Sprint's Airave signal booster goes on sale nationwide
By Darren Murph 
posted Jul 29th 2008 12:21PM
posted Jul 29th 2008 12:21PM
Just as July began, we heard that Sprint would finally begin shipping its Airave signal booster nationwide before the month ended. It cut things close, but we can't deny that the rumor proved true. Starting right now, Sprint users with horrendous service in their own homes can begrudgingly cough up $99.99 to have the base station sent directly to you. From there, you'll have to throw down $4.99 per month for extending your coverage but still using your plan minutes, $10 per month if you're looking to make unlimited calls (through the Airave) with a single Sprint phone or $20 per month for unlimited calling for multiple lines. Critics have already harshed on the $50 increase in price from when it launched in Denver and Indy last year, not to mention the relatively high monthly fees, but we suppose you can take it or leave it depending on how regularly you drop calls from your couch. Oh, and don't even think of using this overseas -- the required GPS module makes sure you're in the US before enabling calls.[Via PhoneScoop]
Update: Sprint pinged us to say the official "on sale date" is August 17, 2008.
Having to pay as well as buy the device is not happening. I don't need more minutes, I need a stable connection.
Roam for the win at 5 bars!
Why pay more if you don’t need the unlimited minutes.
At first glance, this actually looks better than T-Mo's Wi-Fi at home device. When I asked T-Mo about it, it was $10/month per phone to use. This doesn't use Wi-Fi so you aren't limited to what phones you can use.
What I want to know is if you are in a non-EVDO area like me, will this thing give you EVDO coverage?
But I do agree. If you are still using your minutes there should not be a monthly fee. Fee only makes sense if you get unlimited.
MrMaze - you don't have to pay to use T-Mobile's Wifi thing. What they charge you $10 for is for unlimited minutes when using it.
If you don't subscribe to the $10 bolt-on, all calls made using the Internet are charged at usual T-Mobile rates. So you can use Wifi to get a stronger signal, at home, at Starbucks, or where-ever else you use Wifi.
I have a Nokia 6086 and this is exactly how I use it.
Mr Maze, last time I looked into the specs on this you would only have 1X service at home.
Sucky.
I would guess that the reason there is a monthly fee even if you are using plan minutes is that they are subsidizing the Airave box. The cheapest WiFi routers are manufactured in valumes that range into the tens, possibly hundreds, of millions and they cost $50+ per unit. I would guess that the unit volumes for the Airaves are pretty low at this point so the unit costs would be much higher than for a WiFi router.
They are 100$
Actually, your right and wrong at the same time...
The ONLY plan that you don't have to add the airave package is if you're on the Simply Everything Plan... This device does NOT give you EVDO, just 1X... I'm sure they have one that does EVDO sitting in a warehouse somewhere waiting to launch at Christmas... My question is, if you're going to be able to take this with you when you travel so you can get unlimited calling and good cell service while you're on the go.. I mean, obviously it's going to be a big thing to carry with you on a trip, but i mean if you're going to be somewhere that doesn't get good cell service then it might be worth taking with you!
I think we're going to start seeing airave monthly fees dicipate once other providers come out with their own version of this... i mean, TMO's UMA is a joke! I had TMO for a while and it was AWFUL! I had better reception/call clarity just using their towers, which was just as bad!
I'm optimistic about the outcome of this device for Sprint
I look at it as paying $100 plus $5 a month for something I'm already paying Sprint (my monthly bill!) to provide. I think if you have weak signal (I don't know how one would prove this) then you should get the monthly fee waived, and pay much less for the device, or get it free with a one year agreement.
I got one for free with all service charges waived by calling and asking retentions to correct the issue.
This is the first I've heard of this signal booster thing. Now this explains why the 5 bar signals we once had in our home area is now depleted to either 1 or no bars at all. (nodding my head). Now I understand what Sprint is doing.
Well considering you can get out of your contract easy if the phone service doesn't work in your house, I'd say they're shooting themselves in the foot by charging extra. I can see charging extra for the unlimited minutes but come on, costs extra and still uses your minutes? I'd tell 'em where to shove it. But then again, I'm with AT&T so I should be used to getting raped.