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BASKING RIDGE, NJ — Verizon Wireless and Samsung Telecommunications America (Samsung Mobile) today announced that the Samsung 4G LTE Mobile Hotspot is available for order. You can purchase your Samsung 4G LTE Hotspot from 3Gstore for $99.99 after $50 mail in rebate.

Key features:
Share 4G LTE internet connection with up to five Wi-Fi-enabled devices at the same time
4G LTE – customers can expect download speeds of 5 to 12 Mbps and upload speeds of 2 to 5 Mbps in 4G Mobile Broadband coverage areas
Backward compatible with the Verizon Wireless 3G network
Dimensions: 2.32”(H) x 3.54”(W) x 0.45”(D)

Samsung 4G LTE Mobile Hotspot customers can take advantage of Verizon’s 4G LTE network by subscribing to a 4G LTE mobile broadband data package starting at $50 monthly access for 5GB. Customers will receive the rebate in the form of a debit card; upon receipt, customers may use the card as cash anywhere debit cards are accepted.

The Verizon Wireless 4G LTE Mobile Broadband network, launched in December 2010, is the fastest, most advanced 4G network in the United States, providing speeds up to 10 times faster than Verizon Wireless’ 3G networks. Verizon Wireless’ 4G LTE Mobile Broadband network currently reaches one-third of all Americans, with plans to expand the network to the company’s entire 3G coverage area over the next three years.

About Verizon Wireless:

Verizon Wireless operates the nation’s fastest and most advanced 4G network and largest and most reliable 3G network, and serves more than 94 million customers. Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with 82,000 employees nationwide, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE, NASDAQ: VZ) and Vodafone (LSE, NASDAQ: VOD).

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Verizon Wireless currently offers 4G LTE service in 39 markets and plans to expand to over 145 markets by the end of 2011. In another announcement they've announced that coverage should be available soon in Grand Rapids, Lansing, Saginaw, Bay City and Flint this year. There hasn't been a specific date, however, Verizon spokeswoman Michelle Gilbert said the LTE network ""will cover at least 80 percent of the market's population," but hasn't included a list of suburbs that will get 4G coverage. 

Earlier this month Verizon launched their HTC Thunderbolt, which is the first LTE phone made on a network as extensive as Verizon's 4G LTE network. This phone is available for $249.99 and is 3G/4G capable and very similar to Sprint's 4G WiMAX HTC EVO. The only other smartphone that offers 4G coverage is MetroPCS's Samsung Craft, which offers 4G LTE coverage in 7 markets currently. If you don't need a phone that features 4G and only want data the dedicated cards like the Verizon Pantech UML290 and LG VL600 are better alternatives offering 5GB of data for $50/mo or 10 GB of data for $80/mo.

There will be several more LTE capable devices hitting the market in the coming months including the new MiFi 4510L, which is the successor to the popular Verizon MiFi 2200. Unfortunately, there has been no ETA on this device yet, however, users may use a Cradlepoint router if they'd like to share their wireless connection with multiple users. If you'd like to be notified when the 4G MiFi is released, please fill out our notification form - Click: Notify me when the Verizon 3G/4G MiFi is available 

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BASKING RIDGE, NJ — Today, Verizon Wireless unveiled an additional 59 markets that will benefit from the world’s first large-scale 4G Long Term Evolution (LTE) network by the end of this year. These newly named areas, added to the 39 initial markets launched in December 2010 and 49 markets announced at the Consumer Electronics Show in January, mean that consumers and businesses in at least 147 U.S. cities will have access to the fastest, most advanced 4G mobile network in America.

David Small, chief technical officer for Verizon Wireless, said, “Aggressively expanding this powerful network beyond major metro areas reflects the reality that the 4G LTE ecosystem is growing quickly. Our commitment to reach deep into medium-sized cities and smaller communities by the end of 2011 means the power of 4G LTE can be harnessed and provide advanced services to law enforcement, healthcare workers, educators, and other professionals, as well as to individual consumers, sooner than many thought possible. So whether you spend time in New York and San Francisco, or Harrisburg, Penn., Saginaw/Bay City, Mich., Huntsville, Ala. and Las Cruces, New Mexico, you can connect to the most advanced 4G network in the country.”

