Femtocell technology creates a localised 3G signal using a small low-powered base device, which can be placed in home or office. It has the potential to allow providers to offer not just mobile broadband, but also bundled packages including mobile calls and fixed line charges.
The trials come as a collaboration between O2, Japanese technology group NEC and Ubisquisys (a Swindon-based company which lists Google among its investors) and hopes to see a commercial launch of femtocells in the UK in 2009.
Stephanie Rogers of Mobile Broadband Genie said:
“There are also femtocell development competitors based in Cambridge, such as ip.access which recently received investment from Cisco, an American networking group. This all reflects the growing rivalry within the mobile broadband market, and bodes well for consumers in terms of competitively priced hardware - if trials are successful.”
Notes to editors
Mobile Broadband Genie allows users to compare mobile broadband online, and is part of Genie Group.
Genie Group Ltd is a leading independent provider of internet comparison shopping services in the UK, and was set up in 2004 by Philip Wilkinson (co-founder of Kelkoo UK). Genie Group's unique selling point is 'the Genie', which makes personal recommendations to internet shoppers based on ground-breaking, intelligent technology. This gives Genie Group the ability to provide an enjoyable and satisfying internet shopping experience, and deliver an unmatched quality of sales leads to our affiliate merchants. Genie Group launched its flagship broadband comparison service Broadband Genie in January 2005.
More information can be found at http://mobile.broadbandgenie.co.uk . Please direct all media enquiries to Stephanie Rogers. Interviews with Philip Wilkinson can be arranged on request.
