-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001237606-03-000001.txt : 20030605
<SEC-HEADER>0001237606-03-000001.hdr.sgml : 20030605
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030605143253
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001237606-03-000001
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030513
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030605

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			HECHT NIKOS
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001237606

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-21924
		FILM NUMBER:		03733937

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O ASPEN ADVISORS LLC
		STREET 2:		152 W 57TH ST
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10019

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			METROCALL HOLDINGS INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000906525
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	RADIO TELEPHONE COMMUNICATIONS [4812]
		IRS NUMBER:				541215634
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		6677 RICHMOND HWY
		CITY:			ALEXANDRIA
		STATE:			VA
		ZIP:			22306
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7036606677

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		6910 RICHMOND HWY
		CITY:			ALEXANDRIA
		STATE:			VA
		ZIP:			22306

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	METROCALL INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19930608
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>

<ownershipDocument>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2003-05-13</periodOfReport>


    <notSubjectToSection16>1</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000906525</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>METROCALL HOLDINGS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>MTOH.OB</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001237606</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>HECHT NIKOS</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeSecurity>
        <securityTitle>
            <value>Common Stock</value>
        </securityTitle>
        <transactionDate>
            <value>2003-05-13</value>
            <footnoteId id="F1"/>
        </transactionDate>
        <transactionCoding>
            <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
            <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
            <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            <footnoteId id="F1"/>
        </transactionCoding>
        <transactionTimeliness>
            <value></value>
        </transactionTimeliness>
        <transactionAmounts>
            <transactionShares>
                <value>5000</value>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </transactionShares>
            <transactionValue>
                <value>75000</value>
            </transactionValue>
            <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                <value>A</value>
            </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
        </transactionAmounts>
        <postTransactionAmounts>
            <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                <value>108529</value>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
        </postTransactionAmounts>
        <ownershipNature>
            <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <value>I</value>
            </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            <natureOfOwnership>
                <value>By Manager of Investment Advisor</value>
            </natureOfOwnership>
        </ownershipNature>
    </nonDerivativeSecurity>

    <nonDerivativeSecurity>
        <securityTitle>
            <value>Common Stock</value>
        </securityTitle>
        <transactionDate>
            <value>2003-06-04</value>
        </transactionDate>
        <transactionCoding>
            <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
            <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
            <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
        </transactionCoding>
        <transactionTimeliness>
            <value></value>
        </transactionTimeliness>
        <transactionAmounts>
            <transactionShares>
                <value>108529</value>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </transactionShares>
            <transactionValue>
                <value>8112542.75</value>
            </transactionValue>
            <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                <value>D</value>
            </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
        </transactionAmounts>
        <postTransactionAmounts>
            <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                <value>0</value>
            </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
        </postTransactionAmounts>
        <ownershipNature>
            <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <value>I</value>
            </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            <natureOfOwnership>
                <value>By Manager of Investment Advisor</value>
            </natureOfOwnership>
        </ownershipNature>
    </nonDerivativeSecurity>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">This transaction was reported in the Form 4 filed on May 14, 2003, by Aspen Advisors LLC.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Nikos Hecht, managing member of Aspen Advisors LLC and managing member of Aspen Capital LLC (General Partner of Aspen Partners, a series of Aspen Capital Partners, L.P., which holds 1% of Aspen Partners), disclaims beneficial ownership of the securities except to the extent of the 1% pecuniary interest, as calculated pursuant to Rule 16a-1(a)(2) and (a)(3).</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Nikos Hecht, Managing Member of Aspen Advisors LLC</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-06-05</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----