LAS VEGAS – Leap Wireless used this week’s CTIA event to finally put a launch date on the availability of Samsung’s Galaxy S4 device to its no-contract customer base. The carrier said pre-orders were now being accepted and that the device would be available June 7 at a retail price of $600. Leap was on the initial list of carriers to offer Samsung’s latest uber-device when unveiled in March.
Taking note of the shifting pricing model for devices from no-contract carriers, Leap said that “qualifying customers” could get the device for $55 down plus monthly payments, adding that it planned to update its device financing model in the coming months. Leap has offered a limited financing model for some time, but recently noted increased attention to the proposal as a way to ease the cost burden of high-end smartphones for its customer base.
Leap also noted that some of its LTE-equipped devices would include support for Band Class 25, which is the 1.9 GHz spectrum band currently used by Sprint Nextel to support its initial LTE rollout. While not saying it had a deal with Sprint Nextel, Leap has said it would begin implementing a nationwide LTE roaming agreement this summer. Leap has remained at approximately 21 million potential customers covered by its own LTE network, hinting that it might add up to 10 million more covered pops this year.
Sprint Nextel earlier this year announced efforts to work with operators on offering LTE roaming across its network, having completed trials with rural operator C Spire.
Just over a year ago, Leap signed an LTE roaming agreement with Clearwire to take advantage of that carrier’s plans to rollout LTE services in the 2.5 GHz band, which have stalled due to financial and ownership uncertainty.
Bored? Why not follow me on Twitter?
