U.S. Cellular on Wednesday unveiled the company’s first two 4G LTE devices, the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 tablet and Galaxy S Aviator 4G smartphone. The carrier plans to launch its 4G LTE network next month, and it will cover 25% of the company’s current subscriber base. “With 4G LTE speeds, you can quickly get what you want when you need it,” said president and CEO of U.S. Cellular Mary N. Dillon. “This 4G LTE network builds upon our industry-leading network satisfaction and is the only one that comes with a valuable rewards program and other unique benefits like Overage Protection and Battery Swap that make our customers the happiest in wireless.” The Galaxy S Aviator smartphone features a 4.3-inch Super AMOLED Plus display with an 8-megapixel rear camera, a front-facing camera and an HDMI port. The handset runs Android 2.3.6 Gingerbread and will be available in April. While the Galaxy Tab 10.1 is slated to be released in March and will feature the same specs as previous models. Read on for U.S. Cellular’s press release.

U.S. CELLULAR ANNOUNCES LAUNCH OF 4G LTE NETWORK NEXT MONTH ALONG WITH UPCOMING DEVICES

Brings up to 10 times faster download speeds and better web browsing experience

CHICAGO (Feb. 1, 2012) – U.S. Cellular, in conjunction with its partner, King Street Wireless, is launching a 4G LTE network next month that will enhance the wireless experience with countless entertainment possibilities and help customers simplify and organize their lives. The 4G LTE network will cover 25 percent of U.S. Cellular’s customers and will coincide with the launch of the Android-powered Samsung Galaxy Tab™ 10.1 4G LTE mobile tablet followed shortly by the Samsung Galaxy S® Aviator™ 4G LTE smartphone.

4G LTE speeds allow customers to begin watching a movie in seconds and enjoy smoother video streaming with little to no buffering, and video chatting with family or business colleagues is seamless.

With the Samsung Galaxy S® Aviator™, customers have the ability to talk and access the Internet at the same time. They can talk to their family about dinner plans while downloading an app to find nearby restaurants and simultaneously check out reviews online.

The March rollout of 4G LTE includes select cities in Iowa, Wisconsin, Maine, North Carolina, Texas and Oklahoma, including some of U.S. Cellular’s leading markets such as Milwaukee, Madison and Racine, Wis.; Des Moines, Cedar Rapids and Davenport, Iowa; Portland and Bangor, Maine; and Greenville, N.C. U.S. Cellular is the first wireless carrier to offer 4G LTE in several of these markets. The next wave of market launches will be announced later this month.

“With 4G LTE speeds, you can quickly get what you want when you need it,” said Mary N. Dillon, president and CEO of U.S. Cellular. “This 4G LTE network builds upon our industry-leading network satisfaction and is the only one that comes with a valuable rewards program and other unique benefits like Overage Protection and Battery Swap that make our customers the happiest in wireless.”

The Samsung Galaxy Tab™ 10.1 is powered by Android 3.2 (Honeycomb) and has a 10.1-inch WXGA TFT touchscreen. It features superior multi-tasking capabilities, a video watching experience similar to TV and smooth graphics and responsive controls for faster gaming. Apps are downloaded faster on the sleek Samsung Galaxy S® Aviator™ smartphone that comes with Android 2.3.6 (Gingerbread). It has a 4.3-inch WVGA s-AMOLED plus touchscreen, 8 megapixel rear camera and front-facing camera for easy video chatting. Both devices will provide download and browser speeds that are up to 10 times faster than 3G and be similar to a cable Internet connection.

The 4G LTE network builds on the 3G data services that U.S. Cellular customers already enjoy on the carrier’s high-quality nationwide network. U.S. Cellular has the highest call quality and network satisfaction of any national carrier. For more information about the 4G LTE experience, visit uscellular.com/4G.

MetroPCS, U.S. Cellular and several other regional carriers have requested that the Federal Communications Commission initiate a “shot clock” for roaming agreements with larger wireless carriers. “Supporters stressed that imposing a shot clock on negotiations is necessary to provide the proper incentive for potential roaming partners to timely respond to inquiries,” a lawyer representing the regional carriers said in a letter to FCC Secretary Marlene H. Dortch. “Although data roaming negotiations may involve complex issues, the Joint Supporters emphasized that other situations that incorporate shot clocks, such as interconnection and siting negotiations, also have the potential to involve complex issues, and yet, a shot clock still has been successfully implemented in those negotiations.” In other words, the smaller wireless carriers want larger carriers to stop stalling when it comes to negotiating roaming deals in areas where regional carriers provide connectivity and to instead “engage in good faith negotiations.”

[Via FierceWireless]

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U.S. Cellular CEO Mary Dillon recently said on a conference call that her company turned down a chance to sell Apple’s iPhone. Dillon explained that Apple’s “terms were unacceptable from a risk and profitability standpoint,” FierceWireless noted on Friday. All is not lost if you are a U.S. Cellular customer looking to carry the iPhone, however; Dillon didn’t rule out possibly picking up the device at a later date. As FierceWireless points out, it is a bit strange that U.S. Cellular turned down the device when another regional carrier, C Spire, announced recently that it will begin offering the phone on November 11th with an unlimited data package (sans streaming). Perhaps U.S. Cellular is holding out to see how C Spire fares with the iPhone and Apple’s “unacceptable terms.” Or maybe the carrier is waiting for a 4G LTE iPhone — Dillon explained that U.S. Cellular expects to blanket 25% of its network with 4G LTE by the end of this year, with phones launching in early 2012.

