LAS VEGAS -- Bad cell signals don't have to mean the end of your conversations, and now devices like AT&T's MicroCell aren't the only option for getting your calls through. Nextivity showed The Mac Observer its Cel-Fi at CES 2015, and instead of relying on your broadband Internet connection, it deconstructs weak cell signals and rebuilds them into stronger and usable signals. The Cel-Fi can take a poor 1-bar connection and turn it into a solid 3-bar signal without simply boosting a crappy connection that isn't any better than the original weak signal it comes from. Nextivity supports GSM-based services like AT&T and T-Mobile, but its planned LTE voice support means Verizon customers will have some hope for better signals soon, too. Cel-Fi costs about US$500, but may be free depending on whether or not your carrier offers it as a loyalty incentive.
Check It Out: Nextivity Promises to Boost Cell Signals without AT&T's MicroCell
