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Sprint Is First in United States to Deliver Phone Software Upgrades Over Its Wireless Network

Posted on: Thursday, 6 January 2005, 03:00 CST

OVERLAND PARK, Kan., and LAS VEGAS, Jan. 6 /PRNewswire/ -- Consumer Electronics Show -- As more wireless customers rely on advanced data applications and cutting-edge services, getting the latest software updates is increasingly important. Sprint today announced a new capability that will improve the customer experience by making phone software upgrades as easy as pressing a button -- saving customers from taking a trip to a store. Sprint now offers Sprint PCS Wireless Software Upgrade directly over its wireless network to Sprint PCS Vision(SM) devices. Sprint is the first wireless provider in the United States to offer this service.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20001013/SPRINTLOGO )

The Sprint PCS Wireless Software Upgrade provides a fast, cost-effective way to deliver software upgrades that include the latest improvements and enhancements directly to customers' phones. Customers will receive a text message after a download has occurred, directing them to simply press a button to approve the update. The update time will vary depending on the size and content of the upgrade package.

"With advanced megapixel cameras, camcorders and exciting downloadable content, the embedded operating software on wireless devices is becoming more complex and may occasionally require an update," said John Garcia, senior vice president - Sales and Distribution, Sprint. "With Sprint PCS Wireless Software Upgrade, customers can conveniently get those upgrades directly on their phone without visiting a retail store or calling customer service."

Samsung, the first wireless manufacturer in the United States to include technologies enabling over-the-air wireless upgrades in its handsets for Sprint, recognized the enormous consumer benefits and began including Sprint PCS Wireless Software Upgrade features on its phones with the introduction of the Sprint PCS Vision Phone VI660 by Samsung(R).

The software upgrades are currently supported on seven handsets: the VI660 by Samsung, the Sprint PCS Vision Video Phone VM-A680 by Samsung(R), the Sprint PCS Vision Multimedia Phone MM-A700 by Samsung(R), the Sprint PCS Vision Picture Phone PM-A740 by Samsung(R), the Sprint PCS Vision Ready Link Phone RL-A760 by Samsung(R), the Sprint PCS Vision Multimedia Phone MM-7400 by Sanyo(R) and the Sprint PCS Vision Picture Phone PM-325 by LG(R). The software upgrades will be available on nearly all newly offered Sprint PCS Phones as they are rolled out.

Sprint continues to be an industry leader in wireless data adoption. At the end of third quarter 2004, Sprint had 7.3 million wireless data users, including 5.6 million Sprint PCS Vision customers. Sprint has also announced plans to meet customers' demands for faster wireless data by deploying next- generation EV-DO (Evolution Data Optimized) wireless service at peak data rates of up to 2.4 Mbps to major U.S. metro areas during 2005.

Sprint introduced Sprint PCS Wireless Software Upgrade to support its company-wide initiative to improve the customer experience from purchase to care. Other initiatives include the launch of the Sprint PCS Fair & Flexible(SM) Plan, the wireless industry's first pricing plan available to customers nationwide that adjusts automatically to meet a customer's usage month to month, and the Sprint PCS Better Wireless Guarantee, which ensures new and existing customers are completely satisfied with their service, plan and equipment.

About Sprint

Sprint is a global integrated communications provider serving more than 26 million customers in over 100 countries. With more than $26 billion in annual revenues in 2003, Sprint is widely recognized for developing, engineering and deploying state-of-the-art network technologies, including the United States' first nationwide all-digital, fiber-optic network and an award-winning Tier 1 Internet backbone. Sprint provides local communications services in 39 states and the District of Columbia and operates the largest 100-percent digital, nationwide PCS wireless network in the United States. For more information, visit http://www.sprint.com/ .

Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20001013/SPRINTLOGOAP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org/PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com

Sprint

CONTACT: Laura Tigges of Sprint, +1-913-794-3604,laura.j.tigges@mail.sprint.com

Web site: http://www.cesweb.org/default_flash.asphttp://www.sprint.com/

Source: PRNewswire

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