MetroPCS Unveils First 4G Smart Phone

MetroPCS announced today the Samsung Galaxy Indulge, a phone the company is billing as the first commercially-available 4G LTE phone.

Running Android 2.2, the 3.5-inch Indulge is slightly smaller than preceding members of the Galaxy S series. It also lacks the advanced AMOLED display. But it carries a 1GHz Hummingbird processor, which is at least as powerful as the Galaxy S. The device also features a 3-megapixel camera and camcorder, 32GB of internal storage, and a microSD card equipped with a copy of Iron Man 2.

Priced at $399 with no contract, Indulge's price point might seem a bit steep. But Metro PCS offers service plans starting at $50 a month, and MetroPCS also offers pay-as-you-go plans, though it isn't clear whether that will be offered with this phone.

A number of LTE phones, including the HTC Thunderbird and Samsung 4G LTE, were rolled out at this year's Consumer Electronics Show. The Indulge, however, will be the first of its kind to make it to the market.

MetroPCS CEO Roger Linquist said at a technology conference in November that the company plans to launch several LTE handsets in 2011.

The Indulge will be available in stores later this week.

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