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Regional wireless provider U.S. Cellular has officially thrown its hat into the 4G ring. “U.S. Cellular, in conjunction with its partnership with King Street Wireless, announced today that it will deliver high-speed 4G LTE services and 4G-enabled devices to more than 25 percent of its customers across two dozen markets in time for the holiday season,” declares the company’s press release. U.S. Cellular plans to have LTE-enabled devices in market “during the first phase of its 4G LTE rollout” with additional devices populating the carrier’s lineup in 2012. Milwaukee, Madison and Racine, Wisconsin; Des Moines, Cedar Rapids and Davenport, Iowa; Portland and Bangor, Maine; and Greenville, North Carolina will be among the first markets to be covered by the new, high-speed network. The full press release is after the break.

U.S. CELLULAR TO LAUNCH 4G LTE SERVICE AND DEVICES IN TIME FOR THE HOLIDAYS

CHICAGO (May 6, 2011) – U.S. Cellular (NYSE: USM), in conjunction with its partnership with King Street Wireless, announced today that it will deliver high-speed 4G LTE services and 4G-enabled devices to more than 25 percent of its customers across two dozen markets in time for the holiday season. U.S. Cellular customers with 4G LTE devices and service will experience significantly faster data speeds when browsing the web, accessing e-mail, playing games and viewing and streaming videos.

The initial rollout of 4G LTE service for U.S. Cellular, which has the highest call quality and network satisfaction of any national carrier, is planned for selected cities in Iowa, Wisconsin, Maine, North Carolina, Texas and Oklahoma. These include some of U.S. Cellular’s leading markets such as Milwaukee, Madison and Racine, Wis.; Des Moines, Cedar Rapids and Davenport, Iowa; Portland and Bangor, Maine; and Greenville, N.C.

“With 4G LTE, our customers will have faster connections to the people, information and entertainment that enhance their lives and help them stay organized,” said Mary N. Dillon, president and CEO of U.S. Cellular. “In addition to our line-up of cutting-edge devices, customers who switch to U.S. Cellular get unique benefits like faster phone upgrades without continuously signing contracts, and join the happiest customers in wireless.”

U.S. Cellular plans to introduce a portfolio of 4G-enabled devices during the first phase of its 4G LTE deployment and will continue to expand its offering through 2012. The rollout builds on the 3G data services that U.S. Cellular customers already enjoy on the carrier’s high-quality nationwide network. More details on the next phases of the company’s 4G LTE deployment will be announced at a later date.

Regional wireless provider U.S. Cellular has announced that over 1 million of its customers are now enrolled in the company’s Belief Project. The cellular plans allow customers to earns points, similar to credit card points, that they can then use towards their U.S. Cellular bill, services, or early upgrades. The longer customers stay enrolled in the Belief Project, the more Belief Points they can earn. The company also announced it would be giving away over 1 million points to its customers for the holiday season. Hit the jump for the full press release.

THE BELIEF PROJECT FROM U.S. CELLULAR

SURPASSES 1 MILLION CUSTOMERS

Company Celebrates by Surprising Customers with More than 1 Million

Belief Reward Points to Use Toward New Phones, Faster Upgrades,

Ringtones, Accessories and More

CHICAGO – (December 23, 2010) – On the heels of its top ranking by customers in a Consumer Reports survey, U.S. Cellular is celebrating the more than 1 million customers who are now part of The Belief Project. Staying true to its commitment to delighting customers, the company marked this milestone by surprising Moshe Weitzberg of Highland Park, Ill., with a windfall of 100,000 Belief Reward Points. The appreciation continued when another 1,000 customers on Belief Plans were randomly chosen to receive a gift of 1,000 Belief Reward Points. That’s a giveaway of more than 1 million points, just in time for the holidays.

“I recently switched to U.S. Cellular because of their commitment to the community,” said an excited Weitzberg when company representatives called to deliver the news. “This is unbelievable. They’re already showing how much they value me as a customer.”

The Belief Project recognizes customer loyalty with innovative programs like upgrades to the coolest phones at promotional prices every 18 months without requiring customers to repeatedly sign contracts. After completing the first contract, customers never have to sign another one. U.S. Cellular customers on Belief Plans get Belief Reward Points for doing simple things like paying their monthly bill on time, adding a line or referring new customers.

Weitzberg now has some fun decisions to make because 100,000 Belief Reward Points go a long way. He could upgrade all of the lines on his Belief Plan to the hottest Android-powered smartphones and get the Samsung Galaxy Tab™, a handheld mobile tablet with a 7-inch screen that runs on the Android platform and provides an impressive multimedia, messaging and music experience. In addition to these cutting-edge devices, Weitzberg would still have plenty of Belief Reward Points left over to use for free accessories, ringtones or spread holiday cheer by giving a phone as a gift.

The 1,000 lucky customers who were surprised with 1,000 Belief Reward Points can bump their phone upgrades up a whole month or use them for free ringtones and accessories too.

“We predicted that the millionth customer would sign up for a Belief Plan some time in February. Hitting this mark in December says that existing and new customers are embracing how we’re changing the rules of the wireless industry,” said Alan D. Ferber, executive vice president of operations for U.S. Cellular. “We love our customers, which is why we’re always looking for ways to show them how much they are appreciated. They can expect surprises like these to continue.”

A recent Consumer Reports survey of 58,000 participants ranked U.S. Cellular #1 in service and was named the best carrier in the country based on customer feedback.

For more information about The Belief Project, visit any U.S. Cellular store, go to uscellular.com or check out U.S. Cellular on Facebook. All decisions on award of Belief Points are final.