(EDITORS NOTE: A list of new 4G LTE markets launching in 2011 follows this news release.)

The HTC ThunderBolt™, launched Thursday, March 17, is the first in a suite of consumer-oriented smartphones, tablets, hotspots and notebooks that will run on Verizon Wireless’ 4G LTE network by the middle of this year. The new consumer devices join two USB modems from Pantech and LG which have been providing laptop users with speeds up to 10 times faster than the company’s 3G network. In real-world, fully-loaded network environments, 4G LTE users should experience average data rates of 5 to 12 megabits per second (Mbps) on the downlink and 2 to 5 Mbps on the uplink.

Verizon Wireless is building its 4G LTE network with the same commitment to performance and reliability for which it has long been recognized. Verizon Wireless’ consistent focus on reliability is based on rigid engineering standards and a disciplined deployment approach year after year. The company’s 700 MHz spectrum gives Verizon Wireless specific advantages with 4G, including a contiguous, nationwide network license.

Verizon Wireless is also working with rural communications companies to collaboratively build and operate a 4G network in those areas using the tower and backhaul assets of the rural company and Verizon Wireless’ core 4G LTE equipment and premium 700 MHz spectrum. Already, six rural companies have signed on to leverage Verizon Wireless’ scale for infrastructure while keeping their customers on the cutting edge of technology.

Since 2007, when Verizon Wireless jump-started the global 4G LTE ecosystem with its selection of LTE for its 4G technology, the company has developed deep partnerships to spearhead a broad LTE ecosystem, including the LTE Innovation Center in Waltham, Mass., and an LTE Applications Center, slated to open in San Francisco this fall.

Additional areas to be covered by Verizon Wireless’ 4G LTE network in 2011 include:

• Decatur, Ala.
• Huntsville, Ala.*
• Mobile, Ala.*
• Montgomery, Ala.*
• Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, Ark.
• Fort Smith, Ark.
• Little Rock, Ark.*
• Tucson, Ariz.
• Bakersfield, Calif.
• Fresno, Calif.
• Modesto, Calif.
• Sacramento, Calif.
• Salinas-Monterey, Calif.
• San Luis Obispo, Calif.
• Santa Barbara, Calif.
• Stockton, Calif.
• Colorado Springs, Colo.*
• Fort Collins, Colo.
• Fairfield, Conn.
• Hartford, Conn.
• New Haven, Conn.
• Daytona Beach, Fla.
• Fort Myers, Fla.
• Gainesville, Fla.*
• Lakeland-Winter Haven, Fla.*
• Pensacola, Fla.*
• Sarasota-Bradenton, Fla.*
• Tallahassee, Fla.*
• Augusta, Ga.*
• Hilo, Hawaii
• Honolulu, Hawaii*
• Kahului-Wailuku, Hawaii*
• Lahaina, Hawaii*
• Davenport, Iowa
• Iowa City, Iowa
• Boise-Nampa, Idaho*
• Bloomington/Normal, Ill.
• Carbondale, Ill.*
• Champaign, Ill.
• Rockford, Ill.
• Springfield, Ill.
• Fort Wayne, Ind.
• Indianapolis, Ind.
• Lafayette, Ind.
• Wichita, Kan.*
• Louisville, Ky.
• Baton Rouge, La.*
• Hammond, La.*
• Springfield, Mass.
• Worcester, Mass.
• Hagerstown, Md.
• Flint, Mich.*
• Grand Rapids, Mich.
• Lansing, Mich.
• Saginaw-Bay City, Mich.
• Starkville, Miss.
• Asheville-Henderson, N.C.
• Fayetteville-Lumberton, N.C.*
• Greensboro-Winston Salem-High Point, N.C.*
• Raleigh-Durham, N.C.*
• Wilmington, N.C.*
• Fargo, N.D.
• Omaha, Neb.
• Albuquerque, N.M.
• Las Cruces, N.M. Santa Fe, N.M.
• Reno, Nev.
• Albany, N.Y.
• Ithaca, N.Y.
• Syracuse, N.Y.
• Dayton-Springfield, Ohio*
• Lima, Ohio
• Toledo, Ohio
• Tulsa, Okla.*
• Portland, Ore.
• Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, Pa.
• Erie, Pa.*
• Harrisburg, Pa.
• Johnstown, Pa.
• Scranton/Wilkes Barre, Pa.
• State College, Pa.*
• Charleston, S.C.*
• Columbia, S.C.*
• Greenville-Spartanburg, S.C.*
• Hilton Head, S.C.*
• Sioux Falls, S.D.*
• Chattanooga, Tenn.*
• Clarksville, Tenn.*
• Cleveland, Tenn.*
• Dyersburg-Union City, Tenn.
• Jackson, Tenn.
• Kingsport-Johnson City, Tenn.-Bristol, Va.*
• Knoxville, Tenn.*
• Memphis, Tenn.*
• Beaumont-Port Arthur, Texas*
• Bryan-College Station, Texas*
• El Paso, Texas
• Temple-Killeen, Texas
• Provo-Orem, Utah*
• Salt Lake City-Ogden, Utah*
• Olympia, Wash.*
• Centralia, Wash.*
• Spokane, Wash.
• Charleston, W.Va.*
• Madison, Wis.*
• Milwaukee, Wis.*

