U.S. Cellular today took the wraps off of the latest addition to its 4G LTE device lineup, the Samsung Galaxy Metrix 4G. Available online starting today and hitting stores on Friday, August 24, the Galaxy Metrix 4G (which bears a resemblance to Verizon's Stratosphere) features a 4-inch Super AMOLED display, 1GHz processor, 5-megapixel rear and 1.3-megapixel front cameras, 4GB microSD card and Android 2.3 Gingerbread. Also included is a slide-out QWERTY keyboard. As far as pricing goes, the Metrix 4G will be priced at $179 with a two-year contract and $100 mail-in rebate. U.S. Cellular customers in a 4G LTE market can snag the phone for a slightly cheaper price of $129 with a contract and $100 mail-in rebate.
Speaking of 4G LTE, U.S. Cellular also provided a brief update on its LTE rollout in its announcement. The carrier says that it currently offers LTE coverage to 31 percent of its customers, which includes select cities in Iowa, Maine, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Texas and Wisconsin. U.S. Cellular's LTE coverage is expected to come select markets in Illinois, Maryland, Missouri, New Hampshire, Oregon, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, Washington and West Virginia later this year. By the end of 2012, U.S. Cellular expects its LTE service to be available to 58 percent of its customers.
While the Galaxy Metrix 4G may not be quite as high-end as a device like the Galaxy S III, U.S. Cellular folk looking for a smartphone with a physical QWERTY keyboard may want to check it out, especially since the only other Android handsets with a hardware 'board on U.S. Cellular is the aging HTC Merge. It's good to see U.S. Cellular continue to build out its selection of LTE-capable devices as well as its 4G footprint, and I'm sure that U.S. Cellular customers are glad to hear that LTE coverage will be expanding to 10 new states later this year. As usual, you can find U.S. Cellular's full announcement of today's news below.
U.S. CELLULAR LAUNCHES NEXT 4G LTE SMARTPHONE: SAMSUNG GALAXY METRIX 4G
QWERTY Keyboard Device Available Online Today and In Stores Friday
CHICAGO (August 22, 2012) – U.S. Cellular (NYSE: USM) and Samsung Telecommunications America, LLC (Samsung Mobile), have announced that the Samsung®Galaxy Metrix™ 4G is available online today at uscellular.com and will be available in stores on Friday, August 24. The Android™powered smartphone runs on the 4G LTE™ network, with speeds up to 10 times faster than 3G. The Galaxy Metrix 4G sells for $179.00 after a $100 mail-in rebate and $129.00 after a $100 mail-in rebate in markets where 4G LTE service is currently available and will be available by the end of 2012. Visit uscellular.com for detailed pricing.
The Galaxy Metrix 4G has a slide-out QWERTY keyboard to get your message out quickly and a front-facing camera for easy video chatting. The 4.0-inch touchscreen allows you to clearly view movies and video games and use the Internet on-the-go. You also have access to Google Play™, a one-stop shop for Android users to access nearly half a million apps, millions of songs and books, and thousands of movies.
"We are excited to offer our latest 4G LTE smartphone for our customers to help them get more done in less time," said Edward Perez, vice president of sales and marketing operations for U.S. Cellular. "The large touchscreen and popular QWERTY keyboard for fast typing make the Galaxy Metrix 4G the go-to device for customers who depend on their smartphone to keep up with their busy schedules."
Highlighted features:
The Galaxy Metrix 4G will be available to all U.S. Cellular customers and will run on the 4G LTE network in markets where it is available and on U.S. Cellular's nationwide 3G network in all other areas.
U.S. Cellular customers enjoy unique benefits, such as new devices faster without resigning contracts, free Overage Protection and free Battery Swap. U.S. Cellular also offers customers the only points-based rewards program in the industry, which rewards customers for simple things, such as paying bills on-time, adding a line or referring friends and family. Points may be used for faster phone upgrades, additional lines, devices, accessories and ringtones.
U.S. Cellular, in partnership with King Street Wireless, currently offers 4G LTE service covering 31 percent of their customers in select cities in Iowa, Maine, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Texas and Wisconsin. Later this year, 4G LTE coverage will expand to cover select cities in Illinois, Maryland, Missouri, New Hampshire, Oregon, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, Washington and West Virginia. By the end of 2012, 58 percent of U.S. Cellular customers will enjoy faster 4G LTE speeds. For more information about the 4G LTE experience, visit uscellular.com/4G.
The Galaxy Metrix 4G will be available for $179.00 after a $100 mail-in rebate. It will be available for $129.00 after a $100 mail-in rebate in markets where 4G service is available today or will be available by the end of 2012. Visit uscellular.com for detailed pricing. Purchase of a data plan is required and a new two-year agreement and activation fee may apply for new customers. Additional terms, conditions and/or charges may apply.
Samsung, Galaxy and Metrix are trademarks of Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. Other company names, product names and marks mentioned herein are the property of their respective owners and may be trademarks or registered trademarks. 4G used in connection with the Samsung Galaxy Metrix refers to the fact that it is capable of operating on U.S. Cellular's 4G network.
About King Street Wireless, L.P.
King Street Wireless, L.P. currently holds 700 MHz wireless spectrum in 27 states and is partnering with Chicago-based U.S. Cellular to deliver high-speed 4G LTE service to U.S. Cellular's customers in several of the carrier's markets. King Street Wireless is headquartered in Alexandria, Virginia where it is recognized for its involvement in its community both through its economic development and philanthropic efforts. To learn more about King Street Wireless, visit www.kingstreetwireless.com.
About Samsung Telecommunications America
Samsung Telecommunications America, LLC, (Samsung Mobile) a Dallas-based subsidiary of Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., researches, develops and markets wireless handsets, wireless infrastructure and other telecommunications products throughout North America. For more information, please visit www.samsung.com.
About Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. is a global leader in semiconductor, telecommunication, digital media and digital convergence technologies with 2011 consolidated sales of US $143.1 billion. Employing approximately 206,000 people in 197 offices across 72 countries, the company operates two separate organizations to coordinate its nine independent business units: Digital Media & Communications, comprising Visual Display, Mobile Communications, Telecommunication Systems, Digital Appliances, IT Solutions, and Digital Imaging; and Device Solutions, consisting of Memory, System LSI and LED. Recognized for its industry-leading performance across a range of economic, environmental and social criteria, Samsung Electronics was named the world's most sustainable technology company in the 2011 Dow Jones Sustainability Index. For more information, please visit www.samsung.com.
About U.S. Cellular
U.S. Cellular rewards its customers with unmatched benefits and industry-leading innovations designed to elevate the customer experience. The Chicago-based carrier has a strong line-up of cutting-edge devices that are all backed by its high-speed nationwide network that has the highest call quality of any national carrier. Currently, 25 percent of customers have access to 4G LTE speeds and 54 percent will have access by the end of 2012. U.S. Cellular was named a J.D. Power and Associates Customer Service Champion in 2012 for the second year in a row. To learn more about U.S. Cellular, visit one of its retail stores or uscellular.com. To get the latest news, promos and videos, connect with U.S. Cellular on Facebook.com/uscellular, Twitter.com/uscellular and YouTube.com/uscellularcorp.
