US : AirWalk Communications will introduce EdgePoint, its advanced femtocell for home and small office use, at the CTIA Wireless conference in Las Vegas.

EdgePoint is optimized for extending cellular service to homes, small businesses, and areas of poor cellular reception. The compact devices serve as low-power access points, operating in licensed spectrum, to connect mobile devices to the mobile carrier’s network via the Internet.

By deploying the compact (7 by 7 by 2 inches) femtocells at customer sites, cellular carriers can reduce the customer churn typically associated with poor reception. EdgePoint’s improved coverage encourages customers to migrate their landline home and office phones to cellular while supporting all macro network features. Also, carriers can reduce their operating costs by using existing home IP backhaul technologies for the EdgePoint traffic, eliminating the pressure to build out their networks in fringe areas.

For consumers, EdgePoint is simple to use, plugging directly into a DSL or cable broadband connection. The femtocell is programmed for their existing handsets and laptop computers. Users can guarantee good reception – including smooth handoff of calls originated on EdgePoint to the macro network, and can work with their carriers to secure service plans tailored to their needs. The EdgePoint eliminates existing landline phones and supports calls on one number, on one cellular service, all on one bill.

“Cell phone users make over 40 percent of their calls from home, and want the same level of service they get in high coverage areas,” said Serge Pequeux, president and CEO of AirWalk Communications. “The most common reason for changing cellular carriers is dissatisfaction with coverage, and with EdgePoint femtocells, a carrier can deliver the coverage that consumers expect while reducing churn.”

The EdgePoint architecture combines a base station transceiver, base station controller, and network interfaces into a single unit, and can be configured for either 1xEV-DO Rev. A or 1xRTT. With a range of about 250 feet, EdgePoint is ideal for single family home and smaller office settings.

AirWalk Communications is a leader in CDMA IP femtocells, having had extensive experience with picocells which are used in more demanding enterprise applications.

AirWalk Communications will be in Booth 7261 at CTIA Wireless, which runs April 1-3 at the Las Vegas Convention Center.