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Sprint and Sanyo Debut PCS Vision(SM) Ready Link Phones Featuring Nationwide Two-Way Communication at the Touch of a Button

Posted on: Monday, 17 November 2003, 06:00 CST

OVERLAND PARK, Kan., Nov. 17 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Sprint and Sanyo today debuted the PCS Vision(SM) Ready Link Phones by Sanyo RL2000 and RL2500, featuring "push and talk" capability for nationwide two-way communication. The phones can easily be used like a walkie-talkie to communicate nationwide with other PCS Ready Link customers or to make "standard" clear calls, in addition to supporting PCS Vision services. Both handsets feature a built-in speakerphone for convenient, hands-free conversations. The PCS Phones by Sanyo RL2000 and RL2500