US Cellular, a Chicago based carrier with a strong Midwest presence, announced the launch of the Motorola Electrify M on their 4G LTE network starting next week. The Electrify M joins the four other models currently capable of operating on the companies 4G LTE network: Samsung Galaxy Note II, Samsung Galaxy SIII (In a variety of colors and storage capacities), Samsung Galaxy Metrix 4G, and the Samsung Galaxy S Aviator. You may have noticed a pattern, specifically that until the launch of the Electrify M, Samsung completely dominates the US Cellular 4G LTE lineup. How will this new device compare to the current offerings?
The Motorola Electrify M features
- 4.3-inch AMOLED screen
- 1.5GHz dual-core processor
- 8GB of onboard expandable memory
- 8MP rear-camera with flash, 1080p HD video capture
- 1GB RAM
- 2000mAh battery
- weighs 4.23-ounces.
If these specifications sound fairly familiar, it may be because you heard them most recently as the Motorola RAZR M, a very similar device operating on the Verizon network. The Electrify M also supports NFC and a water/scratch resistant screen. The display is notable for its nearly borderless display. The device will ship with Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, but the company is offering an upgrade to 4.1 Jelly Bean.
US Cellular has the device at two different price points, depending on the location of the user. In LTE markets, which currently cover only 31-percent of the carriers customers, the price will marked as $99.99 after $100 mail-in-rebate. In non-LTE markets the device will be marked at $149 after a $100 mail-in-rebate. The press release issued by US Cellular today does state that LTE coverage is expected to expand to 58-percent of the customer base by the end of the year.
The Motorola Electrify M is expected to be available online starting November 8, and the devices will be available in store the following day.
The full text of the press release:
CHICAGO (November 1, 2012) – Next week, U.S. Cellular (NYSE: USM) and Motorola Mobility will unleash Motorola ELECTRIFYâ„¢ M – the 4G LTE high-performance smartphone with the big screen and super compact design. Available on uscellular.com on November 8 and in U.S. Cellular stores the next day, the Androidâ„¢-powered ELECTRIFY M will be attractively priced at $99.99 after $100 mail-in rebate in markets where U.S. Cellular offers 4G LTE service and elsewhere at $149.99 after a $100 mail-in rebate.
“The Motorola ELECTRIFY M is a great choice for customers who want a smartphone that gives them fast access to information and entertainment and can also help them stay organized,” said Edward Perez, vice president of sales and marketing operations for U.S. Cellular. “As we continue to roll out the 4G LTE network to more customers between now and the end of the year, we’re providing more options to help them select the right 4G LTE device that meets their needs and can enhance their lives.”
The ELECTRIFY M comes equipped with a captivating 4.3-inch, virtually borderless display. Tapping out texts and emails is easier than ever, while reading on the go no longer puts a strain on the eyes. Web pages, apps, videos – it’s all clear on the vibrant, high-resolution Super AMOLED Advanced display.
But don’t let the size fool you – ELECTRIFY M packs the high performance and web browsing power of your home computer in the palm of your hand. With 4G LTE speeds and a dual-core 1.5GHz processor, ELECTRIFY M lets you load web pages in a flash and multi-task like a pro. Surf the web quickly with Google Chromeâ„¢ and sync with your desktop version of Google Chrome to share bookmarks and view the same tabs. You’ll also have access to more than 675,000 Android apps and games, millions of songs and books and thousands of movies and TV shows with Google Playâ„¢.
The ELECTRIFY M is built to handle the bumps, scrapes and slips of daily life. It has a scratch-resistant display made of Corning® Gorilla® Glass and a splash guard coating to protect the device, and everything you have in it, from the ever-present threats of rain and morning coffee.
“With the Motorola ELECTRIFY M, we focused on putting a premium smartphone experience in a compact and convenient package,” said Jeff Miller, corporate vice president, North America Go-to-Market, Motorola Mobility. “The result is a pint-sized powerhouse that lets U.S. Cellular customers surf faster, play longer and see more without compromise.”
The ELECTRIFY M is an ideal travel companion too. Whether you’re on foot, in the car or headed out on your bike, type or speak your destination and Motorola ELECTRIFY â„¢ M will lead you there, with free turn-by-turn directions and voice guidance. Customers can search for restaurants, businesses and theaters, and get reviews from people in their Google+ Circles. You can also download maps and call them up later when you’re offline. Voice Actions help you send text messages, read directions, place calls or play music when you don’t have a free hand.
Key Features
- Virtually borderless 4.3-inch display
- 1.5 GHz dual core processor
- Google Chromeâ„¢
- Scratch-resistant and water-repellant
- Long-lasting 2000 mAh battery
- NFC support to share links, apps, YouTubeâ„¢ clips and more with Android Beamâ„¢
- Android 4.0.4, Ice Cream Sandwich, and Android 4.1, Jelly Bean, upgradeable
- 8 MP rear-facing camera with HDR, 1.3 MP front facing camera for video chatting
Customers who purchase the Motorola ELECTRIFY M from U.S. Cellular receive benefits no other carrier offers, such as no contract after the first, free Battery Swap and the only points-based rewards program in the industry.
U.S. Cellular, in partnership with King Street Wireless, currently offers 4G LTE service covering 31 percent of their customers and 58 percent of U.S. Cellular customers will enjoy faster 4G LTE speeds by the end of the year. For more information about the 4G LTE experience, visit uscellular.com/4G.
For more information on the Motorola ELECTRIFY M, please visit www.motorola.com/electrifym.
MOTOROLA and the Stylized M Logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Motorola Trademark Holdings, LLC. Android, Android Beam, Google, Google Chrome, Google Play, YouTube and other marks are trademarks of Google Inc. LTE is a trademark of ETSI. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. ‚©2012 Motorola Mobility LLC. All Rights Reserved
Purchase of a data plan is required, and a new two-year agreement and activation fee may apply for new customers. Additional terms, conditions and/or charges may apply.
About U.S. Cellular
U.S. Cellular rewards its customers with unmatched benefits and industry-leading innovations designed to elevate the customer experience. The Chicago-based carrier has a strong line-up of cutting-edge devices that are all backed by its high-speed nationwide network that has the highest call quality of any national carrier. By the end of 2012, 58 percent of customers will have access to 4G LTE speeds. U.S. Cellular was named a J.D. Power and Associates Customer Service Champion in 2012 for the second year in a row. To learn more about U.S. Cellular, visit one of its retail stores or uscellular.com. To get the latest news, promos and videos, connect with U.S. Cellular on Facebook.com/uscellular, Twitter.com/uscellular and YouTube.com/uscellularcorp.About Motorola Mobility
Motorola Mobility, owned by Google, fuses innovative technology with human insights to create experiences that simplify, connect and enrich people’s lives. Our portfolio includes converged mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets; wireless accessories; end-to-end video and data delivery; and management solutions, including set-tops and data-access devices. For more information, visit motorola.com/mobility.For more information, contact:
Steve Carlson, U.S. Cellular
(312) 217-0606
[email protected]Kristine Mulford, Motorola Mobility
224-321-2995
[email protected]
Source: US Cellular