14 DAY TRIAL // Today, MetroPCS Communications, Inc., the fifth largest wireless carrier in the United States, announced officially that its 4G LTE services are commercially available in Los Angeles and Philadelphia metropolitan areas. Moreover, the carrier brought the first 4G LTE-enabled multimedia handset to these markets, the Samsung Craft.
With the new roll-out, the carrier offers 4G services to a larger number of users, providing them with entertainment, social networking, 4G Internet access, and more. All of these are available for MetroPCS customers on no annual contract, flat-rate wireless services, the carrier notes.
The wireless carrier also announced that it is offering the Samsung Craft in Los Angeles and Philadelphia area stores for $299 plus tax after $50 instant rebate, and that users can also purchase the device via its online store.
The handset comes with a 3.3-inch AMOLED display, with a slide-out QWERTY keyboard, 3.2 megapixel camera with flash and camcorder, Samsung's TouchWiz user interface, and Wi-Fi connectivity options.
At the same time, the new device comes with a 2GB MicroSD card inside, which was pre-loaded with Paramount Pictures' hit movie “Star Trek - The Future Begins.”
Some of the main features that Samsung Craft comes with include:
- MetroSTUDIO, powered by RealNetworks, available on the $60 service plan, offering access to entertainment content, such as 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 and on-the-go from one easy-to-use application. - A new social networking and instant messaging application which harnesses friends and content from Facebook, MySpace and Twitter social networks, and AIM, MSN and Yahoo! IM clients into a single interface that consumers can access with one click. - Upgraded MetroNavigator feature includes new voice-activated GPS and turn-by-turn directions.
The company also announced plans to expand its 4G services to more markets in the US, during the ongoing year and in 2011, including Atlanta, Boston, Jacksonville, Miami, New York, Orlando, Sacramento, San Francisco and Tampa.
“Our value-conscious consumers are looking to do more with wireless services and handsets, including quick and easy access to social networking sites, 4G Internet browsing and streaming music and video content,” said Roger D. Linquist, chairman, president and CEO of MetroPCS.
“As the only no annual contract, pay-in-advance service provider offering 4G LTE services, we are building on the successful commercial launches of 4G LTE service in Las Vegas, Dallas/Fort Worth and Detroit with the launches of our 4G LTE service in Los Angeles and Philadelphia.
“With a compelling handset line-up and a superior network, we deliver unmatched value with the flexibility, predictability and affordability that consumers demand.”