MetroPCS

MetroPCS gets LG Connect

March 2nd, 2012   |    MetroPCS   |    3 Comments

We’ve known since CES 2012 that MetroPCS was going to get the LG Connect 4G. That day has finally come. It’s Metro’s highest-end Android handset to date, featuring a 1.2GHz processor and a 5-inch screen. It does run Android 2.4 Gingerbread, but plenty of existing phones will get upgraded to 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich this year. The Connect could certainly rank among them. It will run you $349, but thanks to MetroPCS’s $30 mail-in rebate promotion you can get it for a net price of $319. It’s available in stores and at MetroPCS’s website.

Via Unwired View.

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MetroPCS to start $30 mail-in rebate promotion in March

February 29th, 2012   |    MetroPCS   |    4 Comments

Yesterday MetroPCS sent out a press release that was meant to change its financial expectations for the first quarter of 2012. In it they warned of higher subscriber costs, because of a $30 mail-in rebate program that starts on March 1. Talk about burying the lead! Yes, this means MetroPCS, starting Thursday, will start offering $30 mail-in rebates. WIth new federal and state tax codes potentially delaying people’s income tax refund checks, Metro feels that they can offer people a bargain on phones in order to lure them. There aren’t many specifics available — most of the current information centers on the Wall Street impact — but we should find out more Wednesday or Thursday.

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MetroPCS to get HTC One V

February 28th, 2012   |    MetroPCS   |    1 Comment

This week is Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, so we should hear about plenty of new devices. Most of them will be high-end models destined for big contract carriers, but there can be a few prepaid gems in there. The first such device is the HTC One V, which is a pretty solid handset. It’s reminiscent of the Nexus One, which has held up very well over the years. Like the N1 it will feature a 1GHz, single-core processor, with 512MB of RAM. The phone features a 3.7-inch screen, which is a happy medium among today’s larger handsets. Other than that it’s a pretty standard handset, though it will contain the Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich OS, which at this point is just as important as fancy specs. Make sure to check out Android Central for a hands on with the V One.

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Sprint nearly acquired MetroPCS, board vetoes deal

February 27th, 2012   |    MetroPCS   |    4 Comments

Sprint might have opposed AT&T’s bid to acquire T-Mobile, but that doesn’t mean it was standing pat. For the past few months — which means the AT&T T-Mobile deal was still alive — Sprint has worked to acquire MetroPCS. The move would have boosted Sprint’s subscribers by 17 percent while affording it a greater swath of spectrum. Moreover, the move would have set up further changes in the industry. It would have put more pressure on T-Mobile, and it would have put pressure on AT&T to accelerate talks with Cricket; we learned recently that AT&T and Cricket were talking merger, but hadn’t quite reached a serious stage.

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MetroPCS planning voice over LTE device

February 24th, 2012   |    MetroPCS   |    No Comments

MetroPCS made headlines yesterday, mainly for their earnings call. Since we covered their subscriber gains back in January, it seems appropriate to focus on another item from the call. CEO Roger Linquist announced that the company will launch a handset later this year that will use Voice over LTE technology. This will help MetroPCS better use its limited spectrum. Instead of using one side of the network for voice and text and the LTE side for data, they’ll have everything consolidated.

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T-Mobile and MetroPCS want to block Verizon spectrum deal

February 23rd, 2012   |    MetroPCS   |    No Comments

Spectrum has become the cellular industry’s most valuable commodity. AT&T wanted to acquire T-Mobile not only to add its millions of customers, but primarily to obtain its spectrum. You can expect that any deal involving spectrum will come under heavy fire — and the larger the acquiring entity, the heavier the battle. Late last year Verizon brokered a $4 billion deal that would net the company significant spectrum holdings from Comcast, Time Warner, Bright House Networks, and Cox Communications. This week we’ve heard that T-Mobile filed an opposition with the FCC, and now we learn that MetroPCS has done the same. Both companies have good reason to oppose the transaction.

