Leap pushes AWS spectrum with new phones

Leap Wireless International Inc. is kicking off the second quarter with the launch of two new phones that will work on the spectrum the carrier purchased during the Federal Communications Commission’s Auction 66, held in 2006.
Leap and its designated-entity partner, Denali Spectrum Co., emerged from 2006’s advanced wireless services (AWS) auction as the high bidders on 100 licenses worth $984 million. The carrier hasn’t detailed its exact AWS launch plans, but Leap and Denali purchased several regional spectrum licenses as well as significant spectrum along the East Coast and Gulf Coast markets, including Wilmington, Del.; Philadelphia; Washington, D.C.; Baltimore; and Richmond and Norfolk, Va.
Leap introduced its first AWS-capable handset, working in the 1.7/2.1 GHz band, earlier this month. The UTStarcom CDM7126 was initially available in Tulsa, Okla., for $120. Today, the carrier introduced two more AWS phones, the Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. Spex (a.k.a the r210) for $120 and the MyShot (Samsung’s r430) for $150.
Leap, along with T-Mobile USA Inc., Verizon Wireless and others, walked away from 2006’s AWS auction with significant amounts of spectrum. However, Leap was not among the winning bidders in the recently completed 700 MHz spectrum auction, dubbed Auction 73 by the FCC.