Cricket Wireless

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Cricket Wireless
Type Private (subsidiary of Leap Wireless)
Industry Wireless Telecommunications
Founded 1999 (1999)
Headquarters San Diego, CA, United States
Area served United States
Website mycricket.com

Cricket Communications, Inc. founded in 1999, also known as Cricket Wireless, provides wireless services to 7 million customers in the United States.[1] The company is a subsidiary of Leap Wireless, utilizing its CDMA 1X and 1xEV-DO networks. Leap Wireless owns and operates the seventh largest wireless telecommunications network in the United States, behind Verizon Wireless, AT&T Mobility, Sprint Nextel (including Boost Mobile & Virgin Mobile USA), T-Mobile USA, MetroPCS, and U.S. Cellular. The company recently launched the first Advanced Wireless Services network, in Oklahoma City. The company also went nationwide with roaming agreements on March 23, 2010.[2]

Contents

[edit] History

 This article is in a list format that may be better presented using prose. You can help by converting this article to prose, if appropriate. Editing help is available. (November 2010)
  • 2004: Cricket's parent company emerged from bankruptcy.[4]
  • May 5, 2005: Cricket customers now have the option of roaming outside of their home market with "Travel Time".[5]
  • September 4, 2007: Competing carrier MetroPCS announced a $5.3 billion bid to merge with Leap Wireless .[6] Leap informally rejected the bid less than two weeks later.[7] MetroPCS officially withdrew the bid less than two months later, on November 1, 2007.[8]
  • September 17, 2007: Cricket launched Wireless Broadband Service using EV-DO.[9]
  • December 12, 2007: Cricket agreed to acquire Hargray Communications Group's wireless telecommunications business.[10]
  • September 29, 2008: Cricket announced that they had entered into a 10 year roaming agreement with MetroPCS covering both companies' existing and future markets. The companies also entered into a spectrum exchange agreement covering licenses in certain markets, (with Leap acquiring an additional 10 MHz of spectrum in San Diego, Fresno, Seattle and certain other Washington and Oregon markets, and MetroPCS acquiring an additional 10 MHz of spectrum in Dallas-Ft. Worth, Shreveport-Bossier City, Lakeland-Winter Haven, Florida and certain other North Texas markets). The companies said that they have settled all outstanding litigation between them[12]
  • November 13, 2008: Cricket launched "Premium Extended Coverage", a roaming partnership with 14 wireless companies to provide Cricket customers with a larger unlimited cellular footprint.[13]
  • February 2009: Cricket launches in Chicago. Making it the biggest market to ever launch since Cricket was formed in 1999.[citation needed]
  • March 10, 2009: Cricket launches in the Philadelphia market, including suburbs such as Atlantic City, NJ and Wilmington, DE, with a market total of 6.3 million POPs.[14]
  • April 22, 2009: Cricket launches phone recycling program.[14]
  • August, 2009: Leap announces quarter 2 reports of 203,000 net customer additions and now have about 4.5 million customers.[14]
  • August 19, 2009: Cricket looking for federal grant for wireless broadband.[14]
  • September 3, 2009: Cricket introduces durable MOTO VE465.[14]
  • September 4, 2009: Merger talk starting back up for Leap, MetroPCS and rumored about AT&T Mobility .[14]
  • September 4, 2009: Cricket testing 10GB broadband plan.[14]
  • September 17, 2009: Cricket to integrate monthly plans into PAYGo.[14]
  • September 23, 2009: Cricket releases low-priced CAPTR.[14]
  • September 28, 2009: Cricket upgrades domain name. (mycricket.com) [14]
  • October 1, 2009: Cricket PAYGo headed to Target.[14]
  • October 29, 2009: Cricket adds LG Helix to handset lineup.[14]
  • November 2, 2009: Cricket adds text messaging option to $1 PAYGo plan.[14]
  • November 5, 2009: Cricket adds $25 plan to compete with MetroPCS 30 dollar plan.[14]
  • November 5, 2009: Cricket sees slow growth in subscribers; they added 116,000 subscribers and now have 4.65 million subscribers.[14]
  • April 13, 2010: Cricket launched Cricket Navigator, a GPS application that offers audible turn-by-turn navigation, hyper-local search and maps.[16]
  • August 2010: Cricket and Sprint signed a five year wholesale agreement (MVNO) that allows Cricket to utilize Sprint's 3G network throughout the U.S. As part of the agreement, Cricket made commitments to deliver minimum levels of revenues to Sprint. Cricket will offer products and services using Sprint's 3G network coverage throughout August 2015.
  • August 12, 2010: Cricket launched operator for the Kyocera Rio low cost touch phone.[17]
  • July 7, 2011: Cricket hits 7 million customers, and 100k muve music subscribers
  • January 2012: Cricket's Muve Music exceeds 500,000 customers in less than one year, becoming the second largest digital music subscription service in the US.
  • January 2012: Cricket Huawei Mercury is named best prepaid phone of all time by PC Magazine.
  • May 31, 2012: Cricket announces the iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S will be available on its network, becoming the first pre-paid carrier in the United States to offer an iPhone. The iPhone 4 and 4S are scheduled to be released on June 22th.[18]