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MetroPCS adds call and text message blocking

February 15th, 2012   |    MetroPCS   |    1 Comment

The Federal Trade Commission might prohibit auto-dialers from calling your cell phone, but as most of us know that hasn’t stopped them. At least once a week I get a call from a telemarketer, and it eats my monthly minutes. It appears that MetroPCS is going to do something about that. They’ve teamed with PrivacyStar to offer a service called Metro Block-it. As the name implies, the service allows users to block calls from unwanted callers — meaning telemarketers and other auto-dialers.

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MetroPCS offers $40 LTE plan for Android customers

February 3rd, 2012   |    MetroPCS   |    No Comments

As it turns out, MetroPCS didn’t discontinue it’s $40 LTE plan. Earlier in the week the plan did disappear from its website, which FierceWireless astutely noted. But that was apparently a temporary measure. We got an email detailing Metro’s plans for the $40 plan, which involve offering it to all LTE phone users. It includes unlimited talk, text, and browsing, as is standard with all MetroPCS plans. It also includes 100MB of streaming media. Again, this plan works with any LTE handset in MetroPCS’s lineup. You can sign up for the plan and get an Android LTE smartphone at MetroPCS’s website.

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MetroPCS discontinues $40 LTE plan

January 31st, 2012   |    MetroPCS   |    No Comments

Since it didn’t serve much of a purpose any longer, MetroPCS has decided to discontinue its $40 LTE plan. This plan originally became available in September, 2010, when MetroPCS first offered LTE service. The only phone model available then was the Samsung Craft. It was a poor phone to begin with, and once MetroPCS started adding LTE Android devices it became pointless. MetroPCS stopped selling the Craft recently, leaving the $40 LTE plan with no compatible phones — Android handsets require that users sign up for the $50 or $60 LTE plans.

Via FierceWireless.

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Rumor: MetroPCS to get LG Optimus 2

January 25th, 2012   |    MetroPCS   |    No Comments

Pictured above is a slightly grainy picture of the LG Optimus 2. It’s actually already available through Sprint, but as the apps on the homescreen of this picture indicate, this one is headed for MetroPCS. It will be a CDMA device, not an LTE one, just like the Sprint model. It also features a 3.2-megapixel camera, 800MHz processor, and a 3.2-inch screen. Chances are it will come in at a value price, especially since MetroPCS is introducing a pair of higher end Android devices later this month.

Via Howard Forums.

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MetroPCS announces two LTE smartphones

January 10th, 2012   |    MetroPCS   |    7 Comments

MetroPCS started off CES 2012 with a bang, announcing two new LTE handsets. The first, to the left, is the Samsung Galaxy Attain. The second is the LG Connect, pictured to the right. The Attain is something of a mid-level handset, featuring a 1GHz processor, 3.5-inch screen, and a front-facing camera. It will cost $199, after a $50 mail-in rebate. The Connect is a bit higher end, featuring a 1.2GHz dual-core processor. It can record 720p video as well, making it a bit more attractive for the younger crowd. There is no price set on the Connect yet, though both the Connect and the Galaxy Attain should be available later this month. Both run Android 2.3, though there’s a chance they could get an upgrade to Ice Cream Sandwich 4.0.

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MetroPCS bringing TV to smartphones

January 5th, 2012   |    MetroPCS   |    2 Comments

It was only a matter of time before carriers starting bring ing live TV to smartphones. There are already some apps that do this. For instance, Cablevision lets its cable customers stream live TV to their iPhones. Yesterday MetroPCS made an exciting announcement along these lines. Later this year they’ll begin offering live TV on their Android handsets. This seems like a perfect fit for an LTE network. Streaming services is a huge draw, and MetroPCS has the means to deliver it. They expect two of the basic broadcast networks, FOX and NBC, plus a number of other media entities — 15 broadcast groups in total, for a whopping 72 stations. That will surely bring people to MetroPCS and their Android LTE phones. What’s even better: MetroPCS has long said that they’ll start adding many more LTE handsets in the second half of 2012. These two developments could coincide nicely.