* Indicates a metro area previously announced in 2011

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Provides Fast, Efficient and Certain Solution to Impending Spectrum Exhaust Challenges Facing AT&T and T-Mobile USA in Key Markets Due to Explosive Demand for Mobile Broadband

Enhances Network Capacity, Output and Quality in Near Term for Both Companies’ Customers

AT&T Commits to Expand 4G LTE Deployment to an Additional 46.5 Million Americans, Including in Rural, Smaller Communities, for a Total of 294 Million or 95% of the U.S. Population

Provides 4G LTE Service for T-Mobile USA’s 34 Million Subscribers

More Than $8 Billion in Incremental Infrastructure Spend by a U.S. Company over Seven Years, Enabling Nation’s High-Tech Industry, Innovation and Economic Growth

Creates Substantial Value for AT&T Shareholders Through Large, Straightforward Synergies

DALLAS & BONN, Germany--(BUSINESS WIRE)--AT&T Inc. (NYSE: T) and Deutsche Telekom AG (FWB: DTE) today announced that they have entered into a definitive agreement under which AT&T will acquire T-Mobile USA from Deutsche Telekom in a cash-and-stock transaction currently valued at approximately $39 billion. The agreement has been approved by the Boards of Directors of both companies.

AT&T’s acquisition of T-Mobile USA provides an optimal combination of network assets to add capacity sooner than any alternative, and it provides an opportunity to improve network quality in the near term for both companies’ customers. In addition, it provides a fast, efficient and certain solution to the impending exhaustion of wireless spectrum in some markets, which limits both companies’ ability to meet the ongoing explosive demand for mobile broadband.

With this transaction, AT&T commits to a significant expansion of robust 4G LTE (Long Term Evolution) deployment to 95 percent of the U.S. population to reach an additional 46.5 million Americans beyond current plans – including rural communities and small towns. This helps achieve the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and President Obama’s goals to connect “every part of America to the digital age.” T-Mobile USA does not have a clear path to delivering LTE.

“This transaction represents a major commitment to strengthen and expand critical infrastructure for our nation’s future,” said Randall Stephenson, AT&T Chairman and CEO. “It will improve network quality, and it will bring advanced LTE capabilities to more than 294 million people. Mobile broadband networks drive economic opportunity everywhere, and they enable the expanding high-tech ecosystem that includes device makers, cloud and content providers, app developers, customers, and more. During the past few years, America’s high-tech industry has delivered innovation at unprecedented speed, and this combination will accelerate its continued growth.”

