Femtocell activity is in full flow, with news earlier this week that the first 3G femtocell standard is officially complete now being followed by reports that US operator AT&T has begun trials of its HSPA-enabled femtocell. Engadget Mobile, citing an apparent AT&T memo, notes that a select number of AT&T customers have been invited to take part in the trial of the ‘3G MicroCell’ device. Beginning this week, the trials will last eight weeks, suggesting that a commercial launch is unlikely before June. Users are being incentivised with a US$200 payment, and can keep the unit at the conclusion of the trial.

AT&T’s trial deployment of the home base station technology that improves indoor network coverage follows rival efforts. Verizon Wireless – the largest US operator – in January commercially launched its ‘Network Extender’ unit, manufactured by Samsung and retailing at US$250 with no monthly service fee. Sprint Nextel has also launched a Samsung-manufactured product called Airave, costing only US$99 but including a monthly fee. However, both Verizon and Sprint’s femtocell offerings do not provide 3G support. Verizon has made little public comment on the success of its femtocell product to date, although CTO Dick Lynch told Mobile Business Briefing at the GSMA Mobile World Congress in February that sales in the first few weeks had been “very, very good.”