Verizon is planning to launch LTE-capable handsets as early as February 2011, but now it looks like they won't be the only one doing so.  MetroPCS CEO Roger Linquist told investors recently that his carrier will be launching an Android-powered, LTE-capable smartphone in Q1 2011, possibly as early as February.  Don't fret just yet if Android isn't your thing, though, because MetroPCS is expected to launch around half a dozen other LTE smartphones by the middle of next year.  It's not know which OS(es) will power the devices, but Linquist did say that he expects pricing to be similar to 3G smartphones.  We'll likely see prices between $200 and $500, depending on the specs of the device.

It's kind of disappointing that MetroPCS only has 4G in a few markets right now, especially after Sydney called the Samsung Craft "easily one of the best messaging phones on the market," but hopefully we'll be seeing more areas lit up by the time that that Android-powered 4G phone launches.  Verizon may have some of their own 4G Android phones coming, but MetroPCS seems like a good option for those of us that are on a budget but want speedy data, especially since there are no contracts to be found.  I just hope that Metro PCS can get themselves a nice high-end (or even mid-range) Android smartphone for next year.  The low-end devices are nice thanks to their low price points, but I'm sure that more than a few of us would consider picking up a 1GHz Android device with a large screen that worked with MetroPCS and their LTE network.

Via FierceWireless