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MetroPCS to get LG Connect 4G

January 3rd, 2012   |    MetroPCS   |    No Comments

We can add another to the list of upcoming MetroPCS 4G LTE phones. Last month we learned about the Samsung Conquer. More recently, PocketNow has revealed the LG Connect 4G. It’s a bit higher end than the Conquer, featureing a dual-core processor and a gig of RAM, plus a 5-megapixel rear camera to go with a VGA front-facing one. The Connect is set to also hit Verizon and, when they finally roll out LTE, Sprint. That makes it ripe for an announcement at CES 2012, which starts next week. We’ll keep our eyes open.

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MetroPCS gets distribution through Amazon

December 28th, 2011   |    MetroPCS   |    No Comments

Not to be outdone by rival Cricket, MetroPCS has signed a distribution deal with Amazon.com. About a month ago Cricket hooked on with Amazon, which was part of a large expansion effort. Now MetroPCS will have the same widespread distribution advantage. It’s unknown yet how much the Amazon deal helped Cricket — we won’t know much, if anything, until the fourth quarter earnings conference. But it’s hard to imagine that a deal with such a high-traffic website could work out poorly.

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MetroPCS to get Samsung Conquer

December 14th, 2011   |    MetroPCS   |    No Comments

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TechnoBloom is reporting that the Samsung Conquer, which has been part of Sprint’s Android lineup since August, is soon coming to MetroPCS. This could be a big deal for MetroPCS. While the Sprint version is labeled 4G because of WiMax, the MetroPCS version reportedly has LTE, giving MetroPCS 3 LTE smartphones (not counting the Samsung Craft, which really doesn’t count). The Conquer, which will likely sport a different name on MetroPCS, features a 1GHz processor, 512MB or RAM, and a 3.5-inch screen at 480×320 pixels. That is, it’s much like other MetroPCS Android handsets: upper middle range. Expect it to be priced somewhere around $300.

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MetroPCS adds ABC, ESPN, and Disney content

November 23rd, 2011   |    MetroPCS   |    No Comments

One perk of MetroPCS‘s $60 LTE plan is its MetroSTUDIO Video On Demand service. When signing up for the plan users can choose either that or Rhapsody’s Unlimited Music plan. While MetroSTUDIO hasn’t always provided the widest array of offerings, that’s about to change. They recently inked a deal with ABC, which will bring ABC and subsidiary content, including ESPN and Disney, to the on-demand service. This will add 20 channels to MetroSTUDIO, making it a much more attractive option. Again, this has to be with Metro’s $60 LTE plan, meaning it’s compatible with the Galaxy Indulge, LG Esteem, and, to a much lesser extent, Samsung Craft. You can get a 4G LTE phone and plan at MetroPCS’s website.
 
Via Phone Scoop.

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MetroPCS adds HTC Wildfire S

November 21st, 2011   |    MetroPCS   |    No Comments

If you’ve seen that handset before, it’s because we’ve covered on the site. Last month Virgin Mobile added a couple of Android handsets, including the HTC Wildfire S. We had previously heard that the Wildfire S was headed to MetroPCS. The Android smartphone is now available. As detailed previously it’s a pretty basic handset, with a mid-range processor. It does run Android 2.3, however. When we first heard of the Wildfire coming to MetroPCS I thought it would cost under $100, but it’s quite a bit more: $179.99. Honestly, I think the Samsung Admire is a much better deal, and $80 cheaper. Still, if you want the Wildfire you can grab it at MetroPCS’s website.
 
Via Phone Scoop.

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MetroPCS adds, but doesn’t beat last year

November 1st, 2011   |    MetroPCS   |    No Comments

Earlier today we reported on Cricket‘s third quarter results, which included a big increase over last year even if the net total was small. Now we learn of MetroPCS‘s results, which are quite the opposite. They added more customers than Cricket, 64,384 to 10,000. But they failed to reach their additions from the third quarter of 2010, 223,249. They also experienced a higher churn rate, 4.5 percent, up from 3.8 percent last year. It appears that the companies experienced a reversal of fortunes in the past quarter, though MetroPCS, with its 4G LTE network, could attract more customers in the fourth quarter.