Earlier today, U.S. Cellular announced that it would begin carrying LG’s Optimus U smartphone starting on December 13th. The device, which runs Android 2.2, has a 3.2-inch capacitive touchscreen display, 3.2 megapixel camera, microSD card slot for up to 32GB of storage, and Wi-Fi with built-in hotspot capabilities. The Optimus U will be U.S. Cellular’s sixth Android handset and will be free of charge after an $80 mail-in rebate. Hit the jump for the full press release.

U.S. CELLULAR TO LAUNCH THE LG OPTIMUS U, ITS LATEST ANDROID-POWERED DEVICE FOR 2010

Touchscreen device that runs on the Android 2.2 operating system is free after an $80 mail-in rebate

CHICAGO (December 7, 2010) – U.S. Cellular is rounding out its 2010 lineup of Android-powered phones with the Dec. 13 launch of the LG Optimus U, the ideal handset for first-time smartphone users ready to experience the power of Android 2.2 technology. Backed by the carrier’s high-speed network, LG Optimus U will be available in U.S. Cellular stores and at uscellular.com for free after an $80 mail-in rebate. LG Optimus U is also supported by all the benefits of The Belief Project, which include industry-first innovations like “no contract after the first.”

“The LG Optimus U is a good fit for first-time smartphone customers who are looking to explore a wide range of games, multimedia entertainment and time-saving Android applications,” said Edward Perez, vice president of marketing and sales operations for U.S. Cellular. “Customers with one of our Belief Plans who are eligible for a phone upgrade can pick up an LG Optimus U at our promotional price without signing a new contract.”

New customers who sign up for a Belief Plan and fulfill an initial two-year commitment will never have to sign another one with U.S. Cellular’s “no contract after the first.” Customers automatically get valuable rewards that can be used for faster phone upgrades in as little as 10 months, additional lines, phones, accessories and ringtones.

About LG Optimus U
LG Optimus U from U.S. Cellular sports a sleek 3.2-inch capacitive touchscreen and virtual QWERTY keyboard with Swype technology that allows users to input text quickly by sliding a finger over the keyboard in one continuous motion. The five home screens provide easy access to customers’ favorite applications and create a truly customizable user experience.

In addition to the popular Google applications like Google Maps, Google Talk and Gmail, that are pre-loaded on the LG Optimus U, U.S. Cellular customers can also tap into Your Navigator Deluxe for voice-guided turn-by-turn navigation, get ringtones from Tone Room Deluxe and store all their contacts on a secure Web site with My Contacts Backup.

The LG Optimus U is equipped with a 2GB microSD card and offers a up to 32GB of memory via an external memory card for customers who want to watch videos or listen to music while on-the-go. Featuring a 3.2 megapixel camcorder with autofocus and zoom, LG Optimus U also provides a 3.5mm headphone jack and Wi-Fi support for up to five devices through built-in portable hotspot capabilities.

About U.S. Cellular Android Devices
The LG Optimus U joins five other high-performance devices from U.S. Cellular that run Android, including the LG Apex, Samsung Galaxy Tab, Mesmerize (a Galaxy S smartphone) and Acclaim, and HTC Desire. The carrier’s extensive catalog of Android-powered, BlackBerry and Windows phones is a key part of its strategy to deliver cutting-edge devices while elevating the customer experience through the industry-leading initiatives of The Belief Project, which it launched in October.

U.S. Cellular’s new bundled National Single Line and Family Belief Plans offer affordable voice, text and data packages. Customers who text, e-mail and download more than they talk may prefer the new Primary Plus Plan for $69.99 per month that comes with 5GB of data, unlimited text, picture and video messaging, free GPS navigation and free unlimited incoming calls, nights and weekends, and mobile-to-mobile calls. Customers also can opt for the Premium Plus Family Plan for $179.99, which includes two lines with unlimited minutes and messaging, 5GB of data per line, Phone Replacement and GPS navigation.

About The Belief Project
Launched Oct. 1, The Belief Project recognizes customer loyalty with national bundled rate plans that offer customers the freedom to enjoy industry-leading benefits without signing continuous contracts – like new phones at promotional prices every 18 months that can be accelerated with points.

With “no contract after the first,” new customers fulfill an initial two-year commitment and never have to sign another contract again. Existing customers who switch to the new Belief Plans can simply finish the remainder of their term without extending their current contract.

Customers automatically get valuable rewards just for being a customer that can be used for even faster phone upgrades in as little as 10 months. Rewards can also be used to get additional lines, phones, accessories and ringtones.

The Belief Project also includes the industry’s only Phone Replacement program. If a customer’s phone accidentally breaks or stops working, U.S. Cellular replaces it with the same or similar model at no additional cost. Customers also can save up to 5 percent on their monthly plans for setting up autopay and paperless billing.

These innovative initiatives were developed to address consumers’ common frustrations with wireless, elevate the customer experience and create a human relationship, not a contractual one. For more information about The Belief Project, visit uscellular.com.

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Among the top carriers in the U.S., AT&T is the worst by a healthy margin. The news comes from this year’s Consumer Reports reader survey, which ranks Verizon Wireless, AT&T, Sprint and T-Mobile along with some regional carriers. Verizon Wireless was ranked as the nation’s top major carrier, though its score of 74 positions it in the No. 2 spot overall behind U.S. Cellular. Readers were asked to grade each carrier on several criteria including value, voice service quality, data service quality and customer support. The ratings were on a scale of “Worse” to “Better,” with three increments in between. AT&T received the lowest possible rating of “Worse” in eight out of nine categories, managing too eke out a next-to-lowest rating for SMS service quality. In response to the survey, AT&T had this to say:

We take this seriously and we continually look for new ways to improve the customer experience. The fact is wireless customers have choices and a record number of them chose AT&T in the third quarter, significantly more than our competitors. Hard data from independent drive tests confirms AT&T has the nation’s fastest mobile broadband network with our nearest competitor 20 percent slower on average nationwide and our largest competitor 60 percent slower on average nationwide.  And, our dropped call rate is within 1/10 of a percent – the equivalent of just one call in a thousand – of the industry leader.

