New Sprint Phone Can Be Used Both in the U.S. And Overseas
Posted on: Thursday, 24 February 2005, 21:00 CST
Feb. 25--Sprint Corp. has cut roaming deals in more than 130 countries to allow the company's wireless customers to use a new Sprint phone both in the United States and overseas.
The new phone, the Samsung IP-A790, is the company's first "quad band" phone, allowing it to operate on the Sprint network in the United States, roam on other networks in the country outside of the Sprint service area, and roam overseas on GSM wireless networks.
Because of a difference in technologies, most American travelers have not been able to use their wireless phones overseas. Sprint and chief competitor Verizon Wireless both use CDMA wireless technology. Cingular Wireless, the largest wireless company in the United States, and carriers in most of Europe and some parts of the rest of the world use GSM technology.
The two technologies aren't compatible.
Travelers who have wanted to stay in touch generally rented phones with a new overseas number. The new quad-band phones allow travelers to make and receive calls on their U.S. number.
Sprint's flat-rate pricing for international calls is aimed at business users who frequently travel overseas. Calls on GSM networks overseas cost $1.50 a minute. Calls overseas in countries with CDMA coverage cost 50 cents to 99 cents a minute, plus long-distance charges.
Verizon Wireless has been offering the Samsung phone since last year. Verizon charges $1.29 to $2.49 a minute, depending on the country, plus long-distance charges.
Cingular Wireless, the nation's largest mobile phone service, offers several quad-band phones that operate both overseas and in the United States. Cingular's overseas rates vary from $1.29 a minute to $3.99 a minute.
"The availability of simple pricing and a single device that works on CDMA and international GSM networks is a significant addition to Sprint's portfolio of solutions designed to meet the needs of those customers whose work and play take them around the world," said Harry Campbell, president of emerging and mid markets for Sprint.
The IP-A790 retails for about $550. The flip-style phone has a color screen and built-in camera and videocamera, and plays and downloads multimedia clips from the Sprint Vision network. It's scheduled to be on sale in Sprint stores and online in early March.
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Source: The Kansas City Star (Kansas City, Missouri)
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