09/16, 3:30pm
Cricket intros all-inclusive plans, adds Internet
Leap Wireless, the company behind Cricket's cellphone services, on Wednesday announced it will soon offer two new, all-inclusive nationwide Cricket monthly plans that for the first time include taxes and other fees as part of the actual price. A $40 per month plan will include unlimited minutes throughout the continental US, access to the provider's premium extended calling area and both domestic and international text and picture messaging. A $45 plan adds 'unlimited' mobile web access and directory assistance.
more
08/26, 3:10pm
Cricket, MetroPCS Messager
Wireless providers Cricket and MetroPCS announced on Wednesday they will both add the Samsung Messager II, or SCH-R560, handset to their respective lineups in the very near future. The device, a sequel to the original Messager, also sports a slide-out QWERTY keyboard, bumps up the camera resolution to 2-megapixels from 1.3 and adds video capture. It keeps the same access to e-mail and web browsing using 3G EVDO networks. There is also an MP3 player built into the Messager II, with Cricket's version getting the carrier's MyHomeScreen interface.
more
07/21, 11:20am
Cricket adds TXTM8 phone
Cricket on Tuesday announced it is now offering a new handset, the TXTM8. Like some other Cricket devices, the TXTM8 sports a QWERTY keyboard hidden behind the horizontally sliding front face that features a 2.2-inch display. The tri-band device can also connect to the Internet, can sync e-mail addresses and access social networks. The Cricket MyHomeScreen gives users quick access to news and weather information.
more
07/17, 12:35pm
Verizon Limits Exclusivity
Verizon on Friday told US federal officials that it would voluntarily limit the duration of its exclusivity deals for phones to six months, albeit with limits. The terms will let any carrier with 500,000 or fewer subscribers pick up a phone regardless of the manufacturer. The carrier argues that it can't drop exclusivity altogether as this gives it a competitive edge and spurs on the phone manufacturers themselves.
more
06/16, 4:40pm
Cricket offers MyShot II
Wireless provider Cricket on Tuesday announced it is now offering the Samsung MyShot II SCH-r460 handset. The flip phone is a replacement for the current MyShot and sports MP3 music playback capabilities, a microSD memory card slot, stereo Bluetooth, and a 1.3-megapixel camera. It will be the first Cricket phone to offer MyHomeScreen, which lets users customize their home screen with their choice of widgets to quickly access account information, Internet websites or social networking services.
more
06/16, 2:00pm
Testimony on High SMS Fees
A US Senate committee today has started taking testimony today from representatives of major carriers over concerns of climbing text messaging rates. The questioning of AT&T, Cricket and Verizon officials follows recent concerns raised by Senator Herb Kohl that the carriers may be colluding on price hikes for SMS even though the actual cost of delivering each message remains the same or is decreasing due to economies of scale. Most major cellphone services have often increased their rates within short succession of each other and rarely if ever drop prices.
more
05/22, 2:20pm
Moto QA4 Evoke at Cricket
Cricket gained one of its highest-end phones yet today with the addition of the Motorola QA4 Evoke to its roster. It becomes the unlimited-only carrier's first capacitive touchscreen phone and, like the stock model, has a gesture-driven interface that lets users swipe between home screens that control apps, calling, music and other features. A 2-megapixel camera, GPS and a microSDHC slot round out the device.
more
03/19, 9:10am
Nokia 3606 at Cricket
Cricket today claimed a US first by adding the Nokia 3606 to its stable. The phone has the same "seamless" clamshell design as some more recent flip phones and is distinctly music focused with external, touch-sensitive music controls, the requisite media player, and a microSDHC slot that supports cards up to 8GB. It also has a 1.3-megapixel camera and Bluetooth with stereo audio support.
more
03/05, 4:30pm
Cricket adds r211 to range
Wireless provider Cricket on Thursday announced that the Samsung SCH-r211 handset is now shipping. The candybar is a basic phone with support for the carrier's Advanced Wireless Services (AWS) network, with mobile web access and support for downloadable content such as ringtones, wallpapers and access to Cricket Games and Apps. The phone is also capable of sending and receiving text messages.
more
02/18, 4:20pm
Cricket outs A100 candybar
Wireless provider Cricket on Wednesday announced the immediate release of its A100 handset to customers in its greater Chicago market and said the handset will soon be available to Cricket customers in all of the provider's markets. In addition to tri-band CDMA, the 1,700MHz AWS frequency-compatible handset features a 1.8-inch LCD display with 128x160 resolution.
more
01/13, 4:15pm
Motorola clamshell at FCC
Recently discovered FCC filings suggest a new Motorola handset will soon be shipping. The FCC documents reveal the unnamed clamshell will be offered in both a dual-band CDMA version as well as a tri-band CDMA handset with support for the 1,700MHz AWS band used by carriers MetroPCS and Cricket.
more
11/14, 10:25am
MOTO VE240 announced
Cellphone manufacturer Motorola on Friday announced the new MOTO VE240 handset will soon be available to Cricket Communications and Metro PCS customers. The candy-bar phone promises to bring with it stereo Bluetooth support and MP3 capability with dedicated music keys. The VE240 has a microSD slot, enabling users to add up to 4GB of memory to the handset. Other than via wireless or wired headphones, the built-in speakerphone can playback music, which users transfer to the handset via a USB 2.0 connection.
more
10/21, 4:35pm
Nokia 1606 at Cricket
Unlimited wireless services provider Cricket Communications on Tuesday announced it is now offering the Nokia 1606 flip phone handset. As an Advanced Wireless Services (AWS)-capable device, the 1606 is able to take advantage of Cricket's unlimited data plans. Users can browse the net on the 1606's internal 1.8-inch 128x160-pixel display. The tri-band CDMA phone has a 96x32-pixel monochrome external display for displaying basic call information.
more
06/12, 10:25am
Nokia 1508
Nokia today quietly unveiled the 1580, a starter candybar phone for CDMA carriers, most of which operate in the US. The phone sits just above Nokia's most basic phones with an FM radio as its most advanced feature; the phone also supports using its micro USB connection both to charge and to supply legacy 1xRTT data access to a computer through tethering. A color display, a 2.5mm headset jack, and basic voice memo recording are its other standout features.
more
03/27, 4:35pm
New Cricket AWS phones
Smaller American carrier Cricket has announced its second and third AWS (Advanced Wireless Services) phones, the MyShot and Spex by Samsung. AWS is a frequency band that was opened up to cellular carriers in 2006, and is used by primarily by T-Mobile. The MyShot is a clamshell phone, featuring a 1.3-megapixel camera, with options like a timer and multi-shot capability. Also present is expanded Bluetooth support, which enables sharing photos as well as contacts. Pricing is $150.
more
12/21, 9:55am
RAZR2 and r500 at Cricket
Cell provider Cricket concluded the week before Christmas with the introduction of two high-profile phones to its lineup. The appearance of the RAZR 2 V9m marks the first appearance of the handset outside of the top five carriers and is set to take advantage of the carrier's unlimited phone, messaging, and data plans; like the reference versions available at Alltel, Sprint, and Verizon, the Cricket version has a 2-megapixel camera usable for media messaging and a 3G-level EVDO connection for web browsing. The handset continues to Bluetooth with stereo audio support and a microSD slot, and should be available now for $400 without a contract.
more
