U.S. Cellular

United States Cellular Corporation, d.b.a. U.S. Cellular (NYSE: USM), owns and operates the sixth largest wireless telecommunications network in the United States, behind Verizon Wireless, AT&T Mobility, Sprint Nextel, T-Mobile USA, and MetroPCS. They currently serve about 6.2 million customers in 126 markets in 26 U.S. states.^[1] U.S. Cellular has recently rolled out a 3G network for many of its customers. The company has its headquarters in Chicago, Illinois.

Company Information

U.S. Cellular was created in 1983 as a subsidiary of Telephone and Data Systems (TDS), Inc., which still owns an 81% stake.

Originally, U.S. Cellular used TDMA cell phones in most markets, but the company has completed shifting over to 1xRTT CDMA technology and is currently converting its network to EVDO. U.S. Cellular has since discontinued all analog and TDMA services. US Cellular plans to eventually use GSM based LTE for its future 4G network.

U.S. Cellular was the fifth-largest mobile phone company in the United States with 6.5 million customers as of the end of 2008. The company offers regional coverage in the Pacific Northwest, Midwest, parts of the East and New England. Although headquartered in Chicago, U.S. Cellular did not offer service in the Chicago metropolitan area until it acquired territories from PrimeCo Communications between 2002 and 2003, after the formation of Verizon Wireless.

U.S. Cellular's Unlimited Call-Me feature allows users (including prepaid users) to receive calls without charge while in their local calling area. Customers with a current National plan can also receive incoming calls free nationwide. The company's phones also offer picture messaging and "easyedge" data services. In addition, they offer unlimited incoming text, picture, and video messages.^[2]

The company touts its service, having one of the highest customer retention rates among its competitors, as reported by some market research firms.^[3]

As a public service, U.S. Cellular works with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children to provide free AMBER Alerts via text messaging.

Timeline

• In 2003, U.S. Cellular acquired naming rights to the baseball stadium used by the Chicago White Sox. Formerly known as “Comiskey Park,” the stadium is officially renamed "U.S. Cellular Field." U.S. Cellular and AT&T Mobility (formerly Cingular) exchange wireless assets. U.S. Cellular receives new spectrum in markets next to or overlapping existing operations in 13 states in exchange for its Georgia and northern Florida licenses. U.S. Cellular builds and launches 12 new markets from the transaction's assets over the next two years, including Oklahoma City and St. Louis. U.S. Cellular launches easyedgeSM, its suite of wireless data services.
• In 2004, U.S. Cellular divests its south Texas markets.
• In 2005, U.S. Cellular enters the St. Louis market. St. Louis becomes the second largest market U.S. Cellular serves, after Chicago. U.S. Cellular introduces SpeedTalkSM, its walkie-talkie-like service.
• In 2006, U.S. Cellular acquires the rest of eastern Tennessee's TN-RSA 3, formerly known as Eloqui Wireless. Already owning a 1/6th stake in the venture, US Cellular purchased the remaining 5/6ths of the shares.
• In 2007, U.S. Cellular purchases IA RSA 15 in northwest Iowa.
• As of Q3 2007 Average monthly revenue per user is at $52.71
• As of Q4 2007 $368 million in data revenues. Average monthly revenue per unit is at $51.13. They had a retail postpay churn rate of 1.4%. Have 6,383 total cell sites, have invested $566 million in the cell sites as well as the infrastructure.
• As of Q2 2008 preparing to roll out 3G/EVDO revision A to select markets.
• As of Oct. 28, 2008 U.S. Cellular launched Mobile Broadband, a service allowing customers to access data on their cell phones 10 times faster than before. It brings DSL-like service and capabilities to customers through EVDO (Evolution-Data Optimized) technology, commonly referred to as 3G. The service launched in Chicago and Rockford, Illinois; northwestern Indiana; Tulsa, Oklahoma; Des Moines, Iowa and southern Wisconsin, with more cities to follow in early 2009.
• As of May 1, 2009 U.S. Cellular launched Mobile Broadband in most of Iowa except for western Iowa. In addition to Iowa, parts of Tennessee are now part of U.S. Cellular's Mobile Broadband coverage area.
• As of June 30, 2009 U.S. Cellular expanded its Mobile Broadband coverage in most of Wisconsin, central and northern Illinois, with more to follow.
• Mobile Broadband launched in summer 2009 in parts of Maine and New Hampshire, as well as areas surrounding Tulsa^[4].
• Jay Ellison, the company's Executive VP of Operations, retired at the end of 2009.
• On May 31st, 2010 CEO Jack Rooney retired from the company.
• On June 1st, 2010 Mary N. Dillon assumed the position of CEO.
• As of July 16, 2010 U.S. Cellular launched Nationwide 3G Data Roaming covering 98% of its customer base.
• US Cellular Corporation exercised a right to expand by 20,000 square feet (1,900 m²) at Citicorp Plaza in Chicago, Illinois, which will increase the size of its lease to 232,000 square feet (21,600 m²). US Cellular recently renewed its lease through October 31, 2017.