Smartphones were also ranked in the same issue of Consumer Reports, and all but one of the top devices in the country are powered by Android. In fact each of the four variants of Samsung’s Galaxy S smartphone received top honors, either solely (Sprint’s Epic 4G, T-Mobile’s Vibrant) or as part of a tie — the Fascinate tied the Motorola DROID X for the No. 1 spot on Verizon Wireless, and Captivate tied the Apple iPhone 4 on AT&T.

[Via Houston Chronicle]

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Regional wireless provider U.S. Cellular has announced three new prepaid calling plans just in time for the holiday buying season. The new plans, which all include unlimited text messaging, will offer 200, 400, or 1000 talk minutes and retail for $29, $39, and $49 respectively; the 400 minute plan will also include 5GB of monthly data usage.

“With balancing the budget on the minds of many, prepaid plans can help customers stay on top of spending and don’t require a contractual agreement,” quips the press release. “U.S. Cellular’s new prepaid plans offer spending flexibility through unlimited messaging choices and graduated levels of included voice minutes.”

The prepaid offerings compliment the company’s Belief Project plans announced earlier this year.

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Today, regional carrier U.S. Cellular announced a promotion aimed at courting new smartphone customers from both within and outside its existing customer base. The offer will give users opening a new smartphone lines a $150 credit off of future bills and is valid from today through November 29th. “We want to remove barriers for consumers who’ve heard about everything we have to offer and are ready to experience something better,” said Edward Perez, the company’s vice president of marketing and sales operations. “We believe the $150 activation credit combined with the great deals on our Android-powered smartphones and the unmatched benefits of The Belief Project will make it hard to resist giving U.S. Cellular a try.”

If you’re looking to jump to U.S. Cellular, or add a friend/family member to your current plan, now looks to be a pretty good time to do it. The press release is waiting for you after the break. Any takers?

U.S. CELLULAR MAKES IT EASY TO SWITCH WITH

$150 SMARTPHONE ACTIVATION CREDIT DURING HOLIDAY SALE

Current Customers Also Get A Credit When Adding New Smartphone Lines

CHICAGO – [November 22, 2010] –  U.S. Cellular announced its latest in a series of customer-focused offers today that will appeal to potential switchers and delight current customers. The carrier introduced a $150 Smartphone Activation Credit for new and existing customers who add smartphone lines. The offer is available during a week-long sale on the carrier’s entire lineup of Android-powered smartphones that began today and runs through Monday, Nov. 29. New customers purchasing a smartphone and existing customers who add a smartphone line to their Belief Plan will get a $150 credit off future bills.

The activation credit gives consumers one more reason to take advantage of the Android sale and the benefits of The Belief Project, an array of innovative initiatives like “no contract after the first” with guaranteed upgrades to the newest phones at promotional prices every 18 months or even faster when using Belief Rewards points.

“We want to remove barriers for consumers who’ve heard about everything we have to offer and are ready to experience something better,” said Edward Perez, vice president of marketing and sales operations for U.S. Cellular. “We believe the $150 activation credit combined with the great deals on our Android-powered smartphones and the unmatched benefits of The Belief Project will make it hard to resist giving U.S. Cellular a try.”

U.S. Cellular recently introduced a $69.99 Primary Plus Plan, another smartphone-friendly offering, that comes with 5GB of data with unlimited text, picture and video messaging, and free GPS navigation. The monthly rate plan also comes with free unlimited incoming calls from any phone, nights and weekends and mobile-to-mobile calls. Family plans that appeal to smartphone users include the Essential Plus Family Plan that comes with two lines for $139.99 per month with 1500 shared minutes, unlimited messaging and 5GB of data per line. The Premium Plus Family Plan offers two lines with unlimited minutes and messaging, 5GB of data per line, Phone Replacement and GPS navigation for $179.99 per month.

The Belief Project recognizes customer loyalty with national bundled rate plans that offer customers the freedom to enjoy benefits without signing continuous contracts. Customers get valuable rewards for even faster phone upgrades in as little as 10 months. Rewards can also be used for additional lines, phones, accessories and ringtones. The Belief Project also includes the industry’s only Phone Replacement program that allows customers to bring in their accidentally broken or malfunctioning phone and get a replacement of the same or a similar model. Customers also can save up to 5 percent on their monthly plans for setting up autopay and paperless billing.

“We’re confident that once customers experience all of the unique benefits of being a U.S. Cellular customer, they won’t want to leave,” Perez said.

For more information about the $150 Smartphone Activation Credit and The Belief Project, visit any U.S. Cellular store, go to uscellular.com or check out U.S. Cellular on Facebook.

Today, regional wireless provider U.S. Cellular announced the availability of a new, mid-range, Android smartphone, the LG Apex. The Apex, which will hit sales channels on the 19th of November, sports a 3.2-inch touchscreen display, full-QWERTY slide-out keyboard, 3 megapixel camera, and Android 2.1. The device will retail for $79.99 with a signed two-year contract and $80 mail-in rebate. Hit the jump for the full press release.

