A Boost For Your Mobile Phone

Femto- is an SI prefix (symbol f) in the SI system of units denoting a factor of 10−15 or 0.000 000 000 000 001, according to Wikipedia.
But in the context of mobile communications femtocell has come to mean the technique of connecting your mobile phone to its 3G network over the internet.
Ipaccess is the leading British firm in this area, having won awards and inward investment from none other than Qualcomm the American telecoms giant.
The idea is that we each have a small transmitter receiver device in our home, about the same size as and sitting alongside our wireless router.
As you leave the car and walk into the house, so your phone will discover the femtocell, and you will benefit not only from crystal clear calls (no more "..your breaking up, I'll call you back") but also will be able to enjoy all the online music, tv and information services that you use via your phone.
That is the theory - and it looks as if it is about to be put into practice.
All the major mobile phone companies are looking at this technology - which is already being used in its picocell format - in areas of traditionally poor mobile reception, such as shopping centres and transport hubs.
Initially if you have a partner and kids on different networks you will need several of these devices - one for each network - so watch this space for special deals to encourage families to take a package deal for all their mobile needs from the same supplier.
But why do I need this, when I have wifi already at home, and my handset can connect to the internet over that?
The ipaccess folks say that getting online over wifi can be tricky and not that reliable, so why not use the 3G technology that your phone thrives on inside the home as well as outside?
Costs are to be decided. But it could be as little as nil. At least in initial outlay.
If we start making more calls and using 3G services in our homes, there is revenue to be recouped that way.