metro

New details have emerged for what appears to be MetroPCS's first LTE smartphone. Previously known by its model number, the Samsung SCH-R910, the Android-based handset made its first appearance only two weeks back. Based on a recently uncovered Flickr photostream, the phone looks like it will carry the name of Samsung Forte when it's ultimately released.

As seen in the accompanying image, the phone features a four-row sliding QWERTY keyboard under, presumably, a 4-inch touch screen. If the rumored specs pan out, we're also looking at 1GHz Hummingbird processor, a 5-megapixel camera, and a Micro-SD card slot, … Read more

Microsoft is testing a new version of its home page that completely changes its lineup of products and services depending on whether you're there for "work" or "home."

While the idea of a custom-tailored site is nothing revolutionary, Microsoft has managed to go about it in a rather creative way, making use of a Web-based variant of its "Metro" UI that has the page slide from side to side instead of reloading, or having users scroll downward. The same look and feel as can be found in Windows Phone 7 and the recently refreshed Surface computer, … Read more

MetroPCS' new recruit, the Huawei M735, isn't trying to win points by running with the pack. Instead, Huawei hopes it can earn notice for its distinctive white style with colored accents.

The BREW-powered cell phone features a 2.8-inch QVGA (320x240 pixels) touch screen, a 3-megapixel camera, and MP3 player. It also takes up to 8GB of external memory.

The Huawei M735 costs $99 without a contract and is available now.

MetroPCS is violating the FCC's recently approved Net neutrality rules by blocking certain Internet content, say several public interest groups.

A letter (PDF) sent Monday to the Federal Communications Commission from Free Press, Center for Media Justice, Media Access Project, New America Foundation Open Technology Institute, and Presente.org accuse the wireless carrier of playing fast and loose with Net neutrality by apparently blocking services such as Skype and Netflix under certain lower-cost data plans.

MetroPCS is offering a new 4G plan that promises unlimited talk, text, Web browsing, and YouTube access for $40 a month. But another category … Read more

As the race for carriers and phone manufacturers surges to push out LTE 4G-enabled phones of the likes that poured from CES last week, we've seen some rumors that Samsung is prepping to release a new LTE phone with MetroPCS.

The photos of the phone information clearly show that the phone is the Samsung SCH-R910 running LTE (look under Baseband version.) It also appears to run Android 2.2 (Froyo; look under Firmware version.)

If that's the case, the Samsung SCH-R910 would be MetroPCS' first LTE smartphone, after the regional, contract-free carrier released the Samsung Craft, a feature … Read more

The fifth-largest U.S. carrier may never have had much in the way of 3G networks, but MetroPCS is continuing to close the gap by expanding its 4G LTE markets to major U.S. cities.

Today, New York, Boston, and Sacramento, Calif., join the roster. For now, that gives Samsung the edge among U.S. customers, since the Samsung Craft is currently MetroPCS' only 4G-enabled phone. Although not a smartphone, the Craft was also the first LTE-enabled phone.

MetroPCS' LTE service is also available in San Francisco, Dallas-Fort Worth, Detroit, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, and Philadelphia. Service is also expected … Read more

MetroPCS is getting another chance to offer its customers an Android phone. The Huawei Ascend runs on Android 2.1 and costs an affordable $179 without a contract. It goes on sale today.

The Ascend sports a 3.5-inch HVGA display, a 3.2-megapixel camera, a 16GB card slot, and supports 3G and Wi-Fi. It also has the Swype keyboard as its default, and a whopping nine home screens that you can manage with a convenient grid view.

This is the second U.S. carrier to pick up the Ascend. Cricket Wireless was the first, selling the entry-level smartphone for $… Read more

Editors' note: This chart was originally published December 2, 2010. It has been updated with new information.

With the iPhone 5 and all top Android phones utilizing 4G LTE, network speed and robustness have become major selling points for carriers competing to win over customers. Long Term Evolution, or LTE, is the latest iteration of the so-called fourth-generation (4G) cellular wireless standards, boasting speeds that meet -- or in some cases beat -- that of Wi-Fi.

However, as carriers continually expand their 4G LTE coverage every few months, it's hard to keep track of just how wide the scope and scale of each carrier's 4G network vary. Some cover a lot of ground while others cover barely any at all. As a result, it can take a lot of effort to determine where in the country you can find high-speed data access and how the different carrier networks contrast and overlap.… Read more

Verizon Wireless grabbed headlines with its LTE announcement today, but MetroPCS always will be able to claim the first commercially available LTE in the United States. And today it expanded that coverage to CNET's hometown of San Francisco.

The "4G" service, which launches today, will overlay about 80 percent of the carrier's existing CDMA footprint in the Bay Area. Indeed, a quick check of MetroPCS's map shows the carrier's LTE coverage stretching from Santa Rosa to southern Santa Clara County with extensions eastward to Livermore, Fairfield, and Antioch.

San Fransisco is the carrier's … Read more