LG APEX THE LATEST ANDROID-POWERED PHONE TO LAND AT U.S. CELLULAR NOVEMBER 19

CHICAGO (Nov. 17, 2010) – Riding a wave of industry recognition for wireless innovations like “no contract after the first” with faster phone upgrades and Overage Cap, U.S. Cellular continues to bolster its expanding smartphone portfolio with the LG Apex, the carrier’s latest high-performance, Android-powered device. The phone will be available in U.S. Cellular stores and at uscellular.com starting Nov. 19 for $79.99 after an $80 mail-in rebate. The LG Apex, with its vibrant 3.2” touchscreen and sleek, slide-out QWERTY keyboard, joins a string of cutting-edge products recently launched by the carrier, including the HTC Desire, Samsung Acclaim, Samsung Mesmerize (a Galaxy S smartphone) and the upcoming Samsung Galaxy Tab, slated to arrive in stores this month. The LG Optimus U will debut in December rounding out U.S. Cellular’s Android-powered offerings for 2010.

“Phones powered by Android are perfect for customers looking for high-performance devices that help them stay productive, entertained and connected on the go,” said Edward Perez, vice president of marketing and sales operations for U.S. Cellular. “The LG Apex is backed by the tremendous value of The Belief Project and our high-speed nationwide network, making it a great gift this holiday season.”

U.S. Cellular’s growing catalog of Android-powered, BlackBerry and Windows Mobile phones is a key part of its strategy to deliver cool devices while elevating the customer experience through industry-leading initiatives. Launched in October, The Belief Project is an array of innovative initiatives like “no contract after the first” with upgrades to the newest phones at promotional prices every 18 months. Customers automatically get valuable rewards just for being a customer that can be used for even faster phone upgrades in as little as 10 months depending on their Belief Plan. Rewards can also be used to get additional lines, phones, accessories, and ringtones.

U.S. Cellular’s new bundled National Single Line and Family Belief Plans offer affordable voice, text and data packages. Customers who text, e-mail and download more than they talk may prefer the new Primary Plus Plan for $69.99 per month that comes with 5GB of data, unlimited text, picture and video messaging, free GPS Navigation and 450 voice minutes with unlimited incoming calls, nights and weekends and mobile-to-mobile. Customers also can opt for the Premium Plus Family Plan for $179.99, which includes two lines with unlimited minutes and messaging, 5GB of data per line, Phone Replacement and GPS Navigation.

For more information about the LG Apex and The Belief Project, visit uscellular.com.
About the LG Apex
The LG Apex is a cool productivity tool that runs on Android 2.1 and features a 3.2-inch durable tempered glass touchscreen that responds to a feather touch with vibration feedback. The screen also boasts luminous sensors that adjust brightness depending on light conditions and shows off the dynamic, animated live wallpaper. Five customizable home screens allow customers to create shortcuts to their favorite apps and widgets.  Its stylish and functional design offers a QWERTY keyboard that slides out to make typing and texting easy.

Backed by U.S. Cellular’s high-speed nationwide network, customers can browse and download thousands of applications in Android Market that allow users to customize their phone to fit their lifestyle. Customers can also access popular Google applications, including Google Maps™ with its turn-by-turn directions and Google Voice Search™ that helps them locate anything without a single key tap. The LG Apex’s 3 megapixel autofocus, flash-ready camera/camcorder comes with a panorama mode that lets customers take up to six side-by-side shots to build a sweeping view.

The Wi-Fi enabled phone also comes with an MP3 player, and customers can easily organize their music library, repeat and shuffle their favorite songs. They can even multi-task, playing music in the background while simultaneously e-mailing, texting or downloading videos. A video player is included for WMV, MP4, 3GP and 3G2 formats.

The LG Apex will retail for $79.99 after an $80 mail-in rebate and will be available Nov. 19 at U.S. Cellular locations and at uscellular.com.

Yesterday, regional wireless provider U.S. Cellular announced a new smartphone plan that they are touting as “the best value in wireless.” The new “Primary Plus Plan” offers smartphone customers 5GB of data, unlimited text, picture, and video messaging, free GPS navigation, and 450 voice minutes with free incoming minutes for a modest $69.99 per month. The plan is aimed at customers considering their first smartphone and those who currently have an intelligentphone but are frustrated by their monthly bill. The offering is part of U.S. Cellular’s Belief Project which launched on October 1st. Hit the jump for the full press release.

U.S. CELLULAR ENTICES SMARTPHONE NEWCOMERS AND PROS WITH VALUE-PACKED $69.99 PRIMARY PLUS PLAN

Carrier Continues to Elevate Customer Experience with the Best Value in Wireless

For more information about the Primary Plus Plan and The Belief Project, visit uscellular.com.

It looks like regional carrier U.S. Cellular will throw its proverbial hat in the Samsung-ring and offer its customers the Galaxy Tab Android device. Most of us, by now, are familiar with the device’s spec sheet — Android 2.2, Flash 10.1, and 7-inch display — what we’re really interested in is the price and launch date of the device; all things the press release lacks. Hit the jump to read what you already know about the Tab and we’ll reach out to U.S. Cellular for a comment on the date and price.

Samsung Mobile Announces Samsung Galaxy Tab™ with U.S. Cellular®

Mobile tablet will feature 7-inch touchscreen, Android 2.2™ platform, Adobe® Flash® Player 10.1 and front and rear-facing cameras for video chat support

DALLAS – October 28, 2010 – Samsung Telecommunications America (Samsung Mobile)1, the No.1 mobile phone provider in the U.S. today announced the Samsung Galaxy Tab™ with U.S. Cellular®. The Samsung Galaxy Tab is designed for people who want a premium mobile entertainment experience on the go, but don’t want to be weighed down by a bulky device. Weighing only 13 ounces and 12 millimeters thin, the Galaxy Tab fits conveniently in a pocket or purse.

