U.S. Cellular launches 4G LTE mobile hotspot (USA)
U.S. Cellular is expanding its 4G LTE device line-up with the launch of the Samsung SCH-LC11 Mobile Hotspot. This lightweight device gives you high-speed connectivity and is available on uscellular.com now and will be in stores by May 21.
When on the 4G LTE network, the Samsung Mobile Hotspot allows users to simultaneously connect up to five Wi-Fi devices to the Internet at speeds up to ten times faster than 3G. It’s easy to connect to laptops, tablets, home computers and smartphones so customers can access news, weather, email, entertainment and social networks whenever they need it. For a limited time, the hotspot will be available for $49.99 after a $50 mail-in rebate in select markets covered by the 4G LTE network and in those scheduled to be covered by the end of 2012.
The Samsung Mobile Hotspot is a great device for businesses, students, families and anyone who needs high-speed Internet connectivity at home or on-the-go. Business travelers can get more done during airport layovers and taxi rides. Study groups can have a meeting in the park and connect to the Internet, and family car rides are more fun when everyone can get the entertainment they want.
Edward Perez, vice president of sales and marketing operations for U.S. Cellular, said that customers can depend on the 4G LTE Samsung Mobile Hotspot for fast and reliable Internet connectivity wherever they are. This pocket-sized device can help simplify and organize your life and provides multiple devices with one speedy Internet connection.
The 4G LTE network builds on the 3G data services that U.S. Cellular customers already enjoy on the carrier’s high-quality nationwide network. The Samsung Mobile Hotspot is available to all U.S. Cellular customers and runs on the 4G LTE network in markets where it is available and on U.S. Cellular’s nationwide 3G network in all other areas.
U.S. Cellular customers enjoy unique benefits, such as new devices faster without resigning contracts, free Overage Protection and free Battery Swap. U.S. Cellular also offers customers the only points-based rewards program in the industry, which rewards customers for simple things, such as paying bills on-time, adding a line or referring friends and family. Points may be used for faster phone upgrades, additional lines, devices, accessories and ringtones.
U.S. Cellular, in partnership with King Street Wireless, currently offers 4G LTE service in select cities in Iowa, Maine, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Texas and Wisconsin. In the second half of this year, 4G LTE coverage will expand to cover select cities in Illinois, Maryland, Missouri, New Hampshire, Oregon, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, Washington and West Virginia. By the end of 2012, 54 percent of U.S. Cellular customers will enjoy faster 4G LTE speeds.
RCN enters mobile market
RCN Corp. has teamed with a Maryland company to test a mobile phone service in its Boston market that the cable, telephone and Internet provider will offer along with its other services.
RCN yesterday said its deal with MobilePro Corp. of Bethesda, Md., creates a new “RCN Wireless” service the companies will introduce to existing RCN customers in Framingham, Natick, Waltham, Newton and 15 other Boston area communities by the end of September.
RCN, headquartered in Herndon, Va., will bundle the wireless service and an RCN-branded mobile phone in a “Quadruple Play” package with its existing TV, Web and land-line phone services
The company will also offer other bundle combinations, and RCN Wireless will be available alone. But customers will get the best price on each service when they buy all four, according to Linda Duggan, senior vice president and general manager for RCN in New England.
For now, RCN will only offer wireless service in the communities where it currently operates, Duggan said. But the company may expand the mobile-phone service to a wider area in Massachusetts.
RCN is still working on price structures for entry-level, in-network, family and premium-level service plans. Duggan said the costs will be “competitive” with the prices other cable and phone companies offer.
“We’re excited to put this out because it follows the direction we’ve always gone in,” Duggan said yesterday, referring to the company’s bundling strategy. “The Boston market is very aware of wireless products and Internet products and the technology is widespread. It makes sense to test it here.”
MobilePro’s CEO, Tom Mazerski, said RCN Wireless will run on Verizon Wireless’ network. MobilePro will perform all supporting activities for RCN, including sales, billing and customer service.
RCN competes with much larger rivals Comcast Corp., which offers cable TV, Internet and phone service throughout MetroWest, and Verizon Communications Inc., which offers phone and Web service and is rolling out a TV service in some parts of the state. Verizon jointly owns Verizon Wireless.
In November, Philadelphia-based Comcast and three other cable providers teamed up with Sprint Nextel Corp. to offer a “quadruple play” package of their own that would include mobile phone service.
“We look forward to rolling out the wireless product to Boston in the late fall and integrating a mobility component in our local services that provides real value to consumers,” Marc Goodman, a Comcast spokesman, said yesterday. “The joint venture has been working on delivering functional software, engineering and operations needs.”
Source- http://www.metrowestdailynews.com
Technorati : Mobile, RCN Wireless, Verizon Wireless
Ice Rocket : Mobile, RCN Wireless, Verizon Wireless
