MetroPCS Leading the Way Again with Voice Over LTE

MetroPCS are contually showing that they are a force to be recond with.  They have been able to have a number of notable "firsts" that have made them leading even the big carriers like Verizon. Some of the notable things that they pioneered:

• The first to offer true unlimited everything.
• The first to offer 4G LTE in the US (yes they beat Verizon)
• Now the first to release (voice over LTE) VoLTE.

Most may not understand the significance of VoLTE , but essentially it is similar to the move from beepers to cell phones.  VoLTE will greatly improve the stability of calls and the quality. By making the calls over the Internet there will be a lot more ways to innovate.

The first compatible phone will be the very capable LG Connect!

Read the press release below:

MetroPCS Launches World’s First Commercially Available Voice Over LTE Service and VoLTE-Capable 4G LTE Smartphone

DALLAS, Aug. 7, 2012 /PRNewswire/ — MetroPCS Communications, Inc. (NYSE: PCS) today reached another innovation milestone by announcing the world’s first commercial launch of Voice over LTE (VoLTE) services, availability of the world’s first VoLTE-capable handsets and the first sale of a VoLTE-capable handset at one of the company’s Dallas/Fort Worth store locations. MetroPCS is selling the new VoLTE-capable LG Connect 4G Android™ smartphone at select U.S. stores and will continue to roll out VoLTE services and phones in the coming weeks.

“Being the first operator globally to reach this industry first speaks volumes about our company’s innovative spirit and passion to achieve goals that we believe will have long-term benefit for our customers and for the company,” said Roger Linquist, chairman and chief executive officer of MetroPCS. “The initial move to LTE and this move to VoLTE allow us to achieve significant spectral efficiencies and will increase network capacity so that we can enhance the 4G LTE experience that our customers have today at a tremendous value. VoLTE also provides a foundational capability for future Rich Communication Services (RCS), which we plan to launch later this year.”

The addition of VoLTE capabilities to MetroPCS’ 4G LTE handsets will be transparent to consumers as they continue to enjoy all the voice and 4G LTE data services with which they are already familiar. Calls to and from the handset will use VoLTE, regardless of the handset or network used on the other end of the call.

MetroPCS was the first U.S. carrier to deploy a commercial 4G LTE network in September 2010 and has since built out its 4G LTE network to cover roughly 90 percent of its CDMA footprint.

About MetroPCS Communications, Inc.

Dallas-based MetroPCS Communications, Inc. (NYSE: PCS) is a provider of no annual contract, unlimited wireless communications service for a flat rate. MetroPCS is the fifth largest facilities-based wireless carrier in the United States based on number of subscribers served. With Metro USA(SM), MetroPCS customers can use their service in areas throughout the United States covering a population of over 280 million people. As of June 30, 2012, MetroPCS had approximately 9.3 million subscribers. For more information please visit www.metropcs.com.

MetroPCS to get the Galaxy S3

I am a big believer in having full control and choice.  The current model that the Cell phone carriers have are not for freedom loving people.  The early termination fees have reached up to $350.00.  This makes it not very feasible to move to different carriers on a dime..

MetroPCS has steadily stepped up their game by providing 4G service and mid-grade Android phones.  They have been able to see big gains without increasing their subscriptions.  They are making the changes needed to increase their subscriptions by adding a bunch of new phones by Christmas, the highlight of the list is the Galaxy S 3.  I am not going to go into what the Galaxy S 3 can do, ill just say that it's the Ferrari of the phone world.

It will be interesting to see what happens when the people waiting for MetroPCS to just get a high end phone.  My guess is that, line myself, people are going to run toward MetroPCS.  What do you think?

Source:

Android Authority

Verizon's Robbery vs. GhettroPCS

If you have not been paying attention lately, your cellular provider is robbing you!  I have been with Verizon going on 4 years now and have paid them more than I'd like to admit.  Just the thought of all the fee hikes, changes to data, and changes to policy , just gets me mad thinking about it! The last nail in the coffin was this new policy called "share everything plan". Check out the blog at droid-life.com for the details, the bottom line is higher prices.

There is a trend brewing that most who aren't nerds like me wont catch.  The pre-paid companies have been uping their game. The big problem that people have when it comes to the pre-paid route for cell phones are three things:

1. Pre-paid service is not as good.
2. Pre-paid phones are not as good 
3. Pre-paid plans are for poor/ghetto people.

Service can vary depending on where you live.  If you are in a city like Sacramento, Oakland , Atlanta etc. you will have great service with a pre-paid carrier.  I had MetroPCS before I got locked into this Verizon contract, and my service was 100% better!

The phones in the early years of pre-paid were junk.  This has ALL changed:

Phone:  HTC Evo V 4g  &  iPhone 4s

Carrier: Virgin Mobile

Phone: HTC Evo Design

Carrier : Boostmobile

Phone: LG Connect 

Carrier: MetroPCS

The stigma that  pre-paid companies have will change soon.  I know this because as the phones get better, people will be more accepting to go the less expensive route.

Bottom line

The freedom that not having a cell phone contract, is similar to not having to pay a car note or not having credit card debt. Without these weights you can hustle more effectively and take advantage of opportunities more frequently. Break the shackles and get yourself a Ghettro!