T-Mobile on Monday unveiled its new 4G LTE CellSpot, an indoor mini-cell tower that provides 3,000 square feet of 4G coverage for homes and businesses.
According to T-Mobile, the new 4G hotspot improves upon the Wi-Fi CellSpot Router the Un-carrier previously launched by offering the “complete T-Mobile LTE network experience,” including VoLTE, HD voice, advanced messaging and video calling.
T-Mobile CEO John Legere said the new LTE CellSpot acts as a smaller version of the carrier’s full scale cell towers.
“We’re taking personal coverage to the next level,” Legere said in a Monday video blog post “This is not Wi-Fi like the CellSpot we introduced in Uncarrier 7, this is full blown 4G LTE – it’s a mini-tower. It gives you coverage where cellular only just can’t reach.”
“Every wireless network has some limits, some corner or cabin or basement that doesn’t deliver great coverage,” Legere continued. “The difference between the Un-carrier and the carriers is they’ll do everything they can to make more money off you. We’ll do everything we can to eliminate your paying points. Today’s that’s about giving you more options and more coverage.”
According to Legere, the new device will work in any location where T-Mobile has spectrum and requires only a power source and Internet connection. The 4G CellSpot – which is compatible with both 3G and 4G – works with any T-Mobile device, and can support up to 16 simultaneous voice calls. The device will not require any login or password for use.
Measuring just 8.5 inches wide by 8.5 inches tall and 1.3 inches thick, the black upright square 4G CellSpot is reminiscent of a wireless router, and could easily fit in among other household or business electronics.
Legere said the 4G LTE CellSpot will be free to T-Mobile’s Simple Choice customers with a refundable $25 dollar deposit.
The device fits into a lineup of signal-boosting technology that has been rolled out by T-Mobile over the past year or so with the aim of putting signal strength in the customers’ hands.
Last September, T-Mobile rolled out the Personal CellSpot, a device that utilizes Wi-Fi to provide coverage wherever the device is placed. In the year since its launch, Legere said T-Mobile has distributed more than 1 million of the devices, allowing customers to make over 11.2 million Wi-Fi calls each day.
T-Mobile later followed up with the 4G LTE CellSpot Signal Booster to amplify existing T-Mobile 3G, 4G and LTE signals in homes and businesses.
The new 4G CellSpot device will be available on Nov. 4, Legere said.
