MetroPCS gets official with the Samsung Craft LTE handset

It was the end of July when we learned that the Samsung SCH-R900, a/k/a the country’s first LTE handset, cleared the FCC. We pretty much knew it was headed for MetroPCS, since MetroPCS projected to have the first operable LTE network in the country. At its earnings conference, CEO Roger Linquist announced the LTE device, dubbing it the Samsung Craft. There is no further word on availability or pricing, though Linquist did say that it will fall in line with the pricing of their other smartphones, so figure between $250 and $300. He did reveal a few more items regarding LTE as well. There was no firm dates set for the launch, other than the ambiguous “later this year.” In addition to Las Vegas, which has already been announced, Metro will launch an initial market in Dallas-Ft. Worth. The full build-out should be completed by early 2011, with an eventual migration to VoIP, which would help increase capacity. Again, there is no set timeline for this, but we do have a general idea. ]]>