MetroPCS joins Wal-Mart frenzy

Regional, flat-rate cellular provider MetroPCS Communications Inc. (PCS) has joined the growing list of providers to offer traditional prepaid wireless service exclusively through mega-hyper-giant retailer Wal-Mart Stores Inc., according to a report from Current Analysis Inc.
The carrier has rolled out its “By the Minute” plan in select Wal-Mart locations offering 200 calling minutes and unlimited incoming text messages for $10; 500 anytime calling minutes, unlimited text messaging and 50 megabytes of data transmission for $20; and 1,000 calling minutes, unlimited text messaging and 100 MB of data transmission for $30. Data used for multimedia messages are taken out of the data bundle, and all of the plans features expire after 30 days.
As for network coverage, the offering relies on the carrier’s “Home” coverage as part of the package, with calls made from its “Extended Home Areas” charged at an additional 6 cents or 8 cents per minute depending on which plan is selected. The new plans also allow for calls to the 48 contiguous states and Puerto Rico as standard, with calls to Alaska or Hawaii requiring the purchase of a long-distance calling card.
Compatible devices include all of the carrier’s feature phones, but excludes its smart phones, Research In Motion Ltd. BlackBerry devices and its recently launched LTE device.
The move into Wal-Mart places MetroPCS into the middle of a rapidly increasing competitive environment. The retailer currently offers postpaid services from the nation’s four nationwide operators as well as Alltel Wireless; prepaid devices and services from AT&T Mobility’s GoPhone; Sprint Nextel Corp.’s Common Cents and Virgin Mobile USA brands; Tracfone Wireless Inc.’s self-branded, Straight Talk and Net10 offering; T-Mobile USA Inc.’s branded offering; and top-up cards for GoPhone, Common Cents, Alltel Wireless, Straight Talk and Net10.
In addition, Wal-Mart recently unveiled its own Walmart Family Mobile branded prepaid service using T-Mobile USA’s network.