Metro by T-Mobile, commonly referred to as simply Metro (formerly known as MetroPCS), is a prepaid wireless service brand in the United States that is part of T-Mobile US, Inc.. Metro by T-Mobile provides nationwide talk, text, and data depending on the plan services using GSM, HSPA, HSPA+ and 4G LTE networks. Metro previously operated the fifth largest mobile telecommunications network in the United States using code division multiple access (hence "PCS" in their name). The legacy MetroPCS CDMA network was decommissioned on June 21, 2015. Its legacy 4G network using LTE will be integrated with T-Mobile US's own 4G LTE network.
In October 2012, MetroPCS Communications reached an agreement to merge with T-Mobile USA, Inc., a deal that would "help the competing provider become more competitive with the other National Carriers". The deal was a reverse merger for MetroPCS; following the closure of the merger on May 1, 2013, the combined company, now known as T-Mobile US, Inc., began trading on the New York Stock Exchange as TMUS.
On September 24, 2018, T-Mobile announced that the brand MetroPCS will cease to exist in October 2018, becoming Metro by T-Mobile. The CEO of T-Mobile, John Legere, said that "The number of Metro customers has doubled in the past five years for a reason... it is hands-down the best value and best experience in the prepaid category," said Legere. "But that's not enough for us! It drives me crazy that literally millions of hard-working people are struggling to get by yet feel stuck with AT&T and Verizon because they think prepaid wireless is subpar. That's outdated thinking! Metro by T-Mobile customers aren't making a compromise, they're REFUSING to make a compromise." Apart of the new branding, T-Mobile announced new plans that will come with the new branding, including Google One and Amazon Prime memberships. The new plans will be available on October 8 of 2018.
Video Metro by T-Mobile
Reception and criticism
The launch of MetroPCS's LTE network was met with mixed reviews. GigaOM's Kevin Tofel noted that although the LTE network is based on 4G technology, "the infrastructure MetroPCS is using keeps speeds in the range of older 3G networks". Tofel measured data speeds "far slower than T-Mobile's HSPA+ network" but considered that users with only basic data requirements would find the no-contract deal "refreshing". Referencing Tofel's review, Laptop Magazine's Corvida Raven concluded that MetroPCS "probably isn't using the best LTE technology."
Slate's Farhad Manjoo panned the service by suggesting that MetroPCS was able to roll out 4G coverage sooner and cheaper than its competitors by offering only the Samsung Craft, a feature phone with sub-standard internet capabilities, as its launch device. Due to the quality of the device (described as being "designed not just to frustrate users but to get us to swear off ever using any phone again"), the network, and MetroPCS's decision to block video streaming services aside from YouTube under its "unlimited web" plan, Manjoo considered it a device designed to disappoint users excited for 4G.
MetroPCS's TV commercial series (from 2010 to 2011) features two Indians, "Ranjit", played by veteran actor Anjul Nigam, and "Chad", who make fun of American popular culture, which received mixed reviews. Many Indians and Americans found it to be in bad taste and offensive, or even racist. (Due to the controversy, the campaign ended in late 2011 and was replaced with a new campaign slogan, "Everybody's moving to Metro".)
Following its T-Mobile merger, MetroPCS began a national push, running ads with the tagline "Period Power". Although the ads are meant to show that there were no hidden fees in its prepaid plans, many users of social media took to a different meaning of "Period Power", thinking of a woman's menstrual cycle instead of cell phone plans. The ads were still running as of January 2014 despite the negative attention on social media.
Maps Metro by T-Mobile
References
See also
- List of mobile network operators of the Americas
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