[edit] Smartphones

In 2010, Cricket announced it will debut two new smartphones to their wireless lineup. The Sanyo Zio (Zi-O) by Kyocera is Cricket and Kyocera's first Android phone. The phone runs on Cricket's 3G EVDO network, and has Wi-Fi capabilities. It currently utilizes Android 2.2. [19] which is anticipated to be available in January or February 2011. The other available smart phone is the Blackberry Curve 8530, which will work on Cricket's EVDO network.

Since the release of these phones, Cricket has added the Huawei Ascend which runs Android 2.1. It is the lowest-priced Android phone without a contract.[20] Another Android smartphone available with the telecom operator is LG Optimus C.[21] The Samsung Indulge has been available since the 7th June [22]

[edit] Current phones

Phones that are currently available from Cricket's website.

  • iPhone 4 and 4S from June 22 2012
  • Huawei Mercury (Android Smartphone)
  • ZTE Score (Android Smartphone)(Muve Music)
  • Samsung Transfix (Android Smartphone)
  • Huawei Pillar
  • Samsung Vitality (Android Smartphone)(Muve Music)
  • Samsung Indulge (Android Smartphone)
  • Huawei Ascend II (Android Smartphone)(Muve Music)
  • BlackBerry Curve 8530 (BlackBerry Smartphone)
  • Kyocera Luno
  • Cricket CAPTR II
  • Samsung Chrono
  • ZTE Chorus (Muve Music)
  • Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 (Android tablet)

[edit] Muve Music

Muve Music is a service from Cricket. Available on the Samsung Vitality, Huawei Ascend II, Huawei Mercury, ZTE Score & ZTE Chorus, the Muve Music application lets users browse and download millions of songs. Cricket currently has contracts with Sony, Universal Music, Warner Music, and EMI. Unlimited talk, text, web, and unlimited music downloads is available starting at $55/mo.

[edit] Coverage area

Cricket subscribers are covered in about 95% of the United States using home network and roaming agreements with Sprint Nextel and MetroPCS among others, and has broadband coverage in most major metropolitan areas. 3G service uses Sprint's EVDO network.

Cricket can activate new phones for customers located outside of their home area.

[edit] Wireless Internet

Cricket's unlimited broadband internet service is not limited (i.e. there is no additional cost) even if the 2.5GB, 5GB or 7.5GB 'Limits' per monthly billing cycle are exceeded. However Cricket may reduce bandwidth if these limits are exceeded based on a 30-day usage measurement. They may also reduce bandwidth slightly during times of high demand in any particular area.