Stephenson continued, “This transaction delivers significant customer, shareowner and public benefits that are available at this level only from the combination of these two companies with complementary network technologies, spectrum positions and operations. We are confident in our ability to execute a seamless integration, and with additional spectrum and network capabilities, we can better meet our customers’ current demands, build for the future and help achieve the President’s goals for a high-speed, wirelessly connected America.”

Deutsche Telekom Chairman and CEO René Obermann said, “After evaluating strategic options for T-Mobile USA, I am confident that AT&T is the best partner for our customers, shareholders and the mobile broadband ecosystem. Our common network technology makes this a logical combination and provides an efficient path to gaining the spectrum and network assets needed to provide T-Mobile customers with 4G LTE and the best devices. Also, the transaction returns significant value to Deutsche Telekom shareholders and allows us to retain exposure to the U.S. market.”

As part of the transaction, Deutsche Telekom will receive an equity stake in AT&T that, based on the terms of the agreement, would give Deutsche Telekom an ownership interest in AT&T of approximately 8 percent. A Deutsche Telekom representative will join the AT&T Board of Directors.

Competition and Pricing:

The U.S. wireless industry is one of the most fiercely competitive markets in the world and will remain so after this deal. The U.S. is one of the few countries in the world where a large majority of consumers can choose from five or more wireless providers in their local market. For example, in 18 of the top 20 U.S. local markets, there are five or more providers. Local market competition is escalating among larger carriers, low-cost carriers and several regional wireless players with nationwide service plans. This intense competition is only increasing with the build-out of new 4G networks and the emergence of new market entrants.

The competitiveness of the market has directly benefited consumers. A 2010 report from the U.S. General Accounting Office (GAO) states the overall average price (adjusted for inflation) for wireless services declined 50 percent from 1999 to 2009, during a period which saw five major wireless mergers.

Addresses wireless spectrum challenges facing AT&T, T-Mobile USA, their customers, and U.S. policymakers:

This transaction quickly provides the spectrum and network efficiencies necessary for AT&T to address impending spectrum exhaust in key markets driven by the exponential growth in mobile broadband traffic on its network. AT&T’s mobile data traffic grew 8,000 percent over the past four years and by 2015 it is expected to be eight to 10 times what it was in 2010. Put another way, all of the mobile traffic volume AT&T carried during 2010 is estimated to be carried in just the first six to seven weeks of 2015. Because AT&T has led the U.S. in smartphones, tablets and e-readers – and as a result, mobile broadband – it requires additional spectrum before new spectrum will become available. In the long term, the entire industry will need additional spectrum to address the explosive growth in demand for mobile broadband.

Improves service quality for U.S. wireless customers:

AT&T and T-Mobile USA customers will see service improvements - including improved voice quality - as a result of additional spectrum, increased cell tower density and broader network infrastructure. At closing, AT&T will immediately gain cell sites equivalent to what would have taken on average five years to build without the transaction, and double that in some markets. The combination will increase AT&T’s network density by approximately 30 percent in some of its most populated areas, while avoiding the need to construct additional cell towers. This transaction will increase spectrum efficiency to increase capacity and output, which not only improves service, but is also the best way to ensure competitive prices and services in a market where demand is extremely high and spectrum is in short supply.

Expands 4G LTE deployment to 95 percent of U.S. population – urban and rural areas:

This transaction will directly benefit an additional 46.5 million Americans – equivalent to the combined populations of the states of New York and Texas – who will, as a result of this combination, have access to AT&T’s latest 4G LTE technology. In terms of area covered, the transaction enables 4G LTE deployment to an additional 1.2 million square miles, equivalent to 4.5 times the size of the state of Texas. Rural and smaller communities will substantially benefit from the expansion of 4G LTE deployment, increasing the competitiveness of the businesses and entrepreneurs in these areas.

Increases AT&T’s investment in the U.S.

The acquisition will increase AT&T’s infrastructure investment in the U.S. by more than $8 billion over seven years. Expansion of AT&T’s 4G LTE network is an important foundation for the next wave of innovation and growth in mobile broadband, ensuring the U.S. continues to lead the world in wireless technology and availability. It makes T-Mobile USA, currently a German-owned U.S. telecom network, part of a U.S.-based company.

