Rogers has released a new wireless product called the “Rocket Hub” that will be available later this month, plans start at $35 per month, plus the cost of the hardware (no word on that cost yet).
Basically this act as an agent to give you a wireless or voice connection when you cannot find one. All you have to do is plug this bad boy in and you’re good to go, it connects over “Rogers 7.2 Mpbs HSPA network, using either Wi-Fi or Ethernet to allow multiple devices to share one Internet connection and its UMTS network for voice.”
Pretty cool, especially if you are in really remote Canadian areas. John Boynton, Senior VP and CMO said today that “The Rocket Hub, seamlessly integrating both voice and Internet services in one simple, cost-effective solution, provides businesses and consumers the option of a reliable, portable voice and data connection where and when they need it. With the launch of the first fixed offering in the mobile internet category, Rogers is once again listening to our customers and delivering the newest innovations to meet their needs.”
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So essentially a femtocell like AT&T’s 3G MicroCell? About time…
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I don’t really like the idea of having to pay $35/month to be able to use my phone where there should already by normal coverage.
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So kinda just like a $40 wireless router for your existing internet that give current Rodgers customers voice already using UMA. hmmm wow
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Cradlepoint has had a solution like this for a long time, you plug in a rocket stick and it creates a WiFi Hotspot. http://www.cradlepoint.com
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You guys have this backwards. The device isn’t the long-awaited Rogers picocell – it’s a box to give people phone service and data connections via the cell network. Say you’re set up at a street fair, and you need a voice line and a data connection for the credit card machine, but there are no phone lines available. This would be the box for you.
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“Pretty cool, especially if you are in really remote Canadian areas…”
Confused.
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This is actually going to work with the new network that is in place, the 21mb per sec and with 7.2mb per sec in the regular 3G areas, outside city.
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There are a lot of places in Canada that have 3G coverage and no DSL service. A fixed-mobile device allows Rogers to fill that gap without undercutting their existing mobile broadband plans.
The question is how much traffic is included in the $35/mo plan.
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I think it’s a great idea.
Instead of paying 50 a month for a crappy sattelite net connection, I could just get this thing and have reliable internet, that I could even have to take back home, and boom. I don’t even have to pay for a second connection. My only concern is the data caps.
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I’ve had this solution for over a year now at my cottage. I purchased a Cradlepoint MBR 1000 from my local Rogers dealer and within minutes had a Wi-Fi hotspot that I could share with the whole family.
It worked so well that I bought a second model the PHS 300 to take with me on business trips.
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