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MetroPCS introduces family plan promotion

October 28th, 2011   |    MetroPCS   |    No Comments

MetroPCS is making a push for the holiday season. They’ve recently announced a new unlimited family plan that covers four lines for $100 per month. That $25 per month is $15 lower than their least expensive individual unlimited plan, and it includes the same voice, messaging, and data features. While the $25 promotion is the cheapest, MetroPCS is also offering discounts for two and three lines as well: $35 per line for two, and $30 per line for three. In addition, customers can mix and match their four lines. Per the FAQ: “For example if an account includes (2) $G LTE $50 rate plans, (1) $45 rate plan and (1) $40 rate plan, the customer with the $40 rate plan will pay only $25 per month (taxes and fees included).” This promotion is available through MetroPCS’s website through December 31st.
 
Via FierceWireless.

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Could MetroPCS go nationwide?

October 24th, 2011   |    MetroPCS   |    No Comments

While Cricket in the battle of regional wireless carriers, the field has shifted a bit lately. Last month Cricket announced plans to go nationwide by taking advantage of its network partnership with Sprint. That opens up Cricket to many new markets it didn’t previously cover, including some market in which MetroPCs exists, but not Cricket. That left us with the question of what MetroPCS would do to counter. Last week we got a look at a possible answer: picking up spectrum from AT&T and T-Mobile.
 

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MetroPCS adds tokidoki artwork to Huawei M835

October 17th, 2011   |    MetroPCS   |    No Comments

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MetroPCS is no stranger to artist-branded handsets. A few years ago they introduced a few phones with Mister Cartoon designs — most notably the Samsung Messenger. They’re at it again, this time with tokidoki. They’ve rebranded the Huawei M835, giving a neat look to the mid-range Android handset. For a refresher, it’s a small phone, with a 2.8-inch screen, and runs Android 2.2 Froyo. That said, the normal one costs just $80, so the tokidoki version doesn’t figure to be too much more expensive. It’ll be out in the coming weeks.

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MetroPCS adds LG Esteem and two others

September 28th, 2011   |    MetroPCS   |    No Comments

It’s finally here. After hearing about it for months the LG Esteem is finally headed to MetroPCS. It is a truly high-end Android device, featuring a fast 1GHz Snapdragon processor — the same one in the Nexus One and countless other Androids. It runs the latest version of the software, 2.3 Gingerbread, and comes with a sizable 8GB of internal memory. It also carries a 5 megapixel camera and a 4.3-inch display. Best of all, it runs on Metro’s LTE network, so you’ll get the most out of that blazing speed. It should hit the web shortly, so the wait is nearly over. You can head to MetroPCS’s website and see when it becomes available. It’ll cost $349, but there’s a $100 mail-in rebate that makes the price a little more palatable.
 
MetroPCS added two other, less exciting handsets to its lineup as well. Both are attractive based on price.

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MetroPCS upgrading some towers to EV-DO

September 16th, 2011   |    MetroPCS   |    5 Comments

In the past year MetroPCS has added plenty of smartphones to its lineup, in an attempt to capture an emerging sector of the market. It’s seemingly worked, as they’ve solidified their place as the No. 5 carrier in America. There is just one issue with these new smartphones, though: they run on Metro’s 1xRTT network, which is considerably slower than the 3G networks that all other carriers, even rival Cricket, operate. That’s one reason why its 4G roll-out has been so important. But now, according to Phil Goldstein of FierceWireless, they’re starting to upgrade their older network. About 20 percent of their current cell sites will get EV-DO, which comes as wonderful news to current MetroPCS smartphone users. That should help tide over MetroPCS customers until the latter part of 2012, when they project they’ll be able to offer cheap LTE Android handsets to their customers.

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HTC Wildfire Android phone heading to MetroPCS

September 13th, 2011   |    MetroPCS   |    No Comments

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What you see pictured above is the HTC Wildfire, an Android device heading to MetroPCS. While there aren’t many details, such as release date and pricing, we can glean some information from the About screen in the picture. It figures to be a cheap device based on the 600MHz processor speed, perhaps in the $75 to $100 range. The screen is also on the small side at 3.2 inches, though the camera is a robust 5 megapixels. It does run Android 2.3, which is another plus, but with an underpowered processor this is far from a high-end device. If it comes in over $100 I’d be shocked. We’ll stay with this one as more information flows in.

