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Which U.S. Carriers Will Get the Galaxy S III?

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Samsung will be announcing its ‘Next Galaxy’ device at an event in London on May 3rd. And while there has been a lot of speculating about what the device may or may not, there hasn’t been much speculation on which American carriers will see the device. So, we here at Gotta Be Mobile have taken it upon ourselves to make some bold predictions when it comes to which American carriers might end up getting the next Galaxy smartphone, presumed to be called the Galaxy S III.

As it stands, there are only two carriers that are confirmed to be getting the device. Both Vodafone UK and O2, another United Kingdom based carrier, have said that they will be stocking the device when it arrives.

Other carriers have remained mum.

A Galaxy S III dummy unit.

Read: Samsung Galaxy S III Release Date and Rumor Roundup.

But that doesn’t mean that we can’t made a few educated guesses about which U.S. based carriers might be seeing the device. None of the big four – AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, Verizon – have said anything official just yet so all we can do is guess based on history, the current state of the mobile world and what evidence that we have.

So, with that, let’s take a look at which U.S. carriers may or may not be getting one of the hottest smartphones of the year, the Samsung Galaxy S III.

AT&T

First on the list is AT&T which has used 2012 to shore up its 4G LTE lineup. The Samsung Galaxy S III is rumored to be a 4G LTE device and it very well could be the best 4G LTE device ever made.

Right now, AT&T needs to do everything it can to keep pace with Verizon and its 4G LTE network which now dwarfs AT&T’s in terms of footprint.

It’s helping its own cause by offering up three of the best 4G LTE devices on the market in the HTC One X, Nokia Lumia 900 and the Samsung Galaxy Note, but adding the Galaxy S III would add another solid option.

AT&T has also played host to many Galaxy S devices in the past, including the Galaxy S II and the Galaxy S II Skyrocket.

Yes, the carrier’s 4G LTE lineup is crowded but it’s hard to see it passing up a new Galaxy device.

Chances that AT&T Will Get the Galaxy S III: 80%

Sprint

AT&T is playing 4G LTE catchup with Verizon and Sprint is playing 4G LTE catchup to both AT&T and Verizon. The carrier just launched its first 4G LTE devices, the Samsung Galaxy Nexus and the LG Viper 4G LTE and it will soon offer the HTC EVO 4G LTE.

Sprint, like AT&T, has offered the earlier versions of the Galaxy S and while the Galaxy Nexus’ recent launch is a little worrisome, it’d be hard to see Sprint pass on a 4G LTE device of this caliber especially when the carrier hosted both the Nexus S 4G and the Galaxy S II Epic 4G Touch at the same time.

It would certainly help Sprint’s cause if it had the EVO 4G LTE, Galaxy Nexus and Galaxy S III as its first 4G LTE smartphones.

Chances that Sprint Will Get the Galaxy S III: 80%

T-Mobile

Sure, AT&T and Sprint need help but T-Mobile needs it more. The carrier has lost customers to other carriers, quarter after quarter, due to the iPhone and the 4G LTE.

Translation: It needs all the help it can get and the Samsung Galaxy S III would be a bit of a remedy.

If 4G LTE limits the Galaxy S III to the S4 dual-core chip, perhaps T-Mobile could offer a quad-core Galaxy S III on its HSPA+ network.

That would certainly grab people’s attention.

In any event, the chances of a T-Mobile Galaxy S III seem likely considering the place the carrier is in and the fact that the Galaxy S II was one its top smartphones last year.

Chances that T-Mobile Will Get the Galaxy S III: 90%

Verizon

Verizon is the only U.S. carrier that has seen any sort of information leak out about a Galaxy S III launch. A leaked roadmap has seemingly confirmed that the device is destined to land on Verizon’s 4G LTE network.

As of now, its high-end 4G LTE devices are Motorola phones and the Galaxy Nexus so it could certainly use another high-end device to compete with AT&T and Sprint.

It could advertise its network as the largest 4G LTE network in the U.S. which would certainly entice customers who aren’t willing to wait for AT&T and Sprint.

Verizon seems like a likely destination for the Galaxy S III, and while we can’t say 100% just yet, we feel like it’s almost a certainty.

Chances that Verizon Will Get the Galaxy S III: 95%

AT&T Galaxy S IIOther U.S. Carriers

Believe it or not there, there are other carriers out there not called AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile or Verizon. In fact, a few of these carriers will likely be getting the Samsung Galaxy S III.

While there is no evidence yet, U.S. Cellular seems like a likely destination. The carrier had the Galaxy S II and it now has a 4G LTE network it needs to promote.

MetroPCS is another possibility as it too has a 4G LTE network in place.

C-Spire could also offer it but it may not choose to do so until September when it rolls out its 4G LTE network.

Where do you think the Samsung Galaxy S III will end up?

8 Comments

8 Comments

  1. ThoreauHD

    05/02/2012 at 8:56 am

    T-mobile’s main selling point is wifi calling/VOIP, which is basically the same as not having service.  They have bigger problems than a new phone.  They don’t have service, and have no money to expand their service. 

    That government blocked AT&T merger screwed them over royally.  Thanks Eric Holder and Obama.  Ropes and chains you can believe in!  Obama be praised.  Another carcass on the pyre of government picked winners and losers.

    • Enoel69

      05/02/2012 at 11:02 am

      I would say thanks to DOJ and FCC for protecting the consumer and ensuring competition thus preventing a duopoly where the two big Networks can just collude to hike up monthly plans or nickel and dime customers for every byte. Tmo and Sprint to some extent act as a buffer to disrupt the collusion and hiking of cell prices on our cellular space.

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