MetroPCS Lauches in Philadelphia

[hank424]

Breaking News

MetroPCS Communications Inc. is offering its flat-rate, unlimited calling cell phone plans in the greater Philadelphia area, the wireless carrier's first foray in the Northeast.

Philadelphia is the 11th market for Dallas-based MetroPCS, which has 4.4 million customers nationwide.

The company offers cell phone plans priced from $30 a month, without a contract, credit check or activation fee. Last week, MetroPCS also offered to unlock other carriers' cell phones for use with its network.

But phone plans are only unlimited if used within the MetroPCS coverage area, which includes 14 of the 25 largest metropolitan regions. There is a fee to call from outside the coverage area.

MetroPCS said it has six company-owned stores in Philadelphia and 132 authorized dealers. It plans to add more locations by the end of the year.

© 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

MetroPCS offers flat-rate cell plan in Philly: Associated Press Business News - MSN Money

[bobolito]

This is good news. Metro PCS needs to expand quickly before they get bought by Verizon. We need more competition.

[larry]

At what point are the feds going to say "enough Verizon... no more mergers for you"?

[bobolito]

LOL! I just pray this doesn't turn like Canada where Rogers bought Fido but the govt. forced them to keep the Fido brand. Most ridiculous arrangement ever. How did that help anti-monopoly efforts?

[SmArTeStChIlD421]

i dont mind if the Verizon Alltel merger goes through but you have to give up all your overlap spectrum to companies like Metro and other companies that could use it

[Mobile Mike]

Originally Posted by larry

At what point are the feds going to say "enough Verizon... no more mergers for you"?

This doesn't make any sense? The Alltel/Verizon merger is the first major merger for Verizon (on the wireless side) since the formation of Verizon Wireless in 2000. They have bought out several smaller local/regional carriers, but no more than AT&T has. If we're going to talk about who's had too many mergers, it's AT&T.

As for any possibility of Verizon swallowing up Metro or Cricket, Why??? What would they possibly benefit from by acquiring one or both? For example, Metro's L.A. coverage is a joke. There would be NO strategic benefit from getting either of those carriers. Verizon may be greedy, but they're not stupid.

It seems to me both Verizon and AT&T are swallowing up smaller carriers to fill strategic gaps in their coverage. As for the Alltel/VZW merger, Alltel was going to be bought by someone. This has been a forgone conclusion for some time. It's been more of a matter of when. It could have been Sprint had they not been in the dumps lately. As it happens, it's now Verizon.

[bobolito]

Originally Posted by Mobile Mike

.....As for any possibility of Verizon swallowing up Metro or Cricket, Why??? What would they possibly benefit from by acquiring one or both?....

Reduced competition benefits Verizon and AT&T no matter how you look at it. And since their being infinitely greedy, they will swallow any carrier they can given the chance.

[hank424]

[hank424]

[hank424]

[hank424]

Wow the coverage is so small. and a lot of orange. I wonder if the blue areas has good coverage. Remember that this was rushed to beat Cricket wireless to Philadelphia most likely.

[hank424]

“Philadelphia marks a true milestone for MetroPCS because it is our initial expansion into the Northeast,” said John Shelton, vice president and general manager, for MetroPCS’ Philadelphia market. “Our flat-rate, unlimited, low cost service plans makes MetroPCS an affordable, worry-free and planned expense for all value-oriented consumers looking to reduce extra spending and streamline their budgets. With our unlimited service, customers can save dollars each month by eliminating their home phone and have only one phone – their MetroPCS phone. We encourage anyone to bring us their existing phone number and try our service.”

"If you're getting tired of getting ripped off by other wireless carriers, you're coming to MetroPCS," said John Shelton, general manager for the Philadelphia region.

Quoted From Press Release

[bobolito]

Originally Posted by hank424

Dark Blue = Current MetroPCS full coverage service area
Orange = MetroPCS planned expansion
Light Blue = MetroPCS mobile coverage service area

I wonder what's the difference between "Current MetroPCS full coverage service area" and "MetroPCS mobile coverage service area"

[TelcomJunkie]

Originally Posted by bobolito

[
I wonder what's the difference between "Current MetroPCS full coverage service area" and "MetroPCS mobile coverage service area"

I believe it's the difference between indoor and outdoor coverage areas. Light blue means fat chance of any indoor coverage.

[larry]

Originally Posted by hank424

Wow the coverage is so small. and a lot of orange. I wonder if the blue areas has good coverage. Remember that this was rushed to beat Cricket wireless to Philadelphia most likely.

How does both Metro and Cricket expect to share the Philly market and still make money? Afterall they are already coming in to a crowded market with many well established carriers that have a lot more coverage.

[KyleAndMelissa22]

It looks like Metro plans expansion into extreme Southern New Jersey as well,
but what about the Ocean County (Toms River) area?

or would this go under future NYC coverage area?

[bobolito]

Originally Posted by KyleAndMelissa22

It looks like Metro plans expansion into extreme Southern New Jersey as well,
but what about the Ocean County (Toms River) area?

or would this go under future NYC coverage area?

Ocean County, NJ is not part of the Philly market so no luck there. As for NYC, I don't think they even have a license here so I doubt they can expand to this area.

[KA3SGM]

I live in one of the 'Red Zones' and am really surprised to hear about the Metro PCS Philadelphia launch.

In the Western Suburbs of Philadelphia, Cricket by far, has been the most aggressive at fighting municipalities for new towers and/or CO-Locations,

I have yet to hear Metro PCS even apply for anything.

Better hope that the NIMBY crowd does not show up and start fighting their expansion, because Cricket is really feeling the heat in the area right now.

[Barciurek]

I HATE YOU METRO PCS!
I live on the X.

[KyleAndMelissa22]

Originally Posted by Barciurek

I HATE YOU METRO PCS!
I live on the X.

Man that sux, so close, but so far

However, maybe in the (further) future that area will eventually be covered.