Via Howard Forums.

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Look for the LG Esteem on MetroPCS next month

August 24th, 2011   |    MetroPCS   |    1 Comment

MetroPCS customers will get a nice treat next month. In July we heard the first rumors of the LG Esteem Android handset, which would represent one of the most advanced smartphones to hit MetroPCS to date. Thanks to a Howard Forums user we now have further details. Back then we heard that it would drop in October for around $300, but those numbers were somewhat off. The internal document pegs the release date at September 21st, and the cost at $379.99. While this is more expensive than other MetroPCS Androids, it also has some of the best features: 1GHz processor, 4GB of internal memory, 5 megapixel camera, etc. It figures to signal a further push into higher end smartphones for MetroPCS; CEO Roger Linquist has hinted that late 2011 and 2012 could be a bit period for them.

Via PhoneNews.com.

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Samsung Admire now available from MetroPCS for $129

August 22nd, 2011   |    MetroPCS   |    4 Comments

Earlier this month MetroPCS announced the Samsung Admire Android smartphone. The announcement left out two of the most important details, though: the price and the release date. Today we got those answers: now and $129. MetroPCS is making the Admire part of a back-to-school promotion, marketing it towards high school and college kids who want a modern phone but whose parents don’t want to pay $200 and sign a two-year contract. You can grab the admire at a retail outlet or at MetroPCS’s website.

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MetroPCS adds Rhapsody on-demand music

August 18th, 2011   |    MetroPCS   |    1 Comment

Last year Cricket introduced their Muve Music plan, which provided unlimited music downloads to their users. It required a specific phone and plan, and all the music was stored on a copy-protected SD card, but it was still a good, and original, deal. Now their biggest competitors, MetroPCS, has added a music service of their own. It’s a partnership with Rhapsody, which gives MetroPCS Android users access to 12 million songs. The only problem is that it comes only with the $60 monthly plan, while Android users can get on without Rhapsody for $50 per month. The additional $10 is what Rhapsody costs without MetroPCS, though MetroPCS does add a few features, including visual voicemail plus, with its $60 rate plan.

You can get an Android smartphone with Rhapsody unlimited music at MetroPCS’s website.

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MetroPCS running massive Purple Tag sale

August 16th, 2011   |    MetroPCS   |    No Comments

The above screen shot, featuring the BlackBerry Curve 8530 for just $129.35, is just one example of the Purple Tag sale that MetroPCS is currently running. They have 10 handsets discounted steeply, though there is a limited quantity remaining. If you’re a MetroPCS user and want to get a new phone for cheap, or if you’re switching to Metro and don’t want to drop a lot on a handset, make sure to check out what they have in stock. The only thing you won’t find here is an Android handset. Which is fine, because they’re also running a back to school promotion on those.

Just head to MetroPCS’s website and check out the phones section. There you’ll see the back to school Android discounts. Then click on Shop Purple Tag to see this slew of heavily discounted handsets. There’s something for everyone, for cheap, in there.

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MetroPCS getting Samsung Admire

August 10th, 2011   |    MetroPCS   |    3 Comments

Back in July we learned that MetroPCS would get the Samsung Admire sometime in August or September, as a back to school promotion. It appears that they’re right on track with that, as they announced the Admire yesterday. It’s an Android touchscreen phone that has all of the basics. It even has Android 2.3, which is the newest version of the software. Unfortunately, we know little more than we did last month when we first learned of the device. MetroPCS did not attach a release date or a price to the Admire, but it figures to be around $150, and should probably launch before the month is over. In the meantime, you can check out an unlimited plan for the Amire at MetroPCS’s website.

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MetroPCS additions disappoint, but smartphones rising

August 3rd, 2011   |    MetroPCS   |    1 Comment

The fallout from the MetroPCS second quarter earnings call didn’t go well. The stock took a substantial hit, which gives you about all the information you need about the quality of their numbers. But there is some good to be taken, even if the company’s additions were down about a third from the year-ago period. They added 199,000 subscribers, against 303,000 from the second quarter 2010. But the big news comes from smartphones, which accounted for 38 percent of all new handsets sold. The company apparently has 25 percent of its subscribers on smartphones, so there is definite room for growth. That could lead to greater earnings in the future, which could then lead to further expansion. Still, looking into carrier results in the second and third quarters always seems like a dicey proposition, moreso when the company is coming off a big previous year, as was MetroPCS. Their first and fourth quarter numbers will be much more telling.

