Prepaid BlackBerry Curve hitting MetroPCS on Tuesday?
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It’s been a while since we first heard the rumor that MetroPCS would launch EVDO access and the BlackBerry Curve. The original rumor called for an end-of-February launch, and clearly that hasn’t happened. However, we could get an announcement as early as this week. PhoneNews.com has found the scoop that the device will in fact launch through MetroPCS, and it could be hitting Best Buy shelves by Tuesday, March 10. This is clearly an exciting development for both MetroPCS and the prepaid sector.
Metro has priced the BlackBerry plan, with BIS access, at $50 per month. This includes unlimited BIS, messaging, and voice minutes, making it a comparable deal to Boost Mobile’s unlimited plan. However, CDMA data on a BlackBerry provides far more in service and speed than iDEN data on a clamshell. This could position Metro well to take some of the unlimited customers from Boost by offering a better service at the same price point. BES data for corporate email will cost an extra $10 per month.
The real inhibitor, as always with carriers like Metro and Cricket, is the price of the handset. The full retail price of the BlackBerry Curve 8330 is over $400, and customers shouldn’t expect a subsidy on this device. If Metro offers one, all the better. It’s a pretty high-end offering as it is, and I’m wondering if Metro just picked the wrong time to roll it out.
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I don’t find anything exciting in the MetroPCS offering of a Blackberry – their “unlimited” service is only available in select cities in FL, GA, CA,TX & MI. Outside these areas MetroPCS charges an outrageous 19¢/min for phone or internet roaming! and full corporate email service is an additional $10/month, but the feature they really messed up on was a $450 phone with NO GPS capability!
Posted on April 7th, 2009 at 12:13 pm
Boost Mobile (which uses the almost nationwide Nextel network) has announced that they will be releasing a Blackberry by the end of the year. I would wait to see their offering before even considering the MetroPCS phone.
Posted on April 7th, 2009 at 12:15 pm
Matthew, your post is UNtruth’D. It is obvious you are a Boost employee lying about the competition. Actually, Boost is the limited service. They do not roam since iDEN does not work beyond certain areas. MetroPCS works in 300 cities, I live in Boston MA and Metro is available here, in NY, In Philadelphia… Boost belongs to Sprint – why support an MVNO on an old archaic network like iDEN. The Boost Blackberry will be another sad footnote.
Posted on April 11th, 2009 at 6:35 am
Actualy boost mobile is is in a lot more places then you think. My brother told me about metro pcs but aparently metro is NOT available in all areas of Metro New York. As for boost coming out with a blackberry ptt phone… well i’l believe that when I see it.
Posted on May 11th, 2009 at 4:52 pm
Don you right boost is in a lot more places, but if you look at the (target market: MINORITIES) most people who buy “prepaid” phones don’t leave their home area, also the FCC won’t just allow METROPCS or any other Carrier to just start providing services you have to have a certain license(A,B,C) to do so and some markets already have an owner, also Its a REGIONAL carrier for a reason it works in certain METROpolitan areas but with continued growth Metropcs will only get better! HELLO, HELLO, HELLO!….LOL
Posted on September 24th, 2009 at 4:58 pm