----It's T-Minus Zero and Sprint PCS is Go for Launch
for Advanced Wireless Service in Houston
Invites Houston Residents and Businesses to "Go For Launch" and
Experience Dramatic Improvements Over Cellular and Other Wireless
Services
HOUSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 24, 1998-- ''The Clear Alternative to Cellular is Now in Houston''
The city that's home to the astronauts and the heart of the space program can now experience a different kind of launch -- the
launch of crystal-clear wireless communications through Sprint PCS. Sprint PCS (Personal Communication Services) ushered
in a new era of wireless service for Houston today with the launch of its area network.
The Houston launch is the final link in the Texas chain of Sprint PCS service areas, enabling Texans to stay connected all across
the state in the following cities: Dallas, Fort Worth, San Antonio, Austin, Corpus Christi, McAllen, Harlingen and Brownsville.
Houston adds 14 metropolitan markets to the total number of metropolitan markets where Sprint PCS service is available.
''Houston -- a city known for pioneering technology -- is now part of the next generation of wireless services with Sprint
PCS,'' said David Smith, area vice president for Sprint PCS. ''We're not just providing Houston consumers with a better
phone, we're providing them with a better connection that's more clear, more affordable and more secure than conventional
cellular services. We want people to experience that quality for themselves, so we're inviting them to 'go for launch' and make a
call on us at any of our Sprint PCS stores in the area.''
For the launch of Sprint PCS into the Houston market, Smith said the company will offer the following promotional package:
$30 for 200 minutes per month; $50 for 500 minutes per month plus free long distance; $50 rebate on every handset.
Houston is the latest major U.S. metropolitan area to begin wireless service on the Sprint PCS network, which is the largest,
100-percent digital, 100-percent PCS nationwide wireless network using a single technology. It offers customers nationwide
service, superior clarity and affordable service plans. Sprint PCS network encompasses 4,000 cities and communities across
the country, including 222 metropolitan markets.
Smith outlined the main advantages of Sprint PCS over existing wireless services:
CLEAR COMMUNICATIONS
Sprint PCS service provides crystal-clear call quality, virtually eliminating cross-talk and static. Sprint PCS utilizes Code
Division Multiple Access, or CDMA, technology.
Sprint PCS calls are encoded, which drastically reduces eavesdropping and unauthorized cloning of subscriber
identification numbers common to conventional cellular systems.
Sprint PCS offers the Samsung SCH-2000, the first CDMA phone with voice-activated dialing. Also exclusively from
Sprint PCS, is the Sprint PCS Touchpoint, the phone with the mouse, with a large display screen ideal for Sprint PCS
text messaging. Both of these phones have suggested retail price of $179.99.
Sprint PCS offers consumers a compact phone manufactured by Sony, the Sony Z-100. The small phone has a unique
flip down microphone arm and has a suggested retail price of $199.99.
Sprint PCS also offers consumers two phones from Samsung, the SCH-1000 and the SCH-1900, with suggested retail
price of $99.99.
Sprint PCS offers two dual-band phones each with suggested retail prices of $179.99 and $149.99. Dual-band phone
options include the Sony CM-B1201SPR and the QUALCOMM QCP-2700.
CLEARLY COMMUNICATED
There's no long-term, cellular-style contract commitment.
Affordable service plans are generally less than comparable service offerings from conventional cellular systems. The
basic Sprint PCS rate plan for Houston consumers will start as low as $16.99 per month.
Most Sprint PCS service packages include at no additional charge: voicemail, caller ID, call waiting, three-way calling,
detailed billing and more. There is no service activation fee or separate interconnection charge.
The first minute of each incoming call is free in customers' home service area.
CLEAR ACROSS THE COUNTRY
Finally, the United States will have a true nationwide PCS system that is easy to use with service features that work the
same way in each Sprint PCS market. Also, as customers travel between Sprint PCS markets, they can be reached by
simply dialing their Sprint PCS phone number.
The Sprint PCS nationwide calling plans and pricing are as follows:
-- $69.99 per month for 600 included minutes -- additional
minutes are 25 cents per minute.
-- $99.99 per month for 1,000 included minutes -- additional
minutes are 25 cents per minute.
-- $149.99 per month for 1,500 included minutes -- additional
minutes are 25 cents per minute.
-- Pay no long distance charges on calls to anywhere in the
United States made from any Sprint PCS metropolitan market
(long distance charges apply on roaming calls made off the
Sprint PCS network). Nationwide roaming charges are 69 cents
per minute, while Texas roaming charges are 39 cents per minute.
-- Sprint PCS service, handsets and accessories are available at Sprint PCS retail centers around Houston. Sprint PCS stores
are open 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Monday through Saturday, and 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday at these locations:
-- 1709 Post Oak Blvd.; Houston, TX 77056
-- 1501 Bay Area Blvd.; Webster, TX 77546
-- 2036 Westheimer; Houston, TX 77098
-- 2610 S. Hwy. 6; Houston, TX 77082
-- 6809 Southwest Freeway; Houston, TX 77074
(to open in December 1998)
Sprint PCS, Sprint and RadioShack have an alliance that allows consumers to purchase Sprint PCS phones and services
at RadioShack stores in Houston. A full range of Sprint-branded communications services and products are available at
all RadioShack stores in the area.
Additionally, Sprint PCS service, handsets and accessories are available through an agreement with Foley's, Best Buy,
Circuit City, Dillard's, Office Max, Office Depot, Boater's World, Computer City, Ritz Camera, Sam's Club and
Montgomery Ward.
Consumers also can purchase a Sprint PCS handset by calling 800/480-4PCS. The handset is then shipped to the
customer via UPS (United Parcel Service) within 48 hours.
Lucent Technologies, Nortel Networks and Motorola provided the network infrastructure equipment for the Sprint PCS
CDMA-based network in all markets launching this year. Nortel Networks provided the equipment for the Sprint PCS
network in Houston and all other Texas markets.
''With our wireless operations headquartered in Dallas, we're particularly proud to be a part of making clear Sprint PCS
connections possible across much of Texas,'' said Matt Desch, president, Wireless, Nortel Networks. ''Today's launch lets
Sprint PCS customers stay in touch from Houston to Dallas using state-of-the-art digital wireless technology from Nortel
Networks.''
Sprint PCS has the largest 100 percent digital, 100 percent PCS nationwide wireless network in the United States, already
serving 222 metropolitan markets which include more than 4,000 cities and communities across the country. Sprint PCS,
together with its affiliates and Sprint Corporation [NYSE:FON - news], has licensed PCS coverage of nearly 270 million
people in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Sprint PCS, with headquarters in Kansas City, Mo., is a
partnership of Sprint Corporation, Tele-Communications Inc. (Nasdaq:LBTYA - news; TCI), Cox Communications Inc.
[NYSE:COX - news] and Comcast Corporation [Nasdaq:CMCSA - news].
For more information, visit the Sprint PCS Web site at www.sprintpcsnews.com. |
