Freebies to Ease Japan iPhone 3G Load?
Similar to U.S. iPhone network provider AT&T (T), Softbank Corp., the exclusive wireless carrier for Apple Inc.’s (AAPL) iPhone in Japan, often faces criticism that its network can’t keep up with the data-heavy smartphones.
Softbank’s solution? In May, the company offered free broadband connections and free 3G femtocell mini base stations, which look similar to wireless routers, to Softbank subscribers. Femtocells are small cellular base stations (in this case 3G) that use a high-speed Internet connection to route calls to the wireless cellular network. So the only cost to the user is possibly a small increase in electricity bills.
One femtocell can usually provide improved 3G coverage in an entire house for up to several tens of meters, a Softbank spokesman said. In a densely-populated urban settings like Tokyo, it can improve coverage to even surrounding apartments or houses.
