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Leap & Cricket Launch LTE in Tuscon
$50 for 3 Mbps, $60 for 6 Mbps, 5GB Cap All Around
As promised back in June, Leap Wireless today announced that they are launching their new LTE network first in the Tuscon, Arizona market. According to a company press statement, users in that market can access the network using the the Huawei Boltz (E 397) modem, which Leap and Cricket are selling for $150. Service plans come in either 3 Mbps for $50, or 6 Mbps for $60 flavors -- both with a 5GB monthly usage limit. The company claims that pre-launch speed tests conducted in the Tucson market were roughly 5 to 10 times faster than their current 3G (EVDO) offerings. Leap hopes to offer the faster LTE service to a footprint of 25 million people by the end of 2012.
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Angrychair
join:2000-09-20
Jacksonville, FL

Angrychair

Member

So, Karl

How do these prices compare with what wireless customers in Europe and Asia pay?

DataRiker
Premium Member
join:2002-05-19
00000

2 edits

DataRiker

Premium Member

Re: So, Karl

In South Korea I payed about 20 US dollars for 10 GB's with unlimited calling and mobile tv. It was a pre paid phone service.

When I was in Vietnam during 2006-2007 they didn't have any options that I know of for cellular data, although cellular service was ubiquitous throughout the whole country.

Unlimited phone service there cost about 9 US Dollars / month.

But in both countries you must keep in mind you pay for the phone outright.

Karl Bode
News Guy
join:2000-03-02

Karl Bode

News Guy

Re: So, Karl

Yeah, this study is interesting in that it studied LTE service from 30 companies worldwide, and found the average usage cap was 20 GB:

»www.fiercemobilecontent. ··· r-next-5

Still think in many countries LTE Is still priced as a "premium" product, thought that same study predicts a 60% price drop as LTE mainstreams.
sonicmerlin
join:2009-05-24
Cleveland, OH

sonicmerlin to Angrychair

Member

to Angrychair
In Germany you can get 40 GB for $80, although prices are rapidly falling. I had unlimited wimax in Japan for $50/month last year. Used 200 GB/month.

Duramax08
To The Moon
Premium Member
join:2008-08-03
San Antonio, TX

Duramax08

Premium Member

5GB cap

How about the do full speeds til 5GB and then slow you down to 3g speeds? Either way 4g is going to have 3g speeds and 3g going to have basic tier dsl speeds.

dvd536
as Mr. Pink as they come
Premium Member
join:2001-04-27
Phoenix, AZ

dvd536

Premium Member

Re: 5GB cap

said by Duramax08:

How about the do full speeds til 5GB and then slow you down to 3g speeds? Either way 4g is going to have 3g speeds and 3g going to have basic tier dsl speeds.

EVDO speeds on cricket here in phoenix are a joke.
iansltx
join:2007-02-19
Austin, TX

iansltx

Member

Why?

VZW has LTE in Tuscon, with no speed caps. Pricing is identical to CricKet's 3Mbps plan for 5GB, and you can get LTE in other places than just Tucson with VZW. Yes, there's a contract, but you can avoid that by buying a MiFi off of eBay.

Duramax08
To The Moon
Premium Member
join:2008-08-03
San Antonio, TX

Duramax08

Premium Member

Re: Why?

Most of the folks wont even bother going to ebay to look for a device. They rather go to the mall, pay a low price for the device but get suckered into a 2 year contract.
sonicmerlin
join:2009-05-24
Cleveland, OH

sonicmerlin

Member

Re: Why?

Uh because they pay the same price on or off contract
iansltx
join:2007-02-19
Austin, TX

iansltx

Member

Re: Why?

Price per month? Yes. However the point is moot of CricKet is selling their LTE aircard for the same price as you could get a Verizon device off-contract for.
rradina
join:2000-08-08
Chesterfield, MO

rradina

Member

Who would pay for the 6Mbps package?

If the cap is the same, why would I pay to get there faster? Someone needs to put their thinking cap on.
ISurfTooMuch
join:2007-04-23
Tuscaloosa, AL

ISurfTooMuch

Member

Re: Who would pay for the 6Mbps package?

Yep, and considering that this is Cricket, you'll likely never get the faster speed anyway.
ncbill
Premium Member
join:2007-01-23
Winston Salem, NC

ncbill

Premium Member

Figured it would be just as expensive as 3G

WiMax remains a bargain compared to these plans.

$40/month for 8GB, then throttled after that (6+ down)

Never been throttled, but I rarely exceed that cap.
thatissick
join:2010-08-17
Atlanta, GA

thatissick

Member

atleast increase the cap on the 6mbps tier, cricket

I bet these are not guaranteed speeds. Im sure in the fine print it will say 'up to advertised speeds'.

r81984
Fair and Balanced
Premium Member
join:2001-11-14
Katy, TX

r81984

Premium Member

Cap??

Who will buy internet service with a 5GB cap???
Its not worth it.
dudeman456
join:2005-04-29
New York, NY

dudeman456

Member

Re: Cap??

Millions of people have already bought service with even lower caps.

r81984
Fair and Balanced
Premium Member
join:2001-11-14
Katy, TX

r81984

Premium Member

Re: Cap??

With a 5GB cap you are just wasting money as you are not getting to use the network you paid for.
I just cannot see the point of internet with a 5GB cap.
sonicmerlin
join:2009-05-24
Cleveland, OH

sonicmerlin to r81984

Member

to r81984
Why can't they use smart network management? Why not throttle during times of congestion? Unlimited between 12 am and 8 am would be awesome.

Chtucson
join:2001-01-13
Tucson, AZ

Chtucson

Member

Re: Cap??

Isn't Cricket 3G unlimited capped to 1gig then throttle so what the point of getting 4G LTE with 5gig cap but then again that only for broadband modems they still haven't said about Smartphones.

I’m on Tmobile now with 4G with 5gig cap I never even come close to that i see on average 4megs-8megs but then I have Cable Internet at Home that well over 40megs. To cap LTE that can do what 20megs and you get capped to 6megs should be more like 1-10megs at 60 dollars. Wimax is a joke if u can even get a signal is ok but not consistent.
ArizonaSteve
join:2004-01-31
Apache Junction, AZ

ArizonaSteve

Member

I'd have to see it to believe it.

I've been burned by Cricket once already so I doubt that it even works. Here in the Phoenix area Cricket broadband is so slow it's completely useless. Also their $150 modem is WAAAAAAYYYY over priced and I'm already stuck with one of their worthless modems that I can't use, I wouldn't buy another one at an even higher price.

Fubar16
join:2001-02-20
Phoenix, AZ

Fubar16

Member

Damnit... It is Tucson.... Not Tuscon

Can't the hometown get some respect please?
25139889 (banned)
join:2011-10-25
Toledo, OH

25139889 (banned)

Member

Leap & Cricket

Leap isn't selling a thing. Cricket is selling the product. Leap Wireless is a HOLDINGS company. Karl- you need to pay better attention especially when their own PR states this.