MetroPCS slashes LTE prices

MetroPCS Communications Inc. (PCS) has tweaked pricing plans for its recently launched LTE service, dropping the starting price from $55 per month to $40 per month.
The carrier said the entry-level plan will include unlimited nationwide talk, text, Web browsing using LTE or CDMA access and unlimited access to YouTube video downloads.
For an additional $10 per month customers will receive international and “premium” text messaging, turn-by-turn navigation through the carrier’s MetroNavigator service, mobile instant messaging, corporate e-mail and 1 gigabyte of additional data access. This plan closely aligns with MetroPCS’ previous $55 per month offering.
MetroPCS will continue to offer its $60 per month plan that includes all of its services, plus unlimited data access and access to its MetroStudio content service.
The new prices and features match what MetroPCS charges for its CDMA-only services, with the addition of the YouTube service and additional data access.
The LTE offering is still confined to a single device; Samsung Telecommunications America’s Craft that includes a 3.3-inch active-matrix organic light-emitting diode touch screen, a slide-out QWERTY keyboard, a 3.2-megapixel camera and an embedded Wi-Fi radio. The device retails for $300 after all rebates.
“Our customers told us they wanted more video, more sharing of their content and more Web browsing capabilities – they want to have it all with the value and no annual contract that only MetroPCS can deliver,” said Roger Linquist, president, CEO and chairman of MetroPCS. “Our 4G LTE network can deliver unlimited voice and mobile broadband data services and, with these new service plans, consumers are in the driver’s seat on how much additional data access and real-time entertainment content they want to pay for on a monthly basis.”
MetroPCS added that its LTE service is now available in nine metro areas – Boston; Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas; Detroit; Las Vegas; New York City; Philadelphia; Los Angeles, Sacramento and San Francisco, Calif. – with plans to expand coverage to Atlanta; Jacksonville, Miami, Orlando and Tampa, Fla.
MetroPCS’ plan changes come just days before Verizon Wireless is expected to unveil several handsets compatible with its LTE network at this week’s Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. Access to Verizon Wireless’s LTE network is currently limited to a pair of wireless modems with rate plans beginning at $50 per month for 5 gigabytes of data transmission.