ZTE to Supply MetroPCS with LTE Handsets

MetroPCS is yet another mobile phone carrier in the US that is moving towards the next-generation 4G technology, and it seems that the company has selected ZTE to be the handset maker that will supply it with mobile phones that will work on the upcoming Long Term Evolution (LTE) networks, as proof of the strong relationship between the two, and as a sign that the operator has started to shape its 4G strategy.

According to the news on the Web, Tom Keys, MetroPCS' chief operating officer, stated recently that the two companies had already started the work on the LTE devices. It seems that ZTE is already working on the development of a smartphone that will sport a large screen and an HTML-capable browser. The two have been working together since 2007, and a wide range of ZTE mid-level candybar and clamshell devices are now available through MetroPCS.

Back in March, the mobile phone carrier announced plans to deploy the LTE technology in the second half of the next year. Currently, the flat rate operator works on a CDMA network on AWS and PCS spectrum, and it announced back in August 2008 that it intended to move to LTE as its 4G standard, the same as Tier 1 operators like Verizon Wireless and AT&T Mobility.

The fact that ZTE's LTE handsets will come to the US on MetroPCS could prove a great move for both companies. As many of you might already know, the carrier has recently launched its first smartphone, the BlackBerry Curve, coming from Research In Motion, while the phone maker has already announced plans to bring more devices to the US market, especially in the smartphone area.

In a recent interview with FierceWireless, Raymond Kim, the general manager of sales for ZTE USA, stated that the company was looking into consolidating its relationship with MetroPCS, while also seeking new deals with carriers like Verizon and Sprint Nextel for the distribution of its phones.