Dual-Use Cell-Signal Booster Launched

By Joseph Palenchar On Aug 18 2008 - 6:00am

Wilson Electronics launched a cellular-signal booster promoted as the industry's first booster designed for both in-vehicle and in-building use.

The SignalBoost Mobile Professional, available in four kit configurations from $259 to $279, is targeted to business travelers who conduct business from vehicles, hotel rooms, airports, offices and homes. To power it up, users plug the amplifier into a 110-volt outlet in a home or building, into a car's cigarette lighter via an adapter, or into a laptop's USB port.

Wilson's previous signal-boosting devices were dedicated either to in-building or in-vehicle use.

The cellular amplifier works with any cellphone phone or cellular data modem operating in an 850/1,900MHz network to fill in dead spots, reduce the incidence of dropped calls and speed up a cellular modem's download speeds.

It became available through RadioShack franchise stores and select online stores.

The amp is the size of a candy bar so users can take it from place to place easily. In two kits, it comes with both a magnet-mount antenna for vehicle use and a window-mounting suction-cup bracket for in-building use. The antenna connects to the amplifier via cable, and the amplifier broadcasts the boosted signal within a vehicle or room through its built-in antenna, requiring no cable connection from amplifier to phone. Two other kits include only magnet-mount antenna.