MetroPCS Samsung Galaxy Indulge Is The First 4G LTE Smartphone In USA.

Samsung Galaxy Indulge 4G LTE SCH-r910 http://snapvoip.blogspot.com/
After the  $299 Samsung Craft, which is not a smartphone,  first Android-powered 4G  LTE smartphone,  Samsung Galaxy Indulge 4G LTE will go on sale on Feb.11, getting one up on HTC and Verizon. Their flagship phone, HTC Thunderbolt will go on sale on 14th of February.
Technically Galaxy Indulge is a lessor cousin of popular Samsung Galaxy S. The Galaxy Indulge runs on Android 2.2 and sports a  plastic body with a slide-out keyboard. The phone is powered by 1-GHz Samsung Hummingbird processor, and has a 3.2-megapixel camera and an 320-by-480 LCD screen. It also has.Stereo Bluetooth® capabilities and expandable memory storage up to 32GB. Additionally, the Galaxy Indulge includes a 4GB microSD™ card, preloaded with the action film "IRONMAN 2," produced by Paramount Pictures2.
MetroPCS sells Samsung Galaxy Indulge for $399, without contract.

"Our commitment to offering premium, feature-rich smartphones was once again fulfilled today with the introduction of the Samsung Galaxy Indulge, which will allow consumers to experience the vast benefits of both MetroPCS' 4GLTE services and the Android operating system," said Roger D. Linquist, president, CEO and chairman of MetroPCS. "Mobile consumers no longer have to choose between low cost service and high-end Android handsets. Instead, they can truly have it all by being able to select from a full spectrum of feature and smartphones paired with 4GLTE services at an unmatched value." 

"The Galaxy Indulge integrates two of Samsung's core product investments; the Android platform and bringing powerful and intuitive 4G-enabled devices to the U.S. market," said Omar Khan, chief strategy officer for Samsung Mobile. "The Galaxy Indulge is loaded with the speed of the Android OS, true mobile broadband connectivity and a 1GHz processor with rich multimedia features for premium movie and TV content." 

The phone is at home on both MetroPCS's 4G LTE and 2G CDMA networks and the company promises can get at least 5Mbps down, but speeds will be lower in Boston and Philadelphia. But the plans offered are another ball game $60 plan gives unlimited data but when it comes to the $50 plan, things get a bit hairy. Usual data is unlimited but there is a cap of 1GB for Video, Music and get this, Games.
Read...

Did Verizon And MetroPCS Jumped The Gun With Net Neutrality Lawsuits?

Verizon, MetroPCS, Net Neutrality Lawsuit, FCC http://snapvoip.blogspot.com/
Looks like  Verizon and MetroPCS lawsuits / appeals regarding Net Neutrality are "fatally premature and must be dismissed," according to response from FCC.
Verizon says FCC was wrong and it "goes well beyond any authority provided by Congress, and creates uncertainty for the communications industry, innovators, investors and consumers." and filed a suit on January 20th. MetroPCS followed the suit with their own, sighting the same.
FCC told the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit on Friday to dismiss the cases from Verizon and MetroPCS, based on the fact that its December net neutrality Order was not even published in the Federal Register, which makes the order official. These are governed by United States code, Section 47 § 405(a) (If you have time read it)
But all these legal mambo jumbo it is interesting to see these carriers are trying to take the case, (now if they succeed) before the same panel of judges, who threw out FCC's sanctions against Comcast for P2P throttling. Interesting.
All of sudden AT&T iPhones seem to be better! :)
Read more and comments at ARSTechnica

MetroPCS Introduces Samsung Craft (multi-mode 4G LTE/CDMA) Phone With It's 4G LTE Network.

MetroPCS Introduces Samsung Craft With It's 4G LTE Network http://snapvoip.blogspot.com/
MetroPCS Communications Inc. (NYSE: PCS) took the honors of launching commercial 4G LTE services in the United States with its introduction of the world’s first commercially available 4G LTE enabled handset, the Samsung Craft™, offering talk, text and 4G Web access starting as low as $55 per month including taxes and regulatory fees. The service will initially be limited to Las Vegas, Nev., with service expanding into the remaining MetroPCS cities throughout the year.
Keeping up it's tradition of unlimited, no-annual-contract, flat-rate wireless services, MetroPCS is once again leading the industry as the only no-annual-contract operator to offer 4G LTE services
“The Internet is going mobile, and we are placing the true power of the Internet directly in our customers’ hands, when and where they need it. By offering affordable, predictable and flexible 4G services on a no-contract basis, MetroPCS delivers immediate benefits to our customers and is positioned to meet their evolving needs well into the future, We are delivering a 4G LTE service that is unmatched in value and positions MetroPCS as a full-service broadband wireless provider – a giant step for our business.” ” said Roger D. Linquist, president, CEO and chairman of MetroPCS.
You can select two plans to experience 4G LTE services costing $55 or $60. In addition to offering talk, text and a faster 4G Web experience initially on an unlimited basis, MetroPCS is introducing many new applications and features that take advantage of its 4G LTE network, including:

• MetroSTUDIO^SM, powered by RealNetworks, is available on the $60 service plan. MetroSTUDIO is a new source of multimedia content, including access to 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 aggregation application, which harnesses notifications, friends and content from the 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 with the addition of voice-activated GPS and turn-by-turn directions.

The Samsung Craft could be found in Las Vegas MetroPCS stores and online for $299, after $50 instant rebate, plus tax, while supplies last. The multi-mode 4G LTE/CDMA handset, the Samsung Craft, was designed to enhance the 4G LTE experience;

• Incredible clarity and rich color for viewing crystal-clear multimedia and video images with its 3.3 inch AMOLED (Active-matrix organic light-emitting diode) screen.
• A 2GB microSD card preloaded with Paramount Pictures’ hit movie “Star Trek.”
• A combination touch screen, slide-out QWERTY keyboard and Samsung’s TouchWiz™ user interface to surf and text message with whichever input format users prefer.
• A 3.2 megapixel camera with flash and camcorder to capture images that can be shared while on the go on MetroPCS’ fast 4G network.
• Wi-Fi capability.

MetroPCS’ Las Vegas 4G LTE network, built with a partnership with Samsung Telecommunications America (Samsung Mobile), will cover the majority of MetroPCS’ existing CDMA network footprint in Las Vegas. 4G LTE network rollouts in the remaining MetroPCS markets are planned for later this year and early 2011. MetroPCS plans to further expand 4G LTE coverage in 2011, along with the launch of additional devices to increase MetroPCS’ portfolio of feature phones, touch screens, smartphones and 4G handsets.
MetroPCS