MetroPCS

Sprint mulls outbidding T-Mobile for MetroPCS

Sprint may want MetroPCS for itself.

Bloomberg reports that the number-three U.S. wireless carrier is considering its own offer for prepaid provider MetroPCS, which yesterday announced a deal with Deutsche Telekom to merge with the U.S. wireless provider T-Mobile.

The news service says that Sprint, which had been close to its own deal to buy MetroPCS earlier this year, is talking to advisers about whether it should offer a higher price to buy the company. Sprint had been re-evaluating a play for MetroPCS a few weeks ago before T-Mobile announced its deal, unnamed sources told Bloomberg.

On Wednesday, … Read more

MetroPCS merging with T-Mobile

Wednesday's CNET Update shakes up your prepaid world:

T-Mobile USA announced it will merge with the prepaid regional cellphone carrier MetroPCS. If the deal is approved, there will be no changes until the first half of 2013. The CEO of T-Mobile said this merger will make the company a leader in no-contract offerings. That's a direct challenge to Sprint, which has its prepaid business with Boost Mobile, Virgin Mobile and Assurance Wireless.

October 26 looks like a busy day for Microsoft. Not only is that the day that Windows 8 and the Surface tablet arrive, but Microsoft may also launch its Xbox Music service, … Read more

T-Mobile CEO: MetroPCS deal is no Sprint-Nextel repeat

The planned merger between nationwide carrier T-Mobile USA and prepaid provider MetroPCS is not a repeat of the failed merger between Sprint and Nextel back in 2005, T-Mobile CEO John Legere said during a conference call with the press today.

This deal, he said, is about gaining more spectrum in an effort to challenge bigger competitors like AT&T and Verizon Wireless.

"This is not a Sprint/Nextel do-over," Legere said. "This deal is not about simply surviving. It's about driving growth. When we add MetroPCS to the aggressive challenger strategy (of T-Mobile) it will … Read more

T-Mobile, MetroPCS look to eat Sprint's prepaid lunch

A combining of T-Mobile USA and MetroPCS could make for a potent player in the rough-and-tumble prepaid business.

T-Mobile has over the past few years expanded its no-contract options for consumers, giving it a badly needed source of customer growth. MetroPCS, meanwhile, has long been an aggressive -- albeit small -- provider of prepaid services with experience in running a low-cost business.

Together, the companies could present a challenge to Sprint Nextel, long the biggest champion of no-contract services with multiple prepaid brands under its umbrella. T-Mobile and MetroPCS today touted the establishment of the "leading value-focused wireless carrier&… Read more

Wireless shakeup: T-Mobile to merge with MetroPCS

Deutsche Telekom, parent company to T-Mobile USA, said Wednesday it has struck a merger deal with prepaid regional carrier MetroPCS.

According to the agreement, MetroPCS shareholders will get $1.5 billion in cash and a 26 percent stake in the combined company. Deutsche Telekom will own the remaining 74 percent of the company.

The deal requires regulatory approval from the Federal Communications Commission and U.S. Department of Justice. The deal is expected to close in the first half of 2013.

"We are extremely pleased to announce this transaction with MetroPCS, which enhances Deutsche Telekom's position in the … Read more

T-Mobile parent in talks for deal with MetroPCS

T-Mobile USA's parent, Deutsche Telekom AG, and MetroPCS confirmed today that they are in talks to combine operations.

Both companies sent out statements confirming recent speculation that a potential deal was brewing. Here are their respective comments:

Deutsche Telekom:

Deutsche Telekom is holding talks with the listed company MetroPCS with the aim of operating its subsidiary T-Mobile USA and MetroPCS within one company in which Deutsche Telekom would hold the majority of shares.

The talks are at a stage where significant issues have not yet been finalized, contracts have not yet been signed and the conclusion of the transaction … Read more

MetroPCS announces ZTE Anthem 4G for coming weeks

MetroPCS today announced that its next smartphone, the ZTE Anthem 4G, will join the company's roster in the coming weeks. As the first 4G LTE handset from ZTE in the United States, the device is a mixed bag of midrange Android.

The Anthem 4G runs (only) Android 2.3 Gingerbread, and features a a 4.3-inch WVGA display, a 1.2GHz dual-core processor, and a 5-megapixel rear camera. There's also HDMI output and Dolby Surround Audio. Additional specifications for the smartphone include 4GB internal storage, 512MB RAM, and a microSD expansion slot.

As is the case with just … Read more

MetroPCS honcho: We're no 'Podunk' business

MetroPCS Wireless President Thomas Keys has spent a considerable amount of time and energy building up the reputation of the prepaid carrier as a legitimate player in the wireless industry.

So he could only shrug and make light of the fact that one of his key executives described the company as "Podunk" and "the hair on the tail that wags the dog" in a recent meeting with analysts and reporters.

But it's that exact image that MetroPCS wants to shed as it moves from a "fast-follower" to a company leading the wireless pack … Read more

MetroPCS teases Galaxy S3, additional phones

MetroPCS said it would be getting Samsung Electronics' Galaxy S3 in a preview of some of its upcoming phones.

In addition to the Galaxy S3, the company plans to launch an additional Samsung smartphone able to get voice over its LTE network, a ZTE smartphone, and a smartphone from relative newcomer Coolpad.

MetroPCS unveiled the lineup during a presentation to media and analysts today in New York. The company didn't provide many details on timing, only that the Coolpad phone would come out in the next few weeks.

The company is looking to expand its lineup of smartphones as … Read more