The no-contract world of wireless service is a rough and tumble place. With low-cost carriers jockeying to offer the most economical wireless services to consumers looking for ever better value in their wireless plans, it can be hard to get your name out there. That is, unless you do something truly noteworthy. MetroPCS’s latest announcement hits that particular nail right on the head, twice.
MetroPCS has announced their first BlackBerry smartphone to subscribers looking for BlackBerry service without having to commit to a multi-year contract. The MetroPCS BlackBerry Curve 8330 is fully integrated into RIM’s BlackBerry service and offers all the enterprise services we’ve come to expect from a BlackBerry handset, without any of the contract-hassles that usually come with BlackBerry services.
And, to sweeten the deal, MetroPCS’s BlackBerry is being offered with two unlimited BlackBerry plans – a first for any wireless carrier in the US. The $50 personal rate plan blazes a new, off-contract trail to BlackBerry service with unlimited talk, text, internet, MMS, and email through BlackBerry Internet Service (BIS). The $60 enterprise rate plan offers all the same features as the $50 plan, but includes access to BlackBerry Enterprise Server (BES). Together, these new unlimited BlackBerry plans offer the nation’s first all-you-can-eat BlackBerry plans without any contracts.
With the one-two punch of a contract-free BlackBerry offer and unlimited BlackBerry service, MetroPCS is positioning itself as the best value in the US wireless market. But, given MetroPCS’s limited coverage and in-area calling limitations, will the unlimited BlackBerry plans be enough to attract a solid following?
Press release after the break.
MetroPCS Launches the BlackBerry® Curve 8330 Smartphone with Industry First Rate Plans
MetroPCS $60 Unlimited Enterprise Plan and $50 Unlimited Personal Plan Are the Lowest Offers in U.S. Wireless Market
DALLAS–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Furthering its commitment to provide the most economical unlimited wireless services available to consumers, MetroPCS Communications, Inc. (NYSE: PCS), the nation’s leading provider of unlimited, predictable, affordable, flat–rate, no signed contract wireless communications service, launches their first BlackBerry® CurveTM 8330 smartphone from Research In Motion (RIM) (Nasdaq: RIMM; TSX: RIM). Featuring a full-QWERTY keyboard and advanced multimedia capabilities, the BlackBerry Curve 8330 is an ideal smartphone for customers that want to stay connected to the people and information that matter most.
MetroPCS is also introducing two unlimited rate plans to support the BlackBerry Curve 8330 smartphone. The $50 personal rate plan, for use with the smartphone, will offer flat rate, unlimited talk, text, web browsing, MMS and BlackBerry email access through BlackBerry® Internet Service. For an additional $10 per month enterprise customers can receive the same unlimited plan features on BlackBerry® Enterprise Server. No other U.S. wireless carrier is offering an unlimited, no signed contract, flat rate plan for BlackBerry services at this price. Currently, these rate plans can provide customers over $550 in annual savings for BlackBerry service over certain national carriers. The BlackBerry Curve 8330 smartphone will be available for purchase in the following MetroPCS markets beginning the week of March 9th: Greater Miami/Ft. Lauderdale, Tampa, Orlando, Jacksonville, Atlanta, Detroit, Dallas, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Sacramento.
“Today’s consumers are driven by value, performance and convenience and MetroPCS is extremely pleased to offer consumers a product that will allow the ultimate wireless experience,” said Roger D. Linquist, president and chief executive officer of MetroPCS. “This new addition to our handset lineup allows our subscribers to enjoy the advanced features and convenience they desire in a smartphone with an unlimited, flat-rate service that beats the competition in price.”
MetroPCS’ plans for non-smartphones range from $30 to $50 per month and allow subscribers to talk all they want, 24-hours-a-day, seven days a week. Unlike most carriers, MetroPCS does not require a signed contract, which means that consumers can activate service without going through a credit check or paying a deposit.
The BlackBerry Curve 8330 smartphone will be available at all Best Buy stores in the previously listed markets beginning the week of March 9th and select MetroPCS authorized dealers and company-owned retail locations by the end of March. Visit MetroPCS’ website at www.metropcs.com for specific locations or to purchase the BlackBerry Curve 8330 smartphone and sign up for service plans.
For more information on the BlackBerry Curve 8330 smartphone, visit www.blackberry.com/blackberrycurve.
About MetroPCS Communications, Inc.
Dallas-based MetroPCS Communications, Inc. (NYSE: PCS) is a provider of unlimited wireless communications service for a flat-rate with no signed contract. MetroPCS owns or has access to licenses covering a population of approximately 150 million people in the largest metropolitan areas in the United States, including New York City, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Dallas, Philadelphia, Atlanta, Detroit, Boston, Miami, Tampa, and Sacramento. MetroPCS ranked “Highest In Customer Satisfaction With Wireless Prepaid Service” in the J.D. Power and Associates third annual Prepaid Customer Satisfaction Study in July of 2008. As of December 31, 2008, MetroPCS had approximately 5.4 million subscribers. For more information please visit www.metropcs.com.
The BlackBerry and RIM families of related marks, images and symbols are the exclusive properties and trademarks of Research in Motion Limited.