Via FierceWireless.

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Next up for MetroPCS: Samsung Admire

July 15th, 2011   |    MetroPCS   |    1 Comment

It looks like MetroPCS is getting ready to release another Android handset. From PhoneNews.com, via Howard Forums, comes this blurry pic of the Samsung Admire. It’s a fairly basic Android smartphone, featuring a kinda slow 800MHz processor and a 3.5 inch screen, with a 3.2 megapixel camera. It does run Android 2.3, so you can get all the latest games and apps that run on Android. It seems like something nice for a high school or college kid. It shouldn’t be too expensive, either, running at $150 after a $50 rebate. Look for it in August or September.

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LG Esteem Android phone coming to MetroPCS

July 12th, 2011   |    MetroPCS   |    2 Comments

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The multiple screenshots above are of the LG Esteem, an Android handset that is rumored to hit MetroPCS in October. It’s a fairly advanced device, featuring a 1GHz processor, 512MB of RAM, and an HDMI output. There are other, higher-end Android devices on the market, but when it comes to prepaid carriers this is one of the tops. If you’re familiar with the LG Revolution on Verizon, this is basically a clone, though it has only 4GB of internal storage (down from 16GB). It’s looking like an October release, so we’ll stay tuned on this one. Figure for it to land in the $300 range.

Via PhoneNews.com via Howard Forums.

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MetroPCS adds Samsung Freeform III

July 8th, 2011   |    MetroPCS   |    1 Comment

Earlier this week we learned that the Huawei M835 was available from MetroPCS. I’m not sure if I missed it when going over the MetroPCS website, or if they added another handset later, but they’ve also apparently added the Samsung Freeform III. It looks like a smartphone, but it’s really just a full-QWERTY messaging phone that resembles a BlackBerry. It has a 1.3 megapixel camera, and you’ll be able to listen to your favorite tunes with its media player, storing them on a microSD card of up to 32GB. The Freeform will cost $49 plus tax, and is compatible with Metro’s $40, $45, and $50 monthly plans. You can get the Freeform III and a plan at MetroPCS’s website.

Via Phone Scoop.

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Huawei M835 (Ideos) available at MetroPCS

July 6th, 2011   |    MetroPCS   |    5 Comments

Pictured above is the Huawei M835, the newest Android handset available from MetroPCS. It’s not new-new, though, as it was released with T-Mobile as the Comet and with Cricket as the Ideos. It comes loaded with Android 2.2, which will please many users, and it has other standards for Android smartphones, such as WiFi and a digital camera (3.2 megapixels). It won’t process at lightning fast speeds, and it won’t utilize Metro’s LTE network, but it will get you around the web and let you use Android apps at an affordable price. It’s just $79 plus tax. You can get the M835, and an unlimited data plan, at MetroPCS’s website.

Via Unwired View.

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MetroPCS debuts pair of visual voicemail options

June 7th, 2011   |    MetroPCS   |    No Comments

In the age of smartphones, normal voicemail is basically obsolete. Of course, on prepaid there aren’t too many smartphones, and so normal voicemail flourishes. Still, more and more visual voicemail applications are popping up for feature phones, making it easy to avoid the hassles of carrier voicemail. MetroPCS is the latest to ditch the dial-in voicemail. They just announced two options for subscribers who want to ditch the linear menus and cut to the chase.

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MetroPCS lays out its case for and against the AT&T/T-Mobile merger

June 3rd, 2011   |    MetroPCS   |    No Comments

As expected, MetroPCS took a stand against the AT&T’s pending acquisition of T-Mobile. Other small carriers — meaning smaller than AT&T — have voiced their displeasure for the move without condition. MetroPCS, however, outlined conditions under which a deal would be acceptable in their eyes. The most prominent is the divestiture of unused spectrum. While that’s common, Metro took it a step further by blasting AT&T’s use of its own spectrum, calling it inefficient. Metro would also like to see the abolition of exclusive handset deals, as that would be increasingly unfair for a company of the combined company’s size. Mike Dano of FierceWireless has the entire rundown, so head on over there and check it out.

