Leap Wireless, the Cricket folks, told us we can expect to see LTE service go live in Tucson before the end of the year — and by golly, they were bound and determined to do it. Sure ’nuff, the prepaid carrier is now ready to match wits against MetroPCS as it brings its first 4G market and device live with just ten days remaining in 2011. At least 90 percent of Tucson will be able to enjoy the faster speeds, with nearby Nogales, AZ receiving some expansion love sometime in 2012 and at least two-thirds of its countrywide network benefiting from the next-gen service within the next two to three years. Its first LTE device is the Huawei Boltz — also known as the Huawei E397 in other parts of the world — and can be bought for 0 with no contract. Eventually, Leap says, the lineup will be expanded to include smartphones and tablets. Now, let’s talk pricing: two data plans of 5GB each are available, with getting you download speeds of 3Mbps and offering you 6Mbps. Granted, this is nothing compared to the ultra-fast speeds you see on Verizon and AT&T’s LTE networks at the moment, but it’s a start.
Continue reading Cricket LTE goes live in Tucson, introduces the Huawei Boltz
Cricket LTE goes live in Tucson, introduces the Huawei Boltz originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 21 Dec 2011 14:09:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
We know you’ve got questions, and if you’re brave enough to ask the world for answers, here’s the outlet to do so. This week’s Ask Engadget inquiry is coming to us from Alejandro, who’s looking to cash in on the sudden glut of absolutely respectable prepaid smartphones. If you’re looking to send in an inquiry of your own, drop us a line at ask [at] engadget [dawt] com.
“I’m looking to grab a new phone using a prepaid service. What’s the best prepaid phone service in terms of overall price, phone selection and other bells / whistles. Thanks!”
We’re guessing he’s looking for a smartphone here, so before you yell “Cricket!” and run for the hills, give a bit of consideration to folks like Virgin Mobile and Boost Mobile, amongst others. Any of you had a particularly charming experience with a prepaid provider? Speak up in comments below!
Ask Engadget: what’s the best deal in prepaid wireless? originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 30 Jul 2011 22:29:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Just about every other carrier has its own variant of LG’s fast-selling Optimus One smartphone, and you can now even count Cricket Wireless among that group. It recently launched the LG Optimus C, which offers yet another oh-so-slightly-different design along with all the same specs we’ve seen before — a capacitive 3.2-inch HVGA display, 3.2 megapixel camera, a 600MHz processor, and Android 2.2 with some minor LG customizations. That may not sound like much, but we’ve found the other versions of the phone to be surprisingly snappy and solid for such a budget-priced smartphone. That budget pricing of course continues on Cricket, which is offering the phone for just 0 after a web discount and mail-in rebated — and, yes, that’s without a longt-term contract, although you will apparently have to sign up for Cricket’s a month unlimited Android plan to start with.
[Thanks, PHug]
Cricket Wireless launches LG Optimus C for 0 off-contract originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 21 Mar 2011 02:04:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Posted by othertech on Wednesday, 14 October, 2009
Look out Virgin Mobile and Cricket, Walmart is coming for you. The infamous retailer announced today that they are launching their own no-contract cellular service on the 18th, called Straight Talk.
Leap Wireless, the Cricket folks, told us we can expect to see LTE service go live in Tucson before the end of the year — and by golly, they were bound and determined to do it. Sure ’nuff, the prepaid carrier is now ready to match wits against MetroPCS as it brings its first 4G market and device live with just ten days remaining in 2011. At least 90 percent of Tucson will be able to enjoy the faster speeds, with nearby Nogales, AZ receiving some expansion love sometime in 2012 and at least two-thirds of its countrywide network benefiting from the next-gen service within the next two to three years. Its first LTE device is the Huawei Boltz — also known as the Huawei E397 in other parts of the world — and can be bought for 0 with no contract. Eventually, Leap says, the lineup will be expanded to include smartphones and tablets. Now, let’s talk pricing: two data plans of 5GB each are available, with getting you download speeds of 3Mbps and offering you 6Mbps. Granted, this is nothing compared to the ultra-fast speeds you see on Verizon and AT&T’s LTE networks at the moment, but it’s a start.
Look out Virgin Mobile and Cricket, Walmart is coming for you. The infamous retailer announced today that they are launching their own no-contract cellular service on the 18th, called Straight Talk. 