It's already been reported (and supposedly confirmed by AT&T) that the GPS is used to determine your location so the device cannot be used in an area not covered by AT&T; i.e. Europe. Are these reports false?
The following are from the User Manual
http://www.wireless.att.com/support...documents/1252584282478.UserManual_090409.pdf
Begin long quote --------------------
* E911 Service
The AT&T 3G MicroCell? supports E911 (wireless 9-1-1 service) unless the device loses electrical power or Internet access. In the event of a service disruption, you won?t be able to use E911 service with your wireless device unless you have access to the AT&T wireless network. It may take several minutes after power resumes for your device to be fully functional. If you move your MicroCell to a new address, it will be necessary to follow the original installation instructions and register the new address online at
att.com/3GMicrocell to enable E911 service to function properly.
Important E911 Note: The location address you provide in your online
activation will be sent to local emergency responders, and must be kept up to date if you move your device. To update your location address information, visit att.com/3GMicroCell and select ?Manage your 3G MicroCell.?
2.4 I want to give or sell my 3G MicroCell to someone else, is that OK?
Yes, but be sure to disconnect the 3G MicroCell from your account. Otherwise the new owner of the 3G MicroCell will not be able to activate it using his or her account. Visit att.com/3GMicroCell, go to ?Manage your AT&T 3G MicroCell? and follow the online steps for ?Disconnect Your 3G MicroCell Device? from your account.
Note: The new 3G MicroCell owner must contact AT&T Customer Support at 1.888.334.3787 and enter PIN 88346 before installing the device. The support representative will explain E911 functionality to ensure that this important feature is understood.
End of three quotes from User Manual--------------
These quotes are from the User Manual. They are all that I could find on the topic. A fair reading suggests that the exclusive use of GPS is for E-911. I found nothing to suggest that the use of the micro-cell was in any way bound to a location or that it was not portable to any point in the Internet. Nothing to suggest that its use was restricted either to a market or to the US.
[It is obviously restricted to AT&T. Only phones with AT&T SIMs will even see the device. Only phones that have been associated with the device, using the registration procedure will be able to use it. This is because all use of the cell, metered minutes or unmetered unlimited, is going to be charged to the wireless account (not phone) with which it is associated.]
However, I am sure that the conspiracy theorists here will find a way to read things into it which is appears careful not to say.
I am not an AT&T representative nor do I intend to so represent myself on this thread. My only credential for this post is that I can read documents that are available to all.