Verizon Wireless is nearing the launch of its femtocell product, based on the Samsung Ubicell design already available from Sprint Nextel.
Employees at Verizon retails stores said they expect to be trained on the product imminently, as it’s due in stores as soon as next week. Various sources stated its price in the $199 to $249 range.
That would leave AT&T as the only U.S. Tier-1 wireless operator without a femtocell on the market. Testing is under way, the company said last month.
Even smaller T-Mobile has an in-home signal booster, although it works by using Wi-Fi instead of traditional home broadband systems.
Femtocells are not without controversy, regardless of the users’ choice of carrier. Critics argue that consumers should not have to pay extra to obtain reliable service. The technology can also lead to mixed results for emergency responders.