Phones

The company offers phones manufactured by LG, Samsung, HTC, RIM, Motorola, and Pantech.

Current Phone Models

From U.S. Cellular's website^[5]

• BlackBerry Curve 8530 (Black or Red)
• BlackBerry Curve 9330 (Q4 2010)
• BlackBerry Bold 9650
• BlackBerry Style 9670 (December 2010)^[6]
• HTC Desire
• HTC Snap
• HTC Touch Pro 2
• LG UX220
• LG UX310 Helix
• LG UN430 Wine II (Titanium Gray or Rose)
• LG UN510 Banter Touch (Q4 2010)
• LG UN610 Mystique
• LG UX700 Bliss (Black or White)
• LG US670 Optimus (December 2010)^[7]
• LG US740 Apex (November 2010)
• Motorola WX404 Grasp
• Motorola W845 Quantico
• Pantech CDM8635
• Samsung R330 Stride
• Samsung R351 Freeform
• Samsung R580 Profile (Q4 2010)
• Samsung R630 Messager Touch (Black or Blue)
• Samsung R880 Acclaim
• Samsung i225 Exec
• Samsung i500 Mesmerize (Galaxy S) (October 27, 2010)

Leadership

Executive Leadership

• Rebecca S. Mehan, President and Chief Executive Officer
• Ashley M. Wray, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer
• Michael S. Irizarry, Ph.D., Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer^{[citation needed]}
• Steven T. Campbell, Executive Vice President, Finance, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

Board of Directors

• Leroy T. Carlson, Jr. Chairman of the Board, President and CEO of TDS
• LeRoy T. Carlson Chairman Emeritus of TDS
• Walter C.D. Carlson Non-executive Chairman of the Board of TDS
• Mary Dillon, President and CEO
• Kenneth R. Meyers Executive VP and CFO of TDS
• James Barr III
• Harry Harczak, Jr.
• J. Samuel Crowley
• Paul-Henri Denuit
• Ronald E. Daly

Corporate headquarters

The company has its headquarters in almost 140,000 square feet (13,000 m²) in the Citicorp Plaza complex in O'Hare, Chicago, Illinois, near O'Hare International Airport.^[9][10] US Cellular's lease will expire in September 2011. The company stated in 2008 that it hired CB Richard Ellis to help determine whether the company should stay in its current headquarters facility, move to central Chicago, or move to the Chicago suburbs.^[10]

Corporate sponsorship

U.S. Cellular owns the naming rights to U.S. Cellular Field, home of the Chicago White Sox; U.S. Cellular Coliseum in Bloomington, Illinois, home of the Bloomington Extreme indoor football team and the Bloomington PrairieThunder, a minor league hockey team; U.S. Cellular Arena in Milwaukee, former home of the Milwaukee Bucks and current home of the UW-Milwaukee Panthers men's basketball team and the Milwaukee Wave professional indoor soccer team; Meadowbrook U.S. Cellular Pavilion, an outdoor amphitheater concert venue in Gilford, New Hampshire; and the U.S. Cellular Center, an arena in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. It has opened the U.S. Cellular pavilion in Hadlock Field, home of the Portland Sea Dogs in Portland, Maine. U.S. Cellular is the official wireless sponsor for the St. Louis Cardinals and St. Louis Rams, as well as a Hall of Fame Partner of the Chicago Bears.^[11]

U.S. Cellular purchased the facility naming rights to U.S. Cellular Community Park in a six year, $650,000 agreement. ^[12]

U.S. Cellular is the presenting sponsor of the August 1, 2009 Nascar Nationwide Series race at Iowa Speedway. The race was titled the U.S. Cellular 250.

Additional corporate sponsorship includes the Calling All Communities and Calling All Teachers programs as well as the Associate Matching Gifts program

Sound Logo

The sonic logo, tag, audio mnemonic was produced by Musikvergnuegen and written by Walter Werzowa from the Austrian 1980s sampling band Edelweiss.^[14]