Metro PCS 2007 Annual Report Download - page 15

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In March 2004, MetroPCS, Inc. formed MetroPCS Communications, Inc., or MetroPCS Communications, as a
wholly-owned subsidiary. In July 2004, for purposes of restructuring, MetroPCS Communications then formed
MPCS HoldCo Merger Sub, Inc. as a wholly-owned subsidiary. MetroPCS, Inc. was then merged into MPCS
HoldCo Merger Sub, Inc. with MetroPCS, Inc. being the surviving corporation. As a result of this merger,
MetroPCS, Inc. became a wholly-owned subsidiary of MetroPCS Communications.
Products and Services
Voice Services. Our service, branded under the “MetroPCS” name, allows customers to place unlimited local
calls from within our service area, and to receive unlimited calls from any area while in our local service areas,
under simple and affordable flat monthly rate service plans starting at $30 per month. For an additional $5 to $20 per
month, our customers may select a service plan that offers additional services, such as unlimited voicemail, caller
ID, call waiting, enhanced directory assistance, unlimited text messaging, mobile Internet browsing, push e-mail,
mobile instant messaging, picture and multimedia messaging and the ability to place unlimited long distance calls
from within our local service calling area to any number in the continental United States. For additional fees, we
also provide international long distance, international text messaging, ringtones, ring back tones, downloads, games
and content applications, unlimited directory assistance and other value-added services. All service plans are “paid-
in-advance” and do not require a long-term contract. Our customers also have access, on a pay-in-advance basis, to
nationwide roaming.
Data Services. Our data services include services provided through the Binary Runtime Environment for
Wireless, or BREW, platform, including ringtones, ring back tones, games and content applications; text messaging
services (domestic and international); multimedia messaging services; mobile Internet browsing; mobile instant
messaging; and push e-mail.
Custom Calling Features. We offer custom calling features, including caller ID, call waiting, three-way calling
and voicemail.
Advanced Handsets. We sell a variety of handsets manufactured by nationally recognized handset manufacturers
for use on our network, including models that provide color screens, camera phones and other features facilitating
digital data.
Service Areas
Our strategy has been to offer our services in major metropolitan markets and surrounding areas. We launched
our service in the following metropolitan areas which constitute our Core Markets: Miami, Atlanta and Sacramento
metropolitan areas in the first quarter of 2002 and San Francisco in September 2002. We launched our service in the
following metropolitan areas which, together with our Auction 66 Markets, constitute our Expansion Markets:
Tampa/Sarasota in October 2005; Dallas/Ft. Worth in March 2006; Detroit in April 2006; and, Orlando and portions
of northern Florida in November 2006 and Los Angeles in September 2007. We provide service in Los Angeles,
Orlando and certain other portions of Northern Florida through a wholesale arrangement with Royal Street
Communications, LLC, or Royal Street Communications, a company in which we hold an 85% non-controlling
interest. For a discussion of Royal Street Communications, please see “— Royal Street Communications.”
The table below provides a metropolitan area by metropolitan area overview of our Core and Expansion Markets
(excluding our Auction 66 Markets) including the FCC basic trading area (BTA) identification number, the number
of people, or POPs, covered by the license, the amount of PCS spectrum held, and whether we hold the FCC license
ourselves or, rather, provide or will provide our services in that metropolitan area through our agreements with
Royal Street, which holds the license. All of the licensed spectrum shown below is in the 1900 MHz PCS band.