CDMA. It means “Advanced Wireless Services,” which describes two new frequencies on which Cricket is/will be operating: 1.7 GHz and 2.1 GHz. While other providers have plans to implement AWS technology, Cricket’s is the first to go live. This is down in Tulsa, Oklahoma. And the first phone for it will be the UTStarcom CDM7126. This phone became available for the first time on Saturday. I couldn’t find a picture, which is disappointing. But it’s a clamshell with an external display, Bluetooth, uh…and that seems to be about it. It seems that the appeal of this phone is the network, rather than any features. And yes, it will work on the current PCS band of Leap in addition to the new AWS spectrum.
“We are pleased to be the first wireless carrier to offer an AWS wireless phone to our customers,” said Al Moschner, Cricket’s Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer. “Taking this leadership position underscores our commitment to fostering product innovation by introducing CDMA’s first tri-band mobile device that enables multi-market use. This introduction marks the successful conclusion of two years of planning and development by UTStarcom and Cricket.”Rival MetroPCS plans a launch of an ASW network over the course of 2008. T-Mobile has similar plans. But it looks like Leap beat them to the punch, if just barely. Update: Reader Melissa E. has a good pickup: the phone @ Phone Scoop. It appears reports of an external display have been greatly exaggerated. Here’s the pic:
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I found more information on phone at phonescoop’s website. They have a picture and it looks like your information is wrong, it has no external display, instead it has indicator lights. Here’s the url: http://www.phonescoop.com/news/item.php?n=2823
I wouldn’t suggest ANYONE buy this phone. We haven’t had it 8 weeks and it freezes, (continuous vibration after a text is received), you barely hear anyone in it, and when it DOES ring, you can barely hear the few tones it has on it. OH, of course you can hear the Cricket CS tell you, “I’m sorry…you don’t have insurance. You will have to purchase another phone.” Just horrible. The phone was $49.00 in June. It is NOW $169.00 a a Cricket store! A complete ripoff! We cancelled AT&T for this. We did buy the Samsung Spex, which is MUCH better.