services.
BTW, all those great $30/mo SERO plans are history now
dealmaddy said: Redbeard25 said: Wait... what advantage does this give me over a cell tower again? If I'm under my plan minutes every month, how does this benefit me?
It benefits you only if you suffer from lack of signal inside your home. For me, I get absolutely no signal at home except when I am standing right next to the window.
Doesn't it also benefit you if you want unlimited talk-time as well?
They don't point this out, but I also don't see a reason that you can't take this with you when you travel and have unlimited calling wherever broadband is available. It's basically VoIP that uses your existing Sprint wireless phone.
The device has a GPS antenna, and will only work where Sprint is allowed to broadcast, which means it won't work abroad.. The reason T-Mobile can work anywhere is because they just use Wi-Fi. The Airave uses CDMA, which is not approved for use in all countries. Since the box is just another part of the Sprint network, they can only let you use it where Sprint has a license.
FWIW; I have not tested this myself, but I read through the user manual. Without a GPS signal, the thing won't even work.
Uh, wrong. This unit IS the CDMA tower, you don't use any other CDMA infrastructure. Theorhetically, you could take this anywhere with a broadband connection. The unit takes the signal from your CDMA phone and converts to VOIP which then syncs up with the regular wireline infrastructure to complete the call.
If you have an unlimited plan and reception is good in your house, this is probably not something you will be interested in. However, let's say you have so-so coverage in your house, but your basement is bad, you might consider this if you make a lot of calls on your cell phone. Another huge advantage is that if you have teenage children that are constantly using their phones and sucking up the minutes of your plan, you could potentially save a lot of jack.
bhoup said: dealmaddy said: Redbeard25 said: Wait... what advantage does this give me over a cell tower again? If I'm under my plan minutes every month, how does this benefit me?
It benefits you only if you suffer from lack of signal inside your home. For me, I get absolutely no signal at home except when I am standing right next to the window.
Doesn't it also benefit you if you want unlimited talk-time as well?
It sure does. But since Redbeard25 mentioned that he's under plan minutes every month, that was redundant info for him, so I didn't include it in my response.
I think this would be a GREAT replacement for my magic jack foor home based businesses. 1. add a line to your spprint shared acct for 10 dollars a month (can you port 800 numbers?) 2. add the unlimited airwave plan for 15 dollars a month and you end up with an unlimited work phone that you can take with you!
My magic jack sucks- i'm looking for a solid alternative. you think this is better?
Redbeard25 said: Wait... what advantage does this give me over a cell tower again? If I'm under my plan minutes every month, how does this benefit me?If you are in a strong signal area....nothing.
If you are in a weak area
1) It will give you a strong signal 2) Since you have a strong signal you will use the cell phone more than your landline so you might need their $10 / month service.
dealmaddy said: bhoup said: dealmaddy said: Redbeard25 said: Wait... what advantage does this give me over a cell tower again? If I'm under my plan minutes every month, how does this benefit me?
It benefits you only if you suffer from lack of signal inside your home. For me, I get absolutely no signal at home except when I am standing right next to the window.
Doesn't it also benefit you if you want unlimited talk-time as well?
It sure does. But since Redbeard25 mentioned that he's under plan minutes every month, that was redundant info for him, so I didn't include it .
Okay, now I'm confused. Even though Redbeard25 is under plan minutes each month, doesn't this basically go unlimited by not taking away from his allotment of minutes?
wgideon
Cranky Member
posted: Aug. 1, 2008 @ 1:03p
I live in a rural area and have a sprint cell phone using the sero plan plus corporate discount, let me tell you, getting a signal in my house or even outside sometimes is purely hit or miss and if I do get one and have to make a phone call, theres usually 80% chance its going to drop unless i do some wierd acrobatics purely for superstitious reasons while praying the call doesn't drop. I really like this idea and would be all over it, if i wasn't planning on moving in 2 months =/ but we shall see if the signal gets any better in my new house
jonnythan
Member
posted: Aug. 1, 2008 @ 1:03p
MrSnappy said: scoobydooby said: esoterica said:
They don't point this out, but I also don't see a reason that you can't take this with you when you travel and have unlimited calling wherever broadband is available. It's basically VoIP that uses your existing Sprint wireless phone.