The Samsung Galaxy Tab features a brilliant 7-inch enhanced TFT display screen, 1GHz Hummingbird Application processor supporting 3D graphics and smooth Web browsing and 1.3 megapixel front and 3 megapixel rear-facing cameras and is powered by Android 2.2™, including full support for Adobe® Flash® Player 10.1.

Just like Samsung’s Galaxy S™ smart phones, the Galaxy Tab includes Samsung’s Social Hub application, which syncs a users Messaging and Contacts to initiate the sending and receiving of information, whether it is e-mail, instant messaging, social network updates or SMS messages. Additionally, calendar information from portal calendars, such as Google Calendar, and social networking services are displayed together in one calendar with two-way synchronization.

Services like Google Maps™ Navigation (Beta) and Google Goggles are available on Google’s Android platform. With useful location-based services like Google Maps™, consumers can search in Standard English instead of entering an exact address. A search-by-voice function is just as intuitive, meaning searches can also be completed easily on the go.

Key features:

• 7-inch enhanced TFT display with WSVGA resolution – Offers brighter colors and clearer pictures and delivers 1024 x 600 resolution whether watching a movie or reading a book
• Rear-facing, 3MP camera and camcorder – AutoFocus captures DVD quality video
• Front-facing, 1.3-megapixel camera and camcorder – Enables video chat with other people who have video conferencing capabilities (applications available in Android Market™).
• Corporate Email – Supports Android 2.2 Exchange ActiveSync e-mail to synchronize corporate e-mail, contacts and calendars from office e-mail accounts
• Wi-Fi® connectivity (802.11 b/g/n) and Wireless Hotspot support
• Built-in 2 GB internal memory with 16 GB pre-installed microSD™ expandable to 32 GB
• 4,000 mAh Battery – Provides ample power to watch movies, share content and surf the Web
• Ultra thin at 12 millimeters and weighing 13 ounces – For users who don’t want to be weighed down by adding a mobile tablet to their pocket or purse Samsung Social Hub – Built around messaging, contacts and calendar sync, which allows users to send and receive daily activities, whether it is e-mail, social network updates or SMS messages
• Customizable touch screen menu with drag-and-drop widgets

For additional information about the Samsung Galaxy Tab, visit www.samsungmobileusa.com.

If you’re rocking a contract on CDMA carrier U.S. Cellular, listen up. The company has just announced that they will be offering the Samsung Mesmerize; a full-touchscreen Android smartphone that carriers that Galaxy S moniker. Like all Galaxy S phones, the device will sport a Super AMOLED display (4-inch), 1 GHz Hummingbird processor, 5 megapixel camera, SWYPE, Wi-Fi b/g/n, Bluetooth 3.0, and micro-SD card slot. The device will ship with Android 2.1 but will be upgraded to Android 2.2 “later this year.” The device will retail for $199 after an $80 mail-in rebate and will go on sale October 27. The full press release is after the break.

U.S. CELLULAR ANNOUNCES ITS LATEST ANDROID-POWERED SMARTPHONE, THE SAMSUNG MESMERIZE

Will be available in stores and at uscellular.com on October 27

CHICAGO (October 6, 2010) – Just days following the announcement of U.S. Cellular’s series of industry-first, customer-focused initiatives called The Belief Project, the carrier confirmed the Oct. 27 arrival of its next Android-powered device, the Samsung Mesmerize (SCH-i500). The Mesmerize is part of Samsung’s line of Galaxy STM smartphones and is the third of five smartphones the carrier is launching this year that run on the Android platform. U.S. Cellular will roll out the LG Apex in November and the LG Optimus in December.

U.S. Cellular’s growing catalog of Android-powered phones is a key part of its strategy to deliver cutting-edge devices while elevating the customer experience. The Belief Project was developed to fix the frustrations wireless customers have with their carriers, one project at a time, with innovations like “One and Done” contracts, a robust rewards program, simplified national rate plans and the industry’s only phone replacement program.

“Customers told us they want access to the newest phones and the Samsung Mesmerize is an impressive Android-powered device for people who want to stay connected to work, entertainment and the people who matter most to them,” said Edward Perez, vice president of marketing and sales operations for U.S. Cellular. “Our new Belief Plans are value-packed for customers who talk, text and need frequent access to data, and all of our phones are backed by our nationwide 3G network.”

U.S. Cellular’s new simplified National Single Line and Family Belief Plans offer affordable bundles of voice, text and data. Customers who choose a Samsung Mesmerize can opt for the Premium Plus Belief Plan, which includes unlimited voice and text with 5GB of data, along with U.S. Cellular’s industry-leading Overage Cap and Phone Replacement programs.

About the Samsung Mesmerize
The Mesmerize features a brilliant 4-inch Super AMOLED™ touchscreen, making it easier to play games and watch movies in bright environments. Its 1 GHz Samsung Hummingbird Application processor speeds up downloads and uploads, and produces high-quality 3D graphics and multimedia content. Samsung’s All Share application allows customers to send video, audio and pictures from their Mesmerize to other DLNA-enabled devices, like TVs and computers.