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MetroPCS beats subscriber expectations, says prepaid is back

May 4th, 2011   |    MetroPCS   |    1 Comment

Sprint isn’t the only prepaid entity that added a ton of subscribers in the first quarter. Yesterday MetroPCS reported their first quarter results, and they reflected better than expected growth. Analysts expected them to add around 422,000 subscribers, but they topped that by plenty, clocking 725,945 net adds. They had some other positive numbers to report, and at least one analyst opined on why they, along with Sprint, had such massive quarters.

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MetroPCS LTE now live in Tampa

April 4th, 2011   |    MetroPCS   |    No Comments

Just a quick note that MetroPCS has unleashed the power of LTE on the Tampa, FL market. Customers there can grab the Samsung Galaxy Indulge for $399. It is really the only LTE handset worth grabbing on MetroPCS right now.

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MetroPCS to release TapouT version of Huawei Ascend

March 30th, 2011   |    MetroPCS   |    No Comments

MetroPCS likes doing special editions of its handsets. We’ve seen this before with not one, but two Mister Cartoon handsets. Now they’re going for a sportier look. The Huawei Ascend, which MetroPCS released in December, will now get an MMA look with TapouT. In addition to the design, which includes two interchangeable backs, the handset will also include TapouT extras like wallpapers, training videos, and an app. There is no word on pricing for the handset, but it will be available “within the next few weeks” at MetroPCS’s website.

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T-Mobile/AT&T merger opens opportunity for MetroPCS

March 23rd, 2011   |    MetroPCS   |    5 Comments

We got something of a shocker on Sunday when it was revealed that AT&T would acquire T-Mobile. At one point that might not have stood a chance of passing through regulatory scrutiny, but thanks to some recent developments it very well might. Specifically, this involves MetroPCS and, to a lesser extent, its rival Cricket. Both regional carriers have grown considerably in the past few years, and have provided some competition to the Big Four. That will now be Big Three, with MetroPCs sliding in as the fourth largest primary carrier in the nation. This will benefit them in many ways.

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You might not want to watch Iron Man on your MetroPCS Galaxy Indulge

March 4th, 2011   |    MetroPCS   |    4 Comments

If you bought the handset above, the Samsung Galaxy Indulge from MetroPCS, you might notice a few goodies included. It comes with a 4GB microSDHC card, which has a full copy of Iron Man 2 already loaded. It might sound tempting, but unless you want MetroPCS to learn of your content consuming habits, you might want to replace it. As Slashgear notes, the card anonymously reports your SD card activity back to MetroPCS. They say it will allow them to determine what kind of content to provide. To that I say: drop a few bucks on a new SD card and keep your content private.

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MetroPCS seeking more spectrum

March 4th, 2011   |    MetroPCS   |    1 Comment

As MetroPCS finds itself in competition with much larger carriers for LTE customers, it will have to find expansion wherever possible. As we learned in the case of Cricket, regional carriers will have capacity issues. To offset that, MetroPCS is seeking another $1.5 billion term loan that will help it buy more spectrum and foster partnerships. One of those partnerships could be LightSquared Inc., which has recently come to agreements on LTE roaming. ‘

Via BusinessWeek.

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MetroPCS COO: “We think feature phones are dead”

February 25th, 2011   |    MetroPCS   |    4 Comments

On MetroPCS‘s earnings conference yesterday, COO Tom Keys did not mince words, as the headline makes clear. We already knew that the company added 298,000 subscribers in the fourth quarter, but Keys made the conference interesting with lines like that. He also claimed that the new plans Metro introduced a year ago were the “single-largest product transformation” the company has undergone.

We can expect more LTE smartphones from MetroPCS in 2011, but CEO Roger Linquist noted that the real changes will come in 2012.

Via FierceWireless.

