Cellular carriers that want to reduce customer churn due to poor reception in homes and businesses have a new option: the EdgePoint advanced femtocell from AirWalk Communications. EdgePoint, which will be introduced at CTIA Wireless Apr. 1-3 in Las Vegas, is optimized for extending cellular service to homes, small businesses, and other areas of poor reception.
The device measures 7 by 7 by 2 inches and has a range of about 250 ft. The EdgeWork architecture combines a base-station transceiver, base-station controller, and network interfaces, and can be configured for either 1xEV-DO Rev. A or 1xRTT. The femtocell is programmed for the customer’s existing handsets and laptops computers.
EdgePoint’s improved coverage encourages customers to migrate their landline home and office phones to cellular while supporting all macro network features. Also, carriers can reduce their operating costs by using existing home IP backhaul technologies for the EdgePoint traffic, eliminating the pressure to build out their networks in fringe areas. For consumers, EdgePoint is simple to use, plugging directly into a DSL or cable broadband connection.
“Cell phone users make over 40% of their calls from home, and want the same level of service they get in high coverage areas,” said Serge Pequeux, president and CEO of AirWalk Communications. “The most common reason for changing cellular carriers is dissatisfaction with coverage, and with EdgePoint femtocells, a carrier can deliver the coverage that consumers expect while reducing churn.”
AirWalk Communications
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