The Mesmerize operates on the Android 2.1 platform with access to the 80,000 applications available on the Android Market. It includes popular Google Mobile Services including Google Search, Google Maps, Gmail, Google Talk and YouTube, and is pre-loaded with popular U.S. Cellular applications Your Navigator Deluxe, Tone Room Deluxe, My Contacts Backup and CityID. Customers can upgrade their software later this year to access Samsung’s Media Hub and migrate to the Android 2.2 platform, nicknamed “Froyo.”

The Mesmerize comes with a virtual QWERTY keyboard with Swype technology, allowing customers to input text quickly by sliding their finger over the keyboard in one continuous motion. It also features six-axis motion sensing for responsive gaming, Samsung’s Social Hub, a 5 megapixel camera/camcorder that records video in HD, MP3 player and 3.5 mm headphone jack, WiFi, Bluetooth 3.0 and expandable memory up to 32GB.

The Samsung Mesmerize will retail for $199 after an $80 mail-in rebate and will be available Oct. 27 at U.S. Cellular locations and at uscellular.com.

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U.S. Cellular has had a teaser-site for their “Belief Project” up for just over a week, but now, the company is starting to detail just what the program entails. “We noticed wireless customers shared some common frustrations, and we wanted to fix them,” said Mary N. Dillon, the company’s president and CEO. Starting tomorrow, U.S. Cellular will begin offering “One and Done” contracts, which allow customers who have completed a two-year contract to move to a month-by-month post-paid offering. “Belief Rewards,” which — from what we gather — will work like credit card points; the longer you are a customer the more points you earn. Points can be used towards early phone upgrades, additional lines, ringtones, etc. Other features of the Belief Project include: $100 phone replacements for lost and stolen phones, overage cap warnings, and 5% bill discounts for auto-pay. Sounds pretty nice, although, we’re interested to see the fine print. Hit the jump to check out the brief synopsis the company just sent us.

U.S. CELLULAR LAUNCHES INDUSTRY-FIRST PROGRAMS THAT ELEVATE THE WIRELESS CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE, REWARD LOYALTY

The Belief Project^SM Offers “One and Done” Contracts, Rewards Program

To Get Earlier Phone Upgrades, Overage Caps

CHICAGO – [September 30, 2010] – Today, United States Cellular Corporation [NYSE: USM] took its strategy of delighting customers with innovative services to a whole new level with its launch of The Belief Project. The carrier announced an array of industry-first initiatives designed to give potential customers several compelling reasons to switch to U.S. Cellular and reward loyal customers.

The company will offer wireless customers the benefits they want including “One and Done” contracts, a robust rewards program with points that never expire for active accounts, simplified national rate plans, protection against “bill shock” with overage protection, caps and forgiveness; the industry’s only phone replacement program, and savings of up to 5 percent on their monthly bills for setting up auto pay and paperless billing.

“We noticed wireless customers shared some common frustrations, and we wanted to fix them,” said Mary N. Dillon, president and CEO of U.S. Cellular. “With The Belief Project, we’re elevating the customer experience by emphasizing a human relationship with our customers, not a contractual one. We believe our customers will stay with us because they want to, not because they have to, and that potential customers will want to be a part of something better.”

In a recent Weinstein and Associates survey, 1,000 wireless consumers revealed strong feelings about some of their biggest frustrations.

- 90 percent said wireless providers should earn their loyalty, not require it by having to sign a contract.
- 87 percent said they shouldn’t have to sign a service contract just to stay with their current wireless carrier.
- 84 percent said 24 months is too long to wait to get a good deal on a new cell phone.
- 80 percent said wireless providers should do something about overages and the big bills that come from them.
Dillon added that enhancing U.S. Cellular’s customer-centric strategy will further solidify the carrier’s reputation as a company that cares.

“Wireless customers deserve something better,” Dillon said. “And they’re getting it from       U.S. Cellular – especially with the new offerings we announced today. But as excited as we are about The Belief Project, this is not the final chapter. We’ll continue to innovate and find new ways to upgrade the customer experience by demonstrating to both current and potential customers that U.S. Cellular puts their needs first.”

No Contract After the First One
With new “One and Done” contracts, new customers who fulfill an initial two-year commitment with U.S. Cellular never have to sign a contract again. Existing customers can simply finish the remainder of their current contract on one of the company’s National Single Line or Family Belief Plans without extending it. After that, customers are free to enjoy benefits without signing a new contract – like a new phone at promotional prices every 18 months that can be accelerated with points. Customers who have previously completed a two-year commitment and are currently on a month-to-month plan can easily switch to a Belief Plan without signing a new contract.

Belief Rewards
Loyal customers often feel new customers get the best deals. At U.S. Cellular, all postpaid customers on Belief Plans can earn points simply for being a customer. The Belief Points can be redeemed for things customers actually want, like earlier phone upgrades at promotional prices, additional lines, phones, accessories, ringtones and forgiveness of overage charges. Customers are automatically enrolled and start receiving points when they sign up for any U.S. Cellular Belief Plan. Belief Points are earned based on a customer’s monthly service plan, the number of lines on the account and how long they’ve been a customer. There are no membership or enrollment fees, or blackout or expiration dates for active accounts, and points are easy to redeem in stores, online or by calling customer service.

Belief Plans
U.S. Cellular’s new simplified National Single Line and Family Belief Plans are designed to be easy and affordable for a wide range of customers. Whether customers use their phones a little or a lot, the Basic, Unlimited Basic, Essential, Essential Plus, Premium and Premium Plus plans offer simple bundles of voice, text and data with built-in value. Select plans include U.S. Cellular’s industry-leading Overage Cap and Phone Replacement programs. In addition, postpaid customers automatically receive Belief Points with all Belief Plans.

