Black Friday is just about a week away and, of course, the wireless carriers will have some deals to tempt you to pick up a new phone or two for the people on your shopping list.  U.S. Cellular is no different in this respect, but they're going to be kicking their sales off on November 22nd.  Beginning this Monday, customers will be able to pick up any of U.S. Cellular's Android-powered smartphones for a pretty substantial discount.  Both the Samsung Acclaim and the brand new LG Apex (which launches tomorrow) will be free after a two-year contract and $80 mail-in rebate.  Meanwhile, the HTC Desire will be slashed to $49 and the Samsung Mesmerize will be cut to $99, both after a two-year contract and $80 mail-in rebate.  Check out the full press release below.

U.S. Cellular's Black Friday offerings look pretty good, especially when you consider that you're saving between $80 (Acclaim, Apex) and $150 (Desire) compared to the regular handset prices.  Plus, they'll have the Samsung Galaxy Tab available for $399 on contract, just in case you feel like buying a tablet as a gift to you, from you.  So, anyone planning on picking up a new Android or two?

U.S. CELLULAR GIVES HOLIDAY SHOPPERS A JUMPSTART ON ‘BLACK FRIDAY’ DEALS WITH ANDROID SALE

Bundled Belief Plans, Cutting-Edge Phones and Rewards Make the Season Bright

CHICAGO (Nov. 18, 2010) – It’s never too early to score high-tech holiday bargains. U.S. Cellular is rewarding gift givers with deals on the hottest phones in the industry four days before the busiest shopping weekend of the year. Starting Nov. 22, U.S. Cellular’s Android Sale slashes prices on its complete lineup of Android-powered smartphones, including the Samsung Mesmerize (a Galaxy S phone), HTC Desire, LG Apex, and Samsung Acclaim. All of these cutting-edge devices are backed by the industry-leading initiatives of The Belief Project and U.S. Cellular’s high-speed nationwide network.

“You don’t have to wait until the day after Thanksgiving to get amazing products at great prices, which provide unmatched value when combined with all the benefits of The Belief Project from U.S. Cellular,” said Edward Perez, vice president of marketing and sales operations for U.S. Cellular. “You can start bargain hunting before the busy weekend, avoid the crowds and get cool devices all week long.”

From Nov. 22 through Nov. 29, both the LG Apex and Samsung Acclaim will be free after an $80 mail-in rebate. The carrier’s latest Android-powered offering, LG Apex, has a stylish and functional design and also offers a QWERTY keyboard that slides out to make typing and texting easy. The Acclaim is equipped with a 3.2-inch touch screen and also has a slide-out QWERTY keyboard. Its 3.0 megapixel camera and camcorder make sharing pictures and videos with friends a snap.

Also during the sale, the Samsung Mesmerize, a Galaxy S phone, will be available for $99.99 after an $80 mail-in-rebate. The Android-powered Mesmerize features a brilliant 4-inch Super AMOLED™ touchscreen, making it easier to play games and watch movies in bright environments. Customers can get the popular HTC Desire smartphone for $49.99 after an $80 mail-in-rebate. The Desire delivers a 5-megapixel, autofocus camera with flash, integrated GPS and is Wi-Fi capable.

The much-anticipated Samsung Galaxy Tab will land in U.S. Cellular stores on Nov. 19. The mobile tablet will retail for $399 after a $100 mail-in rebate and two-year contract. The Galaxy Tab’s large 7-inch touchscreen creates a web browsing experience that is more like a PC, and the vibrant graphics and 1 GHz processor deliver games with dazzling clarity. The Galaxy Tab is loaded with Samsung’s Media Hub that optimizes movies and TV shows to fit the brilliant display and can also be a convenient e-reader with free downloadable applications from Kindle and Nook. It’s the perfect gift for those craving a multimedia, messaging and music experience.

Launched in October, The Belief Project is an array of innovative initiatives like “no contract after the first” with upgrades to the newest phones at promotional prices every 18 months. Customers automatically get valuable rewards just for being a customer that can be used for even faster phone upgrades in as little as 10 months. Rewards can also be used to get additional lines, phones, accessories, and ringtones.

The Belief Project also features a variety of value-packed monthly plans. For the person who emails and downloads more than they talk, the new Primary Plus Plan for $69.99 per month would make the ideal gift.  It comes with 5GB of data, including unlimited text, picture and video messaging, free GPS Navigation, 450 voice minutes and free incoming calls, nights and weekends and mobile-to-mobile.

Adding the kids to the family’s plan is also easy and affordable. What better way to reward them for being good all year than with a phone to stay in touch? U.S. Cellular offers a Premium Plus Family Belief Plan that includes unlimited minutes and messaging and 5 GB of data per line, so they don’t have to worry about the fact that their teens are texting their friends all day long. A recent Nielsen study reported that the average teen is sending and receiving nearly 3,400 text messages per month.

“A Belief Plan is like giving yourself the gift of peace of mind,” Perez said. “Our associates are standing by to explain the unique benefits of being a U.S. Cellular customer, like Overage Protection, Overage Cap and Battery Swap, and help find the right devices and plans for you.”

For more information about the Android Sale and The Belief Project, visit a retail store or uscellular.com.

About U.S. Cellular
U.S. Cellular is committed to fixing wireless one project at a time. The Chicago-based carrier, named one of Forbes Magazine’s 2010 “Most Trustworthy Companies,” recently unveiled The Belief Project, a series of industry-first, innovative solutions designed to elevate the customer experience. The Belief Project complements U.S. Cellular’s growing catalog of cutting-edge phones, all backed by its high-speed nationwide network. To learn more about U.S. Cellular, visit one of its retail stores or uscellular.com. You can also check out U.S. Cellular on Facebook.