Ubiquisys, the developer of intelligent femto 3G access points, has today announced new femtocell systems for businesses based on its established residential product. The ZoneGate E2 modular femtocell system for SMEs (Small and Medium-sized Enterprises) will be released later in 2008, whilst the SOHO (Small Office/Home Office) version is available to mobile operators now.
Many SOHO operations and SMEs suffer from poor mobile coverage and high tariffs, and until now there has been no affordable solution available using employees' existing mobile phones.
The Ubiquisys ZoneGate E2 system enables Mobile Network Operators to fill this gap for SOHOs and SMEs. Small companies will effectively have their own private 3G network to provide indoor coverage. Employees' regular 3G handsets and datacards will automatically switch to a low-cost tariff as they arrive in the office, and they will enjoy a dependable, maximum speed mobile internet experience. For many small companies the convenience of a single phone combined with low-cost calls will eliminate the need for a standard fixed-line phone.
The ZoneGate E2 is a modular femtocell system – it is easy to install, either on its own or in a formation to cover any shape of office. Irrespective of the deployment formation, the femtocells dynamically adapt the coverage between them, and automatically manage handover as employees move around the office whilst on a call. The system connects to the mobile operator's core network through the existing broadband connection.
"Femtocells have long been thought of as a consumer device that provides better quality lower cost mobile coverage in the home – this is no longer the case. Mobile operators can now extend these innovative services to businesses as well." said Will Franks, CTO Ubiquisys. "The ZoneGate E2 modular femtocell system will provide employees in small companies with a major productivity advantage – one device, a low-cost office tariff, and maximum speed mobile internet."