MetroPCS: Ring Up 100 Countries For Five Bucks A Month

The discount Dallas-based wireless provider said it is the first North American carrier offering the steeply discounted rate without additional charges.

MetroPCS' service plan lets customers pay by the month instead of minutes, and its services do not require a signed contract, deposit or credit check. For an extra $5 a month, unlimited international calling can be added to MetroPCS' $40, $45 and $50 service plans, including family plans, which already include unlimited long-distance service to the 48 continental states and Puerto Rico.

The first month of service is free with the purchase of a phone and there is no activation fee or hidden charges, the company said.

On March 31, MetroPCS launched service in nine of the top 15 largest metropolitan areas, covering a licensed population of approximately 83 million. Currently, the company has roughly 6.1 million total subscribers.

MetroPCS' plan may prompt larger U.S. wireless carriers to lower calling rates in a market that is highly competitive.

"Pricing is coming down a lot in wireless, especially in the voice side," Auriga USA analyst Chandan Sarkar told Reuters. "This is yet another indication of that."