Leap Wireless Adds New North Carolina Market.

Hickory, a North Carolina town of 34,500 people near the Tennessee border, is the latest market Leap Wireless International, Inc. has entered with its telecommunications service.

The San Diego based wireless carrier announced its entry to its third North Carolina market June 7.

Leap also recently started selling service in Fort Smith, its second Arkansas market, late in May.

Leap specializes in flat-rate, "all-you-can talk" wireless phone service, generally in smaller markets. Its service works toward town centers but only extends so far into rural areas, and does not permit roaming.

The company also recently announced it has completed acquisitions for licenses for Utica, N.Y. and Peoria, Ill.

Leap officials say they own, or have rights to acquire, licenses covering 72.7 million potential customers, or a quarter of the U.S. population.