MetroPCS fires up another LTE market: Dallas / Fort Worth, Texas
Look out, WiMAX -- LTE is blazing a path, and it's one that leads directly to the market you're aiming for. Shortly after launching its first commercial LTE market in Sin City, MetroPCS has just lit up its second in the Dallas / Fort Worth area of Texas. Monthly plans start at $55 per month (including all taxes and fees), and as with customers in Vegas, DFW users will also be looking at the dual-mode Samsung Craft ($299 in contract-free form) in order to take advantage. The carrier has reiterated that it hopes to launch even more LTE markets "later this year and in early 2011," which means that your 3G phone is getting more antediluvian by the minute.
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MetroPCS Launches Commercial 4G LTE Services in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex
MetroPCS Offers the Only Commercial 4G LTE Experience for Area Consumers
DALLAS, Sept 29, 2010 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ --
MetroPCS Communications Inc. (NYSE: PCS) today introduced the first commercial 4G LTE services in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex (DFW) with monthly plans starting at $55, including all taxes and regulatory fees. DFW consumers will experience 4G Web access and unlimited voice and text services on the world's first commercially available 4G LTE-enabled handset from Samsung Mobile, the Samsung Craft(TM).
The launch of commercial LTE service in the DFW metroplex follows Las Vegas as cities where MetroPCS is offering 4G LTE service, with additional major metropolitan areas to follow later this year and in early 2011. With a state-of-the-art 4G LTE network infrastructure provided by Ericsson and an advanced entertainment handset with a brilliant AMOLED screen, MetroPCS is providing compelling value to consumers while meeting their growing demand to do more with multimedia applications.
"MetroPCS will continue to expand 4G LTE network coverage into all of our markets through 2011 to offer unmatched value in 4G LTE services on a no-contract basis for all of our customers," said Roger D. Linquist, president, CEO and chairman of MetroPCS. "The launch of our 4G LTE network in the metroplex is yet another milestone in our expansion and our vision of the Internet going mobile."
MetroPCS offers monthly 4G LTE service plans for $55 or $60, which include talk, text and a 4G Web experience initially on an unlimited basis. In addition, DFW customers will now have access to new applications and features that take advantage of MetroPCS' 4G LTE network, including:
* MetroSTUDIO(SM), available on the $60 service plan, includes access to content that consumers demand, such as full-track downloads, ringtones and ring-back tones, as well as premium video content from NBC Universal, Black Entertainment Television (BET) and Univision, available on-demand and on-the-go from one easy-to-use application.
* A new social networking and instant messaging aggregation application, which harnesses notifications, friends and content from Facebook, MySpace and Twitter social networks and AIM, MSN and Yahoo! IM clients into a single interface that consumers can access with one click.
* Upgraded MetroNavigator(R) feature with the addition of voice-activated GPS and turn-by-turn directions.
MetroPCS is initially offering the Samsung Craft in DFW metropolitan area stores and online for $299 plus tax, after $50 instant rebate, while supplies last. The Craft delivers a stunning visual experience with its 3.3 inch AMOLED (Active-matrix organic light-emitting diode) screen, which comes to life on the 2GB MicroSD card pre-loaded with Paramount Pictures' hit movie "Star Trek." The device also includes a combination touch screen, slide-out QWERTY keyboard and Samsung's TouchWiz(TM) user interface to surf and text message; 3.2 megapixel camera with flash and camcorder; and Wi-Fi capability.
"With the launch of our 4G LTE service and the Samsung Craft, MetroPCS brings everything together at our customers' fingertips to do more with the mobile Internet every day, whether they're accessing social networks, finding the best route to work, catching the latest hit TV shows, or downloading and sharing music, photos and videos," said Tracy Lange, vice president and general manager of MetroPCS Dallas.
MetroPCS' DFW 4G LTE network will cover the majority of MetroPCS' existing CDMA network footprint in the DFW Metroplex. 4G LTE network rollouts in the remaining MetroPCS markets are planned for later this year and early 2011. MetroPCS plans to further expand 4G LTE coverage in 2011, along with the launch of additional devices to increase MetroPCS' portfolio of feature phones, touch screens, smartphones and 4G handsets.
