Two sleeves, two phones. That’s what we’ve got in store for you this week, with Darren dropping $ 55 on two protective cases and two of our intrepid staffers trying out some new handsets. On team Android, we have Edgar setting aside his Galaxy Nexus to try out the GS III, while Jon Fingas (team Phone, really) trades off between a GNex and iPhone 5. How does he like his new iPhone apart from mapgate and that minor purple flare issue? Read on to find out.
Continue reading IRL: ColcaSac’s Hanakapiai sleeves, the iPhone 5 and the Galaxy S III on MetroPCS
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MetroPCS might be the smaller of the two parties in the proposed merger with T-Mobile, but it certainly knows how to coin a profit in difficult times. The carrier recorded a massive $ 193 million net profit this quarter, $ 44 million more than the $ 149 million it made in Q2, despite losing 312,000 subscribers in the three month period. The reason behind the rosy numbers was a combination of cash-saving exercises and canny investments in securities, pushing total revenue to $ 1.3 billion. The network now has just under nine million customers, with more than a million of those subscribing to one of the company’s LTE packages. It’s also managed to reduce churn down to 3.7 percent, a reduction of 0.8 percent since Q3 2011. CEO Roger D. Linquist remarked that the next quarter will see the business “re-energize” subscriber growth at the expense of its bottom line — probably wise, given that it’s lost just over half a million customers in the last six months.
Filed under: Cellphones, Wireless
MetroPCS breaks 1 million LTE customers, makes $ 193 million profit despite losing 312,000 users in Q3 originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 30 Oct 2012 06:51:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Just exactly how the T-Mobile / MetroPCS merger will exactly pan out still seems yet to be decided. What is clear, however, is that majority share-holder, Deutsche Telekom, hope to have the deal done and dusted between April and June next year. CFO for the German giant, Timotheus Hoettges, told Boersenzeitung that we’ll have to wait until the second quarter of 2013 before one of the parties will have to start ordering new stationary and corporate polo shirts. In the meantime he was keen to point out that not all current financial arrangements need to worry, noting shareholders wouldn’t have their remuneration policy affected by the merger, thanks to the spiffy year it’s had.
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, T-Mobile
Deutsche Telekom: T-Mobile / MetroPCS merger to be completed by June 2013 originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 13 Oct 2012 14:28:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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“I came yonder from a great supper: the prince your brother is royally entertained by Leonato: and I can give you intelligence of an intended marriage.”
“Will it serve for any model to build mischief on? What is he for a fool that betroths himself to unquietness?”
Spoiler: Hero doesn’t die
Huawei has been relatively quiet of late. Aside from Ascend D Quad smartphone we saw announced back at MWC, the company hasn’t been very present on U.S. shores. But with LTE hitting its stride, the company has today announced its very first 4G LTE handset: the Activa 4G.
MetroPCS will carry the prepaid device, which is a Android 2.3 Gingerbread-powered handset. It sports a 3.5-inch HVGA capacitive touchscreen with a 5-megapixel rear camera (LED flash-enabled) and a VGA front-facing camera for video chat.
“We are honored to bring our first 4G LTE device to U.S. audiences with the support of MetroPCS’ powerful and expansive network,” said EVP of Huawei Device USA Michael Chuang. “MetroPCS is committed to providing customers with advanced, flexible and affordable smartphone options through its no-annual contract services, and is the ideal partner for Huawei’s entrance into a new era for smartphones and handsets.”
While Huawei is a bigger player in Asia, the company has yet to make waves here in the States in any tangible way. That said, MetroPCS seems like a good fit for this device as it won’t have as much competition from other flagship devices as it would on Verizon, AT&T, or Sprint.
The Huawei Activa 4G is available now in MetroPCS stores and online for $ 149, which is a little high for a mid-range device, but you can make it back up by being free from a contract.
Huawei has been relatively quiet of late. Aside from Ascend D Quad smartphone we saw announced back at MWC, the company hasn’t been very present on U.S. shores. But with LTE hitting its stride, the company has today announced its very first 4G LTE handset: the Activa 4G.
MetroPCS will carry the prepaid device, which is a Android 2.3 Gingerbread-powered handset. It sports a 3.5-inch HVGA capacitive touchscreen with a 5-megapixel rear camera (LED flash-enabled) and a VGA front-facing camera for video chat.
“We are honored to bring our first 4G LTE device to U.S. audiences with the support of MetroPCS’ powerful and expansive network,” said EVP of Huawei Device USA Michael Chuang. “MetroPCS is committed to providing customers with advanced, flexible and affordable smartphone options through its no-annual contract services, and is the ideal partner for Huawei’s entrance into a new era for smartphones and handsets.”
While Huawei is a bigger player in Asia, the company has yet to make waves here in the States in any tangible way. That said, MetroPCS seems like a good fit for this device as it won’t have as much competition from other flagship devices as it would on Verizon, AT&T, or Sprint.
The Huawei Activa 4G is available now in MetroPCS stores and online for $ 149, which is a little high for a mid-range device, but you can make it back up by being free from a contract.
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Regional network MetroPCS has announced total revenues of approximately $ 1.3 billion for Q1 2012, up from $ 1.2 bilion in the last quarter and up seven percent from the same period in 2011. Users on contract now total 9.5 million, with 16 percent of them making the move across to a smartphone. Net income has, however, dropped 63 percent since Q1 2011, with cost per user up 16 percent compared the same period last year. MetroPCS puts down to “retention expense” and the roll-out of its 4G network. The fifth biggest US carrier added over 131,000 new subscribers, but growth continues to slide — it’s down from 190,000 in Q4 2012. On the positive side, users are creeping onto the carrier’s 4G network, with 580,000 LTE subscribers nowmaking up six percent of its total subscription base — regardless of those creeping costs for unlimited data.
Continue reading MetroPCS announces Q1 2012 results: total revenues up, new subscriber growth shrinks
MetroPCS announces Q1 2012 results: total revenues up, new subscriber growth shrinks originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 26 Apr 2012 07:34:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Enjoying those quick, all-you-can-browse speeds on your LG Connect 4G? Well, it looks like soon you’ll have to shell out a bit more cash to hold onto that beloved unlimited service. Earlier today, MetroPCS laid out the scheme to hike the pricing on its no-limits LTE offering, adding an extra $ 10 to the monthly fee. As for the others, the new $ 60 plan will now be capped at 5GB of LTE data, while the lesser $ 50 and $ 40 deals are set to include 2.5GB and 250MB, respectively — both of which are said to get a multimedia streaming throttle at 1GB on the former and 100MB on the latter. MetroPCS says you shouldn’t worry, though, and that things “like Facebook, web surfing, etc., should continue to be solid.” Good thing “solid” is unambiguous, right?
MetroPCS raises unlimited LTE data plan to $ 70, starts throttling others originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 03 Apr 2012 15:23:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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