Unlimited Cricket Broadband Launches in OK

By Editor Wireless and Mobile News on March 31, 2008 1:22 PM

Cricket Communications debuted the UTStarcom UM100C tri-band USB modem in Tulsa, Okla, bringing its unlimited wireless broadband services to new Advanced Wireless Services (AWS) markets across the country, The UM100C mobile broadband USB modem provides high-speed, wide-area wireless connectivity enabling Cricket customers to freely use their laptop computer or PC within Cricket’s existing broadband wireless markets and new AWS markets offering Cricket Wireless Internet Service.

Cricket customers can purchase the new modem for just $99 using a combination of instant and mail-in rebates. The Cricket monthly broadband service plan is just $35 per month for users who also subscribe to one of Cricket’s low-cost unlimited voice plans, and only $40 per month without the voice plan.

“By offering a tri-band USB modem we are able to appeal to a wide range of customers given its compatibility with both laptop computers and home PC’s,” said Al Moschner, Cricket’s executive vice president of sales and marketing operations. “We believe that increased compatibility coupled with the overall value of our unlimited wireless broadband service will greatly benefit consumers - from those customers who don’t want to be limited to hotspots around town or to those who are simply looking for the most affordable Internet service. We are pleased to be the first CDMA carrier in the world to offer an AWS wireless modem, and anticipate that it will be appealing to many of our cost-conscious customers.”

In addition to the Tulsa launch tomorrow, Cricket will begin selling the UM100C in Oklahoma City on April 8, the same day Cricket launches full network and retail capacity service in Oklahoma City, the first of its AWS markets. Starting May 6, the UM100C will be available in Cricket’s existing broadband market areas, including Nashville, Tenn; Albuquerque and Santa Fe, N.M; Portland, Ore; Spokane, Wash; and California’s Central San Joaquin Valley.

Moschner continued, “Offering both the tri-band USB modem and our unlimited broadband services at such a low, affordable rate further underscores our leadership position as the low-cost, high-value unlimited wireless provider. We believe that anyone who shops around for wide area network wireless broadband services will find that this is the best value for their dollars.”

Designed to operate on the new AWS spectrum band, the tri-band UM100C also operates on the PCS and cellular bands, enabling it to work in all existing Cricket wireless broadband markets. For Cricket customers, this USB modem provides convenient access to the Internet, corporate applications and networks, email and instant messaging; directly from their laptop or PC. Featuring EV-DO wireless technology, the UM100C includes a 180-degree USB connector that folds away when not in use. With Cricket Wireless Internet Service, users have access to unlimited wireless Internet services for one low, flat rate with no long-term