Amp'd Mobile will begin a soft launch on December 15. The highly anticipated MVNO (Mobile Virtual Network Operator) has captured lots of buzz thanks to its high profile financing and upper-tier phone technology. Before launching the company secured $67 million in VC from partners that included Universal Music Group. Every Amp'd handset will include EV-DO, starting first with the Kyocera Jet.
Pricing has not been announced, but music downloads expected to be sold for around $.99 a song. The pricepoint would match digital music leader iTunes and undercut Sprint's new music download service that charges $2.49 for the same tunes. Other pricing information hasn't been hinted at.
Unlike other MVNO carriers, such as Mobile ESPN and Virgin Mobile USA, Amp'd is using the Verizon Wireless network. Since Verizon's network currently has the largest deployment of EV-DO, the move makes sense.