After C Spire Wireless earlier this year announced plans to launch its LTE network in select Mississippi markets in the month of September, the carrier has now gone ahead and flipped that 4G switch. C Spire has announced that its LTE network is now live in McComb and Greenville, Miss., with the coverage expanding to other Mississippi cities like Meridian, Brookhaven and Hattiesburg in waves. The carrier says that it expects to roll LTE out to 31 markets by the end of October, with another six areas gaining coverage before the end of 2012. Additional expansions, both inside of Mississippi and out into other states, is planned for 2013.
Of course, you can't do much with a shiny new LTE network unless you've got devices that can access it, and so C Spire has also introduced its first LTE-capable handset. The Motorola Photon Q is available both online and in stores today, featuring a 4.3-inch display, 1.5GHz dual-core processor and slide-out QWERTY keyboard for $199.99 with a two-year contract. Samsung's Galaxy S III will be coming soon to help C Spire build its LTE device portfolio, and folks that want a mobile broadband device can look forward to the Franklin Wireless U772 Smart USB Modem, which is also coming soon.
It's good to see another carrier officially turn on its 4G LTE network, and C Spire sounds like it'll be doing a lot more rolling out of LTE in the coming months. C Spire has also chosen a couple of nice Android handsets to start up its LTE device lineup with both the keyboard-packin' Photon Q and the Galaxy S III. The full press release announcing the arrival of C Spire's LTE network is available for your Monday morning perusal down below. So, are any of you located in one of the markets that either already has C Spire LTE or will be getting it soon?
C SPIRE WIRELESS OFFICIALLY LAUNCHES 4G LTE MOBILE BROADBAND SERVICES TODAY ON NATION'S ONLY PERSONALIZED NETWORK
Carrier Activates its Next-Generation Wireless Voice and Data Network In Mississippi Delivering Speeds Up to 10 Times Faster Than Currently Available
Ridgeland, Miss. (September 10, 2012) – C Spire Wireless launched the next generation of mobile broadband services in four Mississippi markets this week with the activation of its 4G Long Term Evolution (LTE) network offering consumers and businesses faster data speeds and advanced capabilities on the nation’s only personalized network.
McComb, Brookhaven, Meridian and Greenville are the first of 31 markets that are receiving C Spire’s 4G LTE advanced next-generation services between now and the end of October. Another six markets will be activated by the end of 2012 as part of the company’s multi-million dollar investment. Additional expansion of 4G LTE services in Mississippi and other states is planned in 2013.
The initial markets will cover 2,700 square miles, a population of 1.2 million and 364 cell sites and will provide 4 out of every 10 consumers and businesses in Mississippi with wireless data speeds up to 10 times faster, allowing C Spire to be the first provider to make these services widely available.
“With today’s announcement, C Spire Wireless is offering customers the fastest data speeds available along with 4G devices that bring our personalized data network to life,” said Hu Meena, president and CEO of C Spire Wireless. “4G LTE from C Spire gives consumers more of what they want and where they want it than ever before. With data speeds up to 10 times faster, you’ll be able to download apps faster, open files almost instantly, do real-time video chat, surf the mobile web or stream movies, music, soundtracks, video and more without the wait.”
Mississippi business and government leaders praised C Spire for its 4G LTE network technology deployment. “Investments in wireless broadband technology like those by C Spire Wireless are key in attracting high-technology industries and jobs to Mississippi,” said Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant. “Mississippi continues to enhance its business climate and attract outstanding companies, and growing our technology infrastructure keeps our state competitive.”
Tony Jeff, president and CEO of the Mississippi Technology Alliance, said the deployment of 4G LTE services in the state will help both consumers and small businesses. "A more robust mobile broadband experience drives economic growth, stimulates jobs and equips Mississippi consumers and businesses with the latest and fastest technologies to meet their growing wireless voice and data communications needs," Jeff said. "C Spire Wireless has significantly ramped up its wireless investments to enable an experience that offers Mississippi consumers and businesses better speed, better reliability and better availability of high-speed data communications.”
4G LTE Devices, Solutions and Plans
“A 4G LTE broadband network is only as good as the devices that accompany it – bringing the high-speed mobile broadband experience full circle,” Meena said. “C Spire has that covered as well with the introduction of its first 4G LTE device, the Motorola PHOTON Q™ and additional devices coming soon, including the Samsung Galaxy S III and others.”
C Spire customers can choose from several 4G LTE smartphone and connected devices to experience the nation’s only personalized 4G LTE network. Devices include the Motorola PHOTON Q, which is available today online and in retail stores for $199.99 with a two-year contract, the Samsung Galaxy S III and the Franklin Wireless 2-in-1 USB smart modem and mobile hotspot, which are both coming soon.
The PHOTON Q features a PC-like QWERTY keyboard, a large 4.3-inch Colorboost HD touchscreen display, 1.5 GHz dual core processor, Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich mobile operating system, an 8 megapixel digital zoom rear-facing camera with 1080p capture on playback along with an HD front-facing camera and 8 GB of onboard memory. The device comes with built-in business ready security, productivity and connectivity features with government-grade encryption and VPN.
The Samsung Galaxy S III features a brilliant 4.8 inch Super AMOLED touchscreen display, a 1.5 GHz dual core processor, Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich mobile operating system, 16 GB of onboard storage, an 8 megapixel camera with 1080p HD quality recording and a removable 2100 mAh battery. Pre-registration for the 4G LTE smartphone continues at www.cspire.com/gs3.
The Franklin Wireless 4G LTE 2-in-1 smart modem and mobile hotspot provides 4G LTE wireless access to any data-enabled devices, including a PC, tablet or smartphone.
Personalized Wireless from C Spire gets even better with 4G LTE Mobile Broadband
Personalized wireless from C Spire is a package of different wireless services and programs that combine to reflect and serve each customer’s unique needs. Customers see this unique personalization in apps and content that fit them, services that anticipate their needs, and rewards they get just for using their phone in new ways. In addition to PERCS®, specific examples of C Spire’s industry-first personalized wireless services include SCOUT and CIRCLE.
“4G LTE is the next generation of high-speed mobile broadband services from C Spire that allow you to access SCOUT for recommendations on apps, music, books, and movies; earn PERCS® points through our loyalty program; and engage in CIRCLE, our customer community, faster than ever before,” said Kevin Hankins, chief operating officer for C Spire Wireless.
For more details on device availability, pricing, plans and the schedule for introduction of 4G LTE services in new markets, go to www.cspire.com/4g. For more information on C Spire Wireless products and services, go to www.cspire.com.
About C Spire Wireles
C Spire Wireless is a diversified wireless communications company passionately committed to helping customers by personalizing wireless services designed just for them. The company is the first wireless provider in the U.S. to personalize customers’ experience by offering apps that fit who they are, services that anticipate their needs, and rewards for using their phone in new ways – all with seamless ease and at amazingly fast speeds. This news release and other announcements are available at www.cspire.com/news. For more information about C Spire Wireless and its products and services, visit www.cspire.com or follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/cspire or Twitter at www.twitter.com/cspire or Google + or www.pinterest.com/cspirewireless