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MetroPCS customers can use VoIP over LTE

February 16th, 2011   |    MetroPCS   |    No Comments

As they expand and cover more of the country, 4G networks, including LTE, will allow us to do more things with our cell phones. Among the new possibilities is VoIP services such as Skype. Yet the nation’s first LTE provider, MetroPCS, has yet to allow VoIP with its LTE network. This has become a bit of a controversy, and has even led to some consumer complaints of net neutrality violations. While consumer groups will still likely badger the FCC and MetroPCS over tiered internet solutions, the VoIP on LTE issue is apparently not going to be a part. As FierceWireless’s Mike Dano reports, MetroPCS will now allow its 4G LTE customers to use VoIP services.

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Samsung Indulge hitting MetroPCS this week

February 9th, 2011   |    MetroPCS   |    4 Comments

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Good news, everyone. We’ve been seeing more and more evidence that the Samsung Indulge, an Android device in the Galaxy S line, would hit MetroPCS pretty soon. Via Phone Scoop we learn that it will be “available by the end of the week.” That means it will beat the Thunderbolt, HTC’s LTE Android phone for Verizon, to the market. As expected, the Indulge will cost $399 off contract.

NOTE: Some early rumors about this device had it coming with a 5 megapixel rear camera and a front facing camera, too. Those are not true. The camera is 3 megapixels and there doesn’t appear to be anything on the front. We have heard about a few Android LTE devices heading for MetroPCS, so perhaps there was some confusion between the two.

If you want a full look at the device, check out Engadget’s walk-through.

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Samsung Indulge goes through FCC, headed for MetroPCS

February 7th, 2011   |    MetroPCS   |    12 Comments

The latest rumor we heard about the Samsung Indulge is looking more accurate. As PhoneNews.com notes, the device has passed through the FCC approval process and is now on its way to MetroPCS. It’s an LTE Android smartphone that stacks up with many of the recently released models. If the rumor holds true, it will hit MetroPCS on February 23 for $399.99.

Note: There were a lot of questions about this in the previous thread. Forget about the Samsung Forte. That was an internal name. The Indulge is the same thing, just renamed for the public.

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MetroPCS launches LTE network in San Francisco

January 31st, 2011   |    MetroPCS   |    No Comments

Continuing its LTE network buildout, MetroPCS has flipped the switch in San Francisco. Last week it launched LTE in four Southeastern markets. Customers in the San Francisco area can purchase the Samsung Craft, currently the only device that functions on MetroPCS’s LTE network. I must recommend, however, that customers hold off and wait for one of the LTE Android handsets slated to hit MetroPCS next month. To say it will be worth the wait is an understatement.

Via Phone Scoop.

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Another Android smartphone for MetroPCS

January 27th, 2011   |    MetroPCS   |    2 Comments

The above image might not look like much, and right now it really isn’t. But soon it will be headed to MetroPCS as the Samsung SCH-R720 — though it will probably have a fancier name upon release. The screen will be a pretty standard 320×480 resolution, and it will run Android 2.2. Also, as appears the case with all new MetroPCS Android handsets, it will run on the LTE network. There is no word on release yet, but this figures to come after the Indulge/Forte.

Via PhoneNews.com.

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MetroPCS files net neutrality suit against FCC

January 26th, 2011   |    MetroPCS   |    1 Comment

Amid news of LTE Android handsets, we learned that MetroPCS was under scrutiny for perceived net neutrality violations. Consumer groups actually sued the company over its tiered-access LTE data plans. MetroPCS won’t take such measures lying down, though. In an attempt to block the FCC’s net neutrality regulations, MetroPCS has filed suit against the Commission. This comes after Verizon filed a similar suit for similar reasons. Both companies think that the rules dampen competition.

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MetroPCS launches LTE network in four new markets

January 25th, 2011   |    MetroPCS   |    1 Comment

In advance of its first LTE smartphone, MetroPCS has announced the launch of its LTE network in four markets. These include Atlanta, Georgia, and Jacksonville, Orlando, and Miami, Florida. You can still only get the Samsung Craft, but that should change in a month’s time.

Via Phone Scoop.

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