MetroPCS lights up LTE in Southeast

MetroPCS Communications Inc. (PCS) has kept its foot on the LTE throttle announcing today that it has launched services in Jacksonville, Miami and Orlando, Fla.; and Atlanta. The expansion builds on previous launches in 13 metro areas, including Boston; Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas; Detroit; Las Vegas; Los Angeles, Sacramento and San Francisco, Calif.; New York; and Philadelphia.
In support of the new markets, MetroPCS is continuing to offer its recently adjusted price plans that begin at $40 per month for unlimited nationwide talk, text, Web browsing using LTE or CDMA access and unlimited access to YouTube video downloads. Those plans have been targeted by open Internet access proponents that claim the structure of the plans curtails access to the Internet from mobile devices and goes against the commission’s recently announced open Internet rules. MetroPCS has reportedly filed an appeal in the fracas.
MetroPCS also continues to offer just one device compatible with its LTE service in 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.
MetroPCS’ LTE launches seemed to have had little impact on the carrier’s ability to attract customers as it recently reported a drop in net customer additions for the fourth quarter, though the service could be helping to keep those that do come onboard as customer churn for the quarter improved dramatically.