Official: Samsung Galaxy Indulge first 4G LTE Handset at MetroPCS Available this Week, $399

Guess we didn’t have to sit around staring at MetroPCS’s Samsung Galaxy Indulge page after all. The carrier has just issued a press release giving us all the details on the release of their 4G LTE device arriving later this week, making it the first LTE handset available in the US.

While it get the Galaxy name, it lacks some of the beef of other handsets bearing the trademark. There is no 4-inch Super AMOLED display, instead a 3.5-inch TFT LCD. The camera also gets a downgrade to 3MP. I suppose that’s the trade off for a $399 off-contract price. Speaking of pricing, Metro’s unlimited text and talk plans gives subscribers 1GB of data for $50, or unlimited data for an additional $10. Engadget was able to snag an early hands-on with the device and so far seems pleased with the LTE speeds they are encountering. Full press release is below.

MetroPCS and Samsung Mobile Unveil the Samsung Galaxy Indulge, the World’s First Commercially Available 4G LTE Android Smartphone

Consumers can have it all – apps, entertainment and organization tools with lightning fast speeds – at about half the price of other 4G smartphone service plans

DALLAS, Feb. 9, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — MetroPCS Communications, Inc. (NYSE: PCS), the nation’s leading provider of unlimited, no annual contract, flat-rate wireless service, and Samsung Telecommunications America (Samsung Mobile), the number one mobile phone provider in the U.S.(1), today introduced the world’s first commercially available 4G LTE enabled Android™ smartphone, the Samsung Galaxy Indulge™.
At about half the cost of other 4G smartphone service plans today, consumers can truly have it all with MetroPCS’ $50 and $60 4G LTE smartphone service plans, which include all applicable taxes and regulatory fees. MetroPCS is delivering this unmatched value with unlimited talk, text and 4G LTE Web page browsing, along with data access to streaming audio, video and gaming content, downloads and Android applications.
“Our commitment to offering premium, feature-rich smartphones was once again fulfilled today with the introduction of the Samsung Galaxy Indulge, which will allow consumers to experience the vast benefits of both MetroPCS’ 4G LTE services and the Android operating system,” said Roger D. Linquist, president, CEO and chairman of MetroPCS. “Mobile consumers no longer have to choose between low cost service and high-end Android handsets. Instead, they can truly have it all by being able to select from a full spectrum of feature and smartphones paired with 4G LTE services at an unmatched value.”
Powered by Android 2.2 (Froyo), the Galaxy Indulge is the perfect smartphone for those who want to manage every aspect of their lives from a mobile device. MetroPCS’ 4G LTE service delivers lightning fast Web page browsing and also allows customers to watch and listen to exclusive entertainment and multimedia content from their favorite shows through the MetroSTUDIO application. Quick access to the Android Market™ provides more than 100,000 applications to consumers’ fingertips and Android’s intuitive user interface with Samsung TouchWiz enhancements makes customizing the device’s home screens simple and easy. The Galaxy Indulge’s combination touch screen/QWERTY keyboard means consumers can send messages via e-mail, SMS or social media channels through whichever input method they choose.
“The Galaxy Indulge integrates two of Samsung’s core product investments; the Android platform and bringing powerful and intuitive 4G-enabled devices to the U.S. market,” said Omar Khan, chief strategy officer for Samsung Mobile. “The Galaxy Indulge is loaded with the speed of the Android OS, true mobile broadband connectivity and a 1GHz processor with rich multimedia features for premium movie and TV content.”
The Galaxy Indulge provides complete access to Google Mobile services, including Google Search™, Google Maps™, Gmail™ and YouTube™. This sleek smartphone features a 3 megapixel camera and camcorder with auto-focus, music player, Stereo Bluetooth® capabilities and expandable memory storage up to 32GB. Additionally, the Galaxy Indulge includes a 4GB microSD™ card, preloaded with the action film “IRONMAN 2,” produced by Paramount Pictures(2).
The Samsung Galaxy Indulge is the second LTE-enabled mobile phone offered by MetroPCS, following the Samsung Craft™ which was introduced in late 2010. The Galaxy Indulge will be available in MetroPCS stores and online later this week with a suggested retail price of $399 plus tax.
Visit www.metropcs.com for store location information or to purchase the Samsung Galaxy Indulge online and sign up for service plans. To find out more information on the Samsung Galaxy Indulge, please visit www.samsungwireless.com or www.samsungusanews.com.