MetroPCS launches first US LTE network in Las Vegas with first LTE phone

[zerocool84]

MetroPCS was quite serious when it said it wanted to have commercial LTE up and running in 2010 -- and indeed, it has made good on its word today with an official launch in Vegas. Of course, you need hardware to go along with a new network, and that's not much of a surprise either: the long-discussed Samsung Craft becomes not just MetroPCS' first 4G handset, but the first LTE phone to launch commercially anywhere in the world. It's not a smartphone, but it's got a 3.3-inch AMOLED display, 3.2 megapixel camera, and a full QWERTY slide. Interestingly, MetroPCS is not offering tethering (or any modems) at this time, which means the only way you're going to be able to enjoy those blazing speeds is on the handset itself. The carrier is offering basic unlimited service for $55 for a month, while another $5 will net you unlimited on-demand video streaming from 14 networks. The Craft, meanwhile, runs $299 contract-free -- and since it's dual-mode, it'll work just fine on MetroPCS' CDMA network once you leave the blackjack tables. Follow the break for Samsung's press release.

Would be cooler if it was a phone that someone cared about but alas it's not but hey, gotta start somewhere.

http://www.engadget.com/2010/09/21/metropcs-launches-lte-network-in-las-vegas-samsung-craft-along/

 

[Bateluer]

I always pictured LTE launching with some serious badass phones . . .

 

[zerocool84]

I always pictured LTE launching with some serious badass phones . . .

It's MetroPCS. Waddya gonna do. Gonna have to wait on Verizon for some cool LTE phones.