Phone Replacement
Phone Replacement allows customers on Premium or Premium Plus Belief Plans to get a replacement phone if something goes wrong with their handset. Customers who bring in their accidentally broken or malfunctioning phone can get a replacement of the same or a similar model – even if the phone is no longer under warranty. And, if a customer’s phone is lost or stolen, they can receive the same or similar replacement phone for $100 – far less than the typical cost of a phone. Phone Replacement is available at U.S. Cellular retail locations and through customer service. If a replacement phone isn’t available in store, it will be shipped to the customer to arrive the next business day.

Overage Cap, Forgiveness and Protection
With Overage Cap, U.S. Cellular customers don’t need to worry about excessive overage charges. The service prevents voice overage charges from exceeding $50 for a National Single Line Belief Plan or $150 for a Family Belief Plan, and customers have the option to use points for overage forgiveness to eliminate overage charges. U.S. Cellular also has its customers’ backs with Overage Protection, which sends customers a text message when they reach 75 percent of their allotted minutes or text messages, and again at 100 percent, so there isn’t a surprise when the bill arrives.

Earlier Phone Upgrades
For years, one of the most common frustrations for wireless customers has been waiting two years to upgrade to the latest handsets, like U.S. Cellular’s Android-powered devices. The standard phone upgrade time under a Belief Plan is only 18 months. U.S. Cellular customers can upgrade a phone as early as every 10 to11 months depending on their plan by redeeming their Belief Points.

Save Up To 5 Percent Using Auto Pay and Paperless Billing
U.S. Cellular is the first wireless carrier to offer monthly service discounts to customers who use both paperless billing and auto pay. Customers who sign up for both with a debit or credit card get a 3 percent discount on their monthly bill. Customers who sign up for both and use their checking or savings account will receive a 5 percent discount.

Even More to Believe In
The Belief Project complements U.S. Cellular’s other free, innovative offerings like Battery Swap, My Contacts Backup and Free Incoming Calls, Texts and Pix.

Starting Oct. 1, you can visit uscellular.com for more information about The Belief Project.

The folks over at U.S. Cellular have announced that they will begin offering the BlackBerry Bold 9650 to their customers on August 18th. The CDMA/GSM 9650 is identical to the model that has been available on Sprint and Verizon Wireless for the last several months. Here are the Cliff’s Notes on the device: EV-DO Rev. A, UMTS/HSPA 2100 MHz, quad-band EDGE/GPRS/GSM, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, 512 MB RAM, 3.2 megapixel camera, and the unit is BlackBerry 6 ready. The phone will retail for $230 with a 2-year contract and a $70 mail-in rebate will be available at time of purchase. The full release is after the break.

U.S. CELLULAR ADDS TO ITS SMARTPHONE PORTFOLIO WITH THE LAUNCH OF THE BLACKBERRY BOLD 9650 SMARTPHONE

CHICAGO (Aug. 17, 2010) – U.S. Cellular today announced that the BlackBerry® Bold™9650 smartphone will be available online and in U.S. Cellular stores beginning Aug. 18.  This much-anticipated smartphone is stylish and feature-rich, satisfying customers’ needs to stay connected with their business and personal email, Internet and social networks, all on U.S. Cellular’s nationwide 3G network.  The BlackBerry Bold 9650 can be used around the world; it supports high-speed EV-DO Rev. A networks in North America, as well as UMTS/HSPA (2100Mhz) and quad-band EDGE/GPRS/GSM networks abroad.

“When you combine the BlackBerry Bold with our industry-first programs such as Overage Protection and Battery Swap, our customers can have a powerful smartphone with a unique wireless experience,” said Edward Perez, vice president of sales and marketing operations for U.S. Cellular. “The international voice and data capabilities of the BlackBerry Bold give our customers options while traveling for business or with their friends and families.”

With its combination of quality, performance, functionality and entertainment features, the BlackBerry Bold 9650 appeals to both professionals and consumers.  Customers can view videos and pictures on the brilliant 2.4-inch HVGA+ display and browse the Web at fast 3G speeds.  The 3.2 MP camera features auto-focus and takes high-quality pictures that can easily be shared on popular social networking sites.  Plus with a microSD/SDHC memory card slot that supports up to 32 GB cards, customers have plenty of storage to take their music, pictures and videos with them wherever they go.  And of course, customers get the convenience and reliability of BlackBerry email and access to instant messaging services like BlackBerry® Messenger (BBM™).

Customers can use the BlackBerry Bold 9650 smartphone’s built-in Wi-Fi® to connect to the Internet over wireless hotspots at home or on the road, and the built-in GPS along with BlackBerry® Maps offers step by step directions and easy searches for local points of interest.  The full-QWERTY keyboard makes typing fast and comfortable and the optical trackpad allows fluid scrolling through menus and icons.

The BlackBerry Bold 9650 includes easy access to a range of U.S. Cellular applications such as My Contacts Backup, Tone Room Deluxe and Your Navigator Deluxe.  Thousands more applications are available on BlackBerry App World™, making it easy for customers to personalize their phone to suit their style.

The BlackBerry Bold 9650 ships with BlackBerry® 5 and is BlackBerry® 6 ready. BlackBerry 6 is a new operating system for BlackBerry smartphones that was announced earlier this month.  It retains the trusted features that distinguish the BlackBerry brand while delivering a fresh and engaging experience that is both powerful and easy to use. BlackBerry 6 is expected to be available for the BlackBerry Bold 9650, subject to certification by U.S. Cellular, in the coming months. For more information about the BlackBerry Bold 9650 smartphone, visit www.blackberry.com/bold.