Pocket Communications

Pocket Communications is a PCS CDMA 1xRTT provider of unlimited cellular phone service that started in and is based in San Antonio, Texas. It offers service plans similar to those of Cricket Communications and MetroPCS which mostly consist of unlimited local phone service without having to sign up for long-term contracts at very affordable prices compared with other major national cellular carriers.

History

Pocket Communications began in San Antonio, TX in June 2006, Including the Pocket mascot Harry the chimp and has followed an expansion strategy towards south Texas ever since. Besides covering the greater San Antonio area, they service to the north along major roads, reaching as far as Fredericksburg, Texas, and to the south including Laredo, Texas and the Rio Grande Valley. Also, an unconfirmed call to Pocket customer service suggests that other major Texas markets, including Austin and Houston TX, will be covered in the future. Pocket seems to pursue a monolithic coverage model, where all markets are connected by cellular coverage, rather than having islands of service across the nation. They have now released roaming capability via a partnership with MetroPCS to boost coverage and sold at most Pocket stores in Rio Grande valley and San Antonio TX in over 120 locations including 42 local HEB stores. According to information advertised by Pocket over 170,000 have subscribed to its first month free service as of May 12, 2008, just after twenty months of being in the business [ [http://latinamerica.tmcnet.com/news/2007/11/12/3088115.htm Latinamerica.tmc.net; Pocket has over 170,000 customers] ] . 1xRTT data access is available and unlimited directory assistance is also available at an additional charge. Additionally, Pocket offers a prepaid funds account, also known as the Value Pocket, from which can be drawn such features as international calling, long distance, outgoing text messaging (incoming messages are free) and picture messages if such features are not added to the subscriber's plan.

Markets

The current markets for Pocket Communications Include:

*San Antonio, Texas and Surrounding Areas
**Fredericksburg, Texas
*Laredo, Texas
**Rio Bravo, Texas
**El Cenizo, Texas
**Zapata, Texas
*Rio Grande Valley which includes, but is not limited to:
**Brownsville, Texas
**Donna, Texas
**Edinburg, Texas
**Harlingen, Texas
**McAllen, Texas
**Mission, Texas
**Pharr, Texas
**Rio Grande City, Texas
**Roma, Texas
**South Padre Island, Texas
**Weslaco, Texas

External links

* [http://www.pocket.com/ Pocket Communications' official website]