The device has a GPS antenna, and will only work where Sprint is allowed to broadcast, which means it won't work abroad.. The reason T-Mobile can work anywhere is because they just use Wi-Fi. The Airave uses CDMA, which is not approved for use in all countries. Since the box is just another part of the Sprint network, they can only let you use it where Sprint has a license.
FWIW; I have not tested this myself, but I read through the user manual. Without a GPS signal, the thing won't even work.
Uh, wrong. This unit IS the CDMA tower, you don't use any other CDMA infrastructure. Theorhetically, you could take this anywhere with a broadband connection. The unit takes the signal from your CDMA phone and converts to VOIP which then syncs up with the regular wireline infrastructure to complete the call.
If you have an unlimited plan and reception is good in your house, this is probably not something you will be interested in. However, let's say you have so-so coverage in your house, but your basement is bad, you might consider this if you make a lot of calls on your cell phone. Another huge advantage is that if you have teenage children that are constantly using their phones and sucking up the minutes of your plan, you could potentially save a lot of jack.
I think you misread the post you're replying to.
Yes, the thing is basically a CDMA tower. However, it might be illegal to use a CDMA transmitter in some countries.
And you could take it anywhere with a broadband connection, as long as the unit's GPS device detects that it's within an area Sprint is licensed to operate a CDMA tower.
jonnythan
Member
posted: Aug. 1, 2008 @ 1:05p
bhoup said: dealmaddy said: bhoup said: dealmaddy said: Redbeard25 said: Wait... what advantage does this give me over a cell tower again? If I'm under my plan minutes every month, how does this benefit me?
It benefits you only if you suffer from lack of signal inside your home. For me, I get absolutely no signal at home except when I am standing right next to the window.
Doesn't it also benefit you if you want unlimited talk-time as well?
It sure does. But since Redbeard25 mentioned that he's under plan minutes every month, that was redundant info for him, so I didn't include it .
Okay, now I'm confused. Even though Redbeard25 is under plan minutes each month, doesn't this basically go unlimited by not taking away from his allotment of minutes? You are correct. The idea, though, is that it's not worth the expense because it doesn't give anything extra to someone who has good service and doesn't use all his minutes to begin with.
What's the point of paying $15 for unlimited at-home service when you don't use the minutes you already have?
bhoup said: dealmaddy said: bhoup said: dealmaddy said: Redbeard25 said: Wait... what advantage does this give me over a cell tower again? If I'm under my plan minutes every month, how does this benefit me?
It benefits you only if you suffer from lack of signal inside your home. For me, I get absolutely no signal at home except when I am standing right next to the window.
Doesn't it also benefit you if you want unlimited talk-time as well?
It sure does. But since Redbeard25 mentioned that he's under plan minutes every month, that was redundant info for him, so I didn't include it .
Okay, now I'm confused. Even though Redbeard25 is under plan minutes each month, doesn't this basically go unlimited by not taking away from his allotment of minutes?
LOL. Here's the bottomline. As long as you're within range, all your calls are unlimited and don't count towards your plan minutes. PERIOD.
Now, to clarify this confusion, Redbeard25 didn't care about unlimited minutes because he was under his plan mins anyway, so I didn't care about including unlimited minutes in my response to his specific quote.
Nosh
Thrifty Member
posted: Aug. 1, 2008 @ 1:16p
I may sound all doomy and gloomy but could it be harmful to have a little cell phone tower right in your house?
Skipping 109 Messages...
babsinc1
Member
posted: Mar. 30, 2009 @ 10:57a
I got this free because our house is in a dead zone. They also waved the monthly fee! I works great! It is keeping us from switching providers.
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