Free roaming on Metro, Cricket starting next week

It was barely a month ago that we first heard about MetroPCs and Leap Wireless collaborating on a roaming agreement. While the carriers are technically rivals — they offer similar services and don’t overlap in many markets — they can both benefit greatly from this agreement. The knock on each company is a limited coverage map. Combined, however, they create a more full network which nearly covers the nation’s major markets. Hence all of those merger rumors from a year ago. The two companies plan to launch their roaming services next week, according to the Associated Press.

Roaming will be a feature with each carrier offered on their premium calling plans. MetroPCS customers get a slightly better deal, as those on the $45 and $50 plans will receive unlimited roaming minutes on the Leap network. Cricket customers on the $50 and $60 plans will gain roaming privileges on Metro’s network.

The deal certainly benefits both carriers, as customers can utilize unlimited calling plans on an essentially nationwide network for half the cost of the major carriers. Plus, both Metro and Cricket offer a number of services with their plans, including unlimited messaging and mobile Web. If anything, this creates a new level of competition in the wireless space.

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