An impressive, combined workforce:

Bringing AT&T and T-Mobile USA together will create an impressive workforce that is best positioned to compete in today’s global economy. Post-closing, AT&T intends to tap into the significant knowledge and expertise held by employees of both AT&T and T-Mobile USA to succeed. AT&T is the only major U.S. wireless company with a union workforce, offering leading wages, benefits, training and development for employees. The combined company will continue to have a strong employee and operations base in the Seattle area.

Consistent with AT&T’s track record of value-enhancing acquisitions:

AT&T has a strong track record of executing value-enhancing acquisitions and expects to create substantial value for shareholders through large, straightforward synergies with a run rate of more than $3 billion, three years after closing onward (excluding integration costs). The value of the synergies is expected to exceed the purchase price of $39 billion. Revenue synergies come from opportunities to increase smartphone penetration and data average revenue per user, with cost savings coming from network efficiencies, subscriber and support savings, reduced churn and avoided capital and spectrum expenditures.

The transaction will enhance margin potential and improve the company’s long-term revenue growth potential as it benefits from a more robust mobile broadband platform for new services.

Additional financial information:

The $39 billion purchase price will include a cash payment of $25 billion with the balance to be paid using AT&T common stock, subject to adjustment. AT&T has the right to increase the cash portion of the purchase price by up to $4.2 billion with a corresponding reduction in the stock component, so long as Deutsche Telekom receives at least a 5 percent equity ownership interest in AT&T.

The number of AT&T shares issued will be based on the AT&T share price during the 30-day period prior to closing, subject to a 7.5 percent collar; there is a one-year lock-up period during which Deutsche Telekom cannot sell shares.

The cash portion of the purchase price will be financed with new debt and cash on AT&T’s balance sheet. AT&T has an 18-month commitment for a one-year unsecured bridge term facility underwritten by J.P. Morgan for $20 billion. AT&T assumes no debt from T-Mobile USA or Deutsche Telekom and continues to have a strong balance sheet.

The transaction is expected to be earnings (excluding non-cash amortization and integration costs) accretive in the third year after closing. Pro-forma for 2010, this transaction increases AT&T’s total wireless revenues from $58.5 billion to nearly $80 billion, and increases the percentage of AT&T’s total revenues from wireless, wireline data and managed services to approximately 80 percent.

This transaction will allow for sufficient cash flow to support AT&T’s dividend. AT&T has increased its dividend for 27 consecutive years, a matter decided by AT&T’s Board of Directors.

If you've been considering a Cradlepoint MBR1200, we've got great news for you: Cradlepoint is offering a $25 mail-in rebate for customers purchasing the router between 3/15/2011 and 3/31/2011. If that wasn't a great enough deal, you can save an additional $20 if you're buying the MBR1200 along with a 2-year Sprint or Verizon service plan! Plus, don't forget about the amazing technical support and exclusive support CD you'll also receive (for free!) when you purchase from 3Gstore.

MBR1200 MSRP: $349.99

3Gstore's sale price: $269.99

- $25 mail-in rebate = $244.99 ($105 below MSRP!)

If you're signing up for a 2-year Sprint or Verizon service plan through 3Gstore as well, your price after rebate is just $224.99 ($125 below MSRP!)

How it works: Place your order for the MBR1200 online at 3Gstore.com or over the phone (866-3GSTORE) by 11:59pm CST on 3/31/11. Once you receive your MBR1200, simply mail in the included rebate form by 6/15/11 and Cradlepoint will send you a $25 rebate check - it's as simple as that!

Important details: This is a mail-in offer provided by Cradlepoint. Customers must submit their rebate form and all other required documentation to Cradlepoint by 6/15/11. Please allow up to 10 weeks for Cradlepoint to receive and process your rebate form and send your rebate. No substitutions are allowed. Valid for US and Canada residents only. Limit 2 rebates per household/address.

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