Femtocells Could Provide Pocket-Sized Reception for Your Cell Phone

Your cell phone can make and receive calls thanks to large microwave transceivers, but what if you could get a signal from a device the size of a USB stick? PicoChip and Ubiquisys, two U.K.-based firms, have developed scaled-down, USB-powered cell towers that provide reception in a tiny package. Using the Internet connection of a PC or other device, these femtocells link back to the cellular network to transmit calls and data.

PicoChip, which touts its gadget as “the world’s smallest 3G base station,” manufactures the larger, router-sized femtocells used by such carriers as AT&T, Sprint, and Verizon Wireless, but those devices are designed for in-home use. The “femtostick’s” compact size was achieved by reducing the main chip’s power consumption and adding a USB connection. The latest generation of femtocell chips measures just 12 millimeters square.

In addition to offering connectivity in a pint-sized package, these femtocells provide a cheaper alternative to steep international roaming charges; a model from Ubiquisys can determine the user’s location once it’s connected to a laptop and will use that information to abide by local wireless spectrum regulations. Though these femtocells may only be able to broadcast a very short range in order to comply with international laws, companies have already developed prototypes that allow European handsets to function in the U.S. While complex international wireless regulations will need to be parsed, we may someday be able to use one Wi-Fi smart phone anywhere in the world—if the carriers commercialize the possibilities this technology offers.