14 DAY TRIAL // MetroPCS Communications, Inc., a leading provider of unlimited wireless communication services in the United States, has announced that, during the first quarter of the ongoing year, it has registered gross additions of over 1.5 million subscribers, marking a growth of 59 percent compared with the same quarter a year ago. At the same time, the company has also informed about the launch of GroupLINE, a one-call communication solution meant for families and friends that are moving into the cell phone area.
The company has additionally reported churn of 5.0 percent for the first quarter of this year, compared with 4.0 percent a year ago, due to incremental additions of more than 857 thousand users during the last three quarters of the last year. The company had 6.1 million subscribers at the end of the first quarter, including net additions of around 684 thousand subscribers, a 51 percent rise over the same quarter in 2008.
More than 1.6 subscribers were added during the past 12 months, MetroPCS said, marking an increase of around 61 percent registered during the twelve months ended on March 31, 2008.
“We are very pleased to report first quarter net additions of approximately 684 thousand, the highest quarterly net additions in company history. Building on the momentum in subscriber growth we reported during the fourth quarter of 2008 and with our concurrent launches of service in the New York City and Boston metropolitan areas, we are off to a very strong start for 2009. During the first quarter our subscriber growth was driven by our Northeast Markets as well as continued strength in our Core Markets,” Roger D. Linquist, MetroPCS' chairman, president and chief executive officer, added.
The new GroupLINE service MetroPCS announced will allow for up to five Family Plan subscribers to receive calls on a shared GroupLINE number, yet also offering them the possibility to keep their individual mobile phone numbers. The GroupLINE number can be called by anyone, allowing that person to reach “all of the subscribers on the plan simultaneously.” In addition, those that would opt for a GroupLINE would also be able to benefit from voicemail. The MetroPCS’ Family Plan subscribers can benefit from GroupLINE for an additional $5 per month.
“GroupLINE was developed with families’ needs in mind,” Roger D. Linquist shared with the occasion. “We are all on-the-go, and we often have news to share with the whole family. With GroupLINE, instead of making numerous calls, everyone can be reached at one time. And in today’s economy, GroupLINE offers families the luxury of staying in touch without breaking the bank.”
MetroPCS' Family Plan customers in all of the operator's markets can benefit from the GroupLINE service. Those that would like to sign up for service plans with MetroPCS or would like to acquire a handset from the company can do so either by visiting any of the MetroPCS-owned retail locations or the authorized dealer locations, or by accessing the carrier's website.