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ "Company Information | Cricket Wireless". Mycricket.com. http://www.mycricket.com/learn/company-information. Retrieved 2011-10-10. 
  2. ^ "Cricket expands network to cover more of the country". Prepaid Reviews. 2010-03-23. http://www.prepaidreviews.com/blog/cricket/cricket-expands-network-to-cover-more-of-the-country-36046/. Retrieved 2011-10-10. 
  3. ^ a b "About". Leap Wireless. http://www.leapwireless.com/l1_about_leap.htm. Retrieved 2009-08-27. 
  4. ^ "Leap Wireless - Media Relations - Press Release" (Press release). Phx.corporate-ir.net. http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=191722&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=721646&highlight=. Retrieved 2009-08-27. 
  5. ^ "Wireless Phone Services | Wireless Communications | Leap Wireless - Press Releases". Mycricket.com. http://www.mycricket.com/press/press-release/Cricket-Launches-Travel-Time-. Retrieved 2011-10-10. 
  6. ^ Humer, Caroline (2007-09-04). "MetroPCS bids $5.3 billion for Leap Wireless". Reuters. http://www.reuters.com/article/technology-media-telco-SP/idUSN0439256020070904. Retrieved 2008-05-09. 
  7. ^ "Leap Rejects MetroPCS Merger Offer". TheStreet.com. 2007-09-16. http://www.thestreet.com/newsanalysis/techtelecom/10379784.html. Retrieved 2008-05-09. 
  8. ^ Dano, Mike (2007-11-01). "Metro ditches bid for Leap". RCR Wireless News. http://www.rcrnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071101/FREE/71101006/1002/rss01. Retrieved 2008-05-09. 
  9. ^ "Leap Wireless - Media Relations - Press Release" (Press release). Phx.corporate-ir.net. 2007-09-17. http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=191722&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1051904&highlight=. Retrieved 2009-08-27. 
  10. ^ "Leap Wireless - Media Relations - Press Release" (Press release). Phx.corporate-ir.net. http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=191722&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1205151&highlight=. Retrieved 2009-08-27. 
  11. ^ "Leap Wireless - Media Relations - Press Release" (Press release). Phx.corporate-ir.net. http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=191722&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1123363&highlight=. Retrieved 2009-08-27. 
  12. ^ "Leap Wireless - Media Relations - Press Release" (Press release). Phx.corporate-ir.net. http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=191722&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1203113&highlight=. Retrieved 2009-08-27. 
  13. ^ "Leap Wireless - Media Relations - Press Release" (Press release). Phx.corporate-ir.net. 2008-11-13. http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=191722&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1226044&highlight=. Retrieved 2009-08-27. 
  14. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p "Cricket Wireless News and Coverage". Prepaid Reviews. http://www.prepaidreviews.com/blog/category/cricket/. Retrieved 2011-10-10. 
  15. ^ Mccracken, Jeffrey; Sheth, Niraj (February 2, 2010). "Leap Wireless Seeks a Buyer". The Wall Street Journal. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704107204575039540686432982.html. 
  16. ^ "Cricket Launches New Navigation Solution". Business Wire. 2010-04-20. http://www.businesswire.com/portal/site/home/permalink/?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20100420005670&newsLang=en. Retrieved 2011-10-10. 
  17. ^ Kyocera Rio E3100 Coming Soon!, PhoneWebZ
  18. ^ Moren, Dan (May 31, 2012). "Prepaid carrier Cricket leaps onto iPhone scene". Macworld. http://www.macworld.com/article/1167036/prepaid_carrier_cricket_leaps_onto_iphone_scene.html. Retrieved May 31, 2012. 
  19. ^ Motorola il iDEN (2010-08-21). "Android-powered Sanyo ZIO by Kyocera now available on Cricket". Intomobile.com. http://www.intomobile.com/2010/08/21/android-powered-sanyo-zio-by-kyocera-now-available-on-cricket/. Retrieved 2011-10-10. 
  20. ^ "prepaid smart phones | smartphones | Cricket Wireless". Mycricket.com. http://www.mycricket.com/smartphones. Retrieved 2011-10-10. 
  21. ^ Gaurav Shukla (2011-10-06). "Cricket Wireless launches LG Optimus C for USD 130". AndroidOS.in. http://androidos.in/2011/03/cricket-wireless-launches-lg-optimus-c-for-usd-130/. Retrieved 2011-10-10. 
  22. ^ Cha, Bonnie (2011-06-07). "Samsung Indulge now available at Cricket Wireless | Android Atlas - CNET Reviews". Reviews.cnet.com. http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-19736_7-20069670-251.html. Retrieved 2011-10-10. 

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