Cricket plans to keep up with the competition and launch an LTE network in 2011. That’s all fine and good, but their customers probably won’t notice it until 2012. Phil Goldstein of FierceWireless relays some quotes from Leap Wireless CEO Doug Hutcheson, who indicates that his company will not release any actual LTE devices until 2012. This is similar to what MetroPCS did. They launched LTE last year, with only one handset, the poorly received Samsung Craft, available. Not until this year did they release an actual LTE smartphone, and even then they think that 2012 is their big year. Leap is just skipping the inadequate test handset part and waiting for the big move for LTE in 2012. ]]>
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Does this mean the Huawei Ascend x5 and Samsung Indulge are being released NEXT YEAR instead of May/June?
When do you think Straight Talk will get to use the 4G towers?
@ Mike Z: ?! Are you serious?! As it is ST is having difficulties even getting normal smart phones on the shelf. Whether this is due to selling out of phone, or whether AT&T had a little tantrum about the amount of usage straight talk’s unlimited plan + smart phone is costing AT&T is besides the point. You shouldn’t be asking that question here. If you are going to ask a relevant question, then rather ask if straight talk will ever have a handset capable of making use of the 4g network.
@Quipped – First of all, you have to realize that StraightTalk primarily is for people who just want something that works for cheap, with some options for a budget-minded smartphone experience. The LG 900 and Nokia E71 both have HTML web browsers and apps. They both pull down emails and shoot videos. Second of all, StraightTalk also uses Verizon towers, not to mention true 4G (LTE) uses bandwidth more efficiently so its only a matter of time. @Mike Z, its was not a bad question.