Sprint is providing some subscribers with an update of the release plans for their Airave Femtocell Base Station. Sprint AIRAVE™ is a device that creates a CDMA signal for your mobile phone (like a miniature cell tower). AIRAVE provides enhanced and reliable mobile phone coverage in your house or office even if your existing wireless coverage is poor. This works with any Sprint phone (Nextel style excluded) with some important quirks:

1. No EVDO data (only s-l-o-w Vision data is supported)
2. Cannot seamlessly transfer from normal cell tower to Airave.
3. Only works where Sprint has native coverage (it checks via GPS)
4. Supports only 3 simultaneous users (according to Sprint email)

Cost of the Sprint Airave is not announced yet but expected to be $49 with monthly service fees around $15 for individuals or $ 30 for families. These add-on plan fees provide for unlimited calling when the signal is broadcast over the Airave.

Here’s the text of an email received from one Sprint subscriber who inquired about Airave availablity:

Dear xxxxx,

Thank you for contacting Sprint. I will be happy to assist you with the
Airave device.

The Airave device will be released nationwide on August 17, 2008; we
have not yet set a price point for the device so unfortunately I am
unable to provide you with any information as far as that goes.

More information about the Airave can be found at http://airave.sprint.com.

The airave functions as a portable cell tower and routes your cell
signal through your DSL or cable broadband Internet connection. At this
time it does not support EVDO data signal but does support our basic
Vision signal. It can handle three users at once and is best for
customers who do not have a strong signal in their home or small office.
It must be purchased at a Sprint Retail Store only.

Please let us know if we can do anything else for you at this time.

Thank you again for contacting Sprint. We appreciate your business.

Sprint Airave

Related posts:

1. Sprint Airave routes your Sprint calls over the Internet – arrives July 15
2. HTC’s official Sprint Mogul update is out: Windows Mobile 6.1 and Sprint TV added
3. Official Update: Sprint Mogul and Other Windows Mobile Devices Still Getting MMS / Picture Mail Capabilities
4. Sprint to discontinue most charges for call forwarding – embrace Google Voice
5. R.I.P. – Sprint SERO Plans – new (higher priced) plans renamed Everything Plus Referral Program