MetroPCS introduced new flat-rate plans to coincide with its launch of Research In Motion's BlackBerry Curve 8330, the first smartphone in the flat-rate carrier's lineup. This move puts MetroPCS in direct competition with Boost Mobile's own $50 unlimited plan.

MetroPCS' $50 plan will give customers unlimited talk, text, web browsing, MMS and BlackBerry email access. MetroPCS also said that for an additional $10 per month enterprise customers can get the same features on the BlackBerry Enterprise Server.

MetroPCS had been hinting it was going to introduce a RIM phone soon, though the launch is sooner than expected. Last week, in an interview with the blog GigaOM, MetroPCS COO Tom Keys said the carrier would launch a handset from a "Canadian smartphone maker" in the second or third quarter of 2009.

The phone will be available at Best Buy stores and select MetroPCS outlets in Miami/Ft. Lauderdale, Tampa, Orlando, Jacksonville, Atlanta, Detroit, Dallas, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Sacramento beginning this week. The phone will sell for $449.

Boost Mobile President Matt Carter said the prepaid carrier would be debuting a Qwerty device later this year. Boost currently is offering a $50 per month plan for unlimited voice, texting, walkie-talkie and web browsing. Click here to read our interview with Boost's Carter.

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