The former is already available through US Cellular which is selling it under the name of Galaxy Axiom. It’s an Android 4.1 device with a 4-inch WVGA screen, dual-core processor, LTE connectivity and 5-megapixel camera on the back.

As for the Galaxy Discover, we’re talking about an entry-level smartphone that sports a 3.5-inch HVGA display, 3-megapixel camera, while Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich is running the show.

Both devices will be released “this summer” and no, we’ve no idea how much Cricket will ask for them…

[Via: UnwiredView, PhoneScoop]

Matt Stoiber, senior vice president of devices for Cricket, had this to say about the impact the Galaxy S 4 will have on Cricket’s customers:

“The Galaxy S4 redefines the smartphone and we are very proud to offer our customers the highest level of wireless technology on the market.” He continued by adding that “Cricket’s three smartphone rate plans start as low as $45 per month1 and give customers value-packed choices for the plan that’s right for them with unlimited music included.”

Unfortunately, in order for this deal to be worthwhile, potential customers will have to be eligible to get in on the extremely low down payment price. More importantly, customers will have to live in one of Cricket’s LTE coverage areas — which is a small list of locations.

[via engadget]

Cricket’s new family plan lets you add two smartphones to an account for $40 each per month. The plan includes unlimited talk, text,  1GB of full-speed data and Muve music. The plan requires that customers sign up for an automatic bill payment option which is tied to a credit card, debit card or bank account.

Cricket also lowered its base iPhone plan by $5, bringing it down to $50 a month. For this amount, customers receive 1GB of data and unlimited calling and text messages. Customers who require additional data can choose a 2.5GB plan for $60 per month or a 5GB plan for $70.

You can read more about Cricket’s new plans on the carrier’s website.

[Via Cricket and CNET]

Like any another Android device on Cricket’s network, the Engage LT is Muve Music-enabled, allowing users to get unlimited music downloads as part of their plan. Speak of which, the carrier offers few easy-to-grasp plans ranging from $50 to $70 — $50 per month gets you unlimited talk, text and 1GB of full-speed data; $60 comes with 2.5GB of data, while $70 plan includes 5GB of fast mobile Internet.

So if Engage LT sounds like your next phone, proceed to this page at Cricket’s website to get more information and eventually secure a unit for yourself.

The wireless company started selling the iPhone in June 2012 through its Cricket brand and signed a three year agreement to sell $800M worth of iPhones during this period. This sales agreement is not starting off so well with Leap predicting it will sell only half of its first-year minimum purchase commitment by the end of June 2013. If Apple holds Leap to its agreement, the company could be left with $100M in unsold iPhones by the end of the year. Leap projects this situation could have “a material adverse impact on our business, results of operations and financial condition.”

Why is Leap struggling to sell iPhones when carriers like Verizon, AT&T and Sprint are selling millions each quarter? It all comes down to pricing and subsidies. Leap is selling the iPhone 5 for $449 without a contract, and US customers are not accustomed to paying such a high price for a phone. Most people would rather spend $200 or less for an iPhone with a two-year agreement than pay full price for the freedom of not having a contract. The deep discounts on phones offered by the contract model is alluring to US customers, even more alluring than the iPhone itself.

[Via PC Magazine and SEC]

In the two years since launching it, Cricket managed to attract more than 1 million subscribers to Muve Music, effectively making it the second-largest music subscription service in the U.S. behind Spotify. To spur adoption, the carrier was integrating Muve Music to its smartphone plans, helping it reach half a million new users in the last 6 month.

And now they’re looking to sell the expertise to carriers all around the world. The new company has been formed that will offer white-label solutions to operators looking to repeat Cricket’s success.

It is said that Muve’s platform would allow operators to start pricing music in many ways, for instance selling subscription for 10 cents a day or restricted plans for as low as 50 cents a month. We’ll see where this goes…

[Via: GigaOm]