A Restless Bunch

Vodafone’s new femtocell technology is about to hit the markets soon in form of a Sure Signal box that will guarantee good mobile broadband as well as mobile phone reception even from problematic network areas like basements. The mobile company has assured its customers of the efficacy of the product.

The signal booster is a small mobile device that works with the home broadband connection and utilizes it to provide better 3G connection over a limited area like within a house or small office. With this, Vodafone is in effect, re-launching its Access Gateway that was put to trial last year for in-home signal boosting. Though the trial could not evoke much positive response and several users were dissatisfied with the performance of the device, Vodafone is now optimistic about the market response to its new and improved version of the product.

The company assures that the main problems faced by the product in its last trial have been rectified. The high price tag has also been cut down from £160 to a more affordable £50 making it more appealing for customers accessing internet from areas like basements where coverage is usually erratic.

According to Guy Laurence, the chief executive of Vodafone in Britain, Sure Signal has proved to be quite popular among customers, especially those who live or work in basements as this product is their only recourse for fast and efficient broadband access.

However, it remains to be seen if demand for Sure Signal is as good as Vodafone expects because people who already enjoy decent connectivity will still hesitate to spend £50 on a signal booster. In effect, only users with serious coverage issues may be the product’s customer base.