Despite being slightly overshadowed by a certain announcement from Verizon Wireless, MetroPCS announced Wednesday the launch of its “4G” LTE network in San Francisco and the surrounding areas. San Francisco joins Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Philadelphia, Detroit and Dallas-Forth Worth in the growing list of markets now covered by MetroPCS’ LTE network. MetroPCS plans to expand its 4G services to cover Atlanta, Boston, Jacksonville, Miami, New York, Orlando, Sacramento and Tampa between during the course of December and early 2011. Currently, MetroPCS only has one LTE-compatible cell phone available — the Samsung Craft, which is available for $299 with no contract. The carrier also has two available 4G service plans: a $55 “4G” plan, which includes unlimited nationwide calling, text messaging, picture messaging and 4G data; and a $60 “4G Premium” plan, which adds unlimited on demand video.
MetroPCS Launches 4G LTE Network in San Francisco Metropolitan Area
Experience Unlimited 4G LTE Mobile Broadband with the Entertainment-Rich Samsung CraftTM
DALLAS – (Dec. 1, 2010) – MetroPCS Communications Inc. (NYSE: PCS) today launched unlimited, no annual contract 4G LTE services in the San Francisco metropolitan area starting at $55 per month including taxes and regulatory fees. Accessible on the world’s first commercially available 4G LTE handset, the Samsung CraftTM, MetroPCS’ 4G LTE network allows consumers to do more with unlimited talk, text and enhanced entertainment and web browsing features.
“We can’t add hours to the day, but we can help consumers do more in the hours they have. With easy access to social networks and enhanced web browsing capabilities, our customers can stay on top of the latest news, access their favorite content through MetroSTUDIOSM, and keep up with friends, family and colleagues,” said Roger D. Linquist, president, CEO and chairman of MetroPCS. “As the only no annual contract, pay-in-advance service provider offering 4G LTE services, MetroPCS continues to deliver the innovative, flexible and affordable services our customers rely on.”
The Samsung Craft is available in-store in all MetroPCS markets or online for $299 plus tax after the $50 instant rebate, while supplies last. Customers can take advantage of all MetroPCS 4G LTE has to offer with the Samsung Craft, including:
•MetroSTUDIO, powered by RealNetworks, available on the $60 service plan, delivers 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 from one easy-to-use application.
•A social networking and instant messaging application which harnesses notifications, friends and content from Facebook, MySpace and Twitter and AIM, MSN and Yahoo! IM clients into a single interface that’s accessible with one click.
•Upgraded MetroNavigator® feature includes new voice-activated GPS and turn-by-turn directions.
The Samsung Craft features a brilliant 3.3 inch AMOLED (active-matrix organic light-emitting diode) screen for a better video experience, and comes with a 2GB MicroSD card pre-loaded with Paramount Pictures’ hit movie “Star Trek – The Future Begins.” The Samsung Craft also contains a combination touch screen, slide-out QWERTY keyboard, Samsung’s TouchWizTM user interface to surf and text message, 3.2 megapixel camera with flash, camcorder and is Wi-Fi capable.
With today’s launch in the San Francisco metropolitan area, MetroPCS now provides 4G LTE services in six metropolitan areas, including Dallas-Fort Worth, Detroit, Las Vegas, Los Angeles and Philadelphia. MetroPCS has plans to expand its 4G services into more major metropolitan areas later this year and into early 2011, including Atlanta, Boston, Jacksonville, Miami, New York, Orlando, Sacramento and Tampa.
