United States Cellular Corporation, d.b.a. U.S. Cellular (nyse: USM), owns and operates the fifth largest wireless telecommunications network in the United States, behind Verizon Wireless, AT&T Mobility, Sprint Nextel,and T-Mobile USA. They currently serve about 6.1 million customers in 126 markets in 26 U.S. states. US Cellular is starting to roll out a 3G network for its customers.

Company Information

U.S. Cellular was created in 1983 as a subsidiary of Telephone and Data Systems (TDS), Inc., which still owns an 80% 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.

U.S. Cellular was the sixth-largest mobile phone company in the United States with 5.5 million customers as of the end of 2007. 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 Chicagoland 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 to receive calls without charge while in their local calling areas including customers of their prepaid service. 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.

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

Timeline

• In 2003, U.S. Cellular acquires 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-talk-like service.
• In 2006, U.S. Cellular acquires the rest of TN-RSA 3 in Eastern TN, formerly known as Eloqui Wireless. Already owning a 1/6th stake in the venture, US Cellular purchased the remaining 5/6 shares.
• In 2007, U.S. Cellular purchases IA RSA 15 in Northwest Iowa.
• As of Q3 2007 Average monthly revenue per unit 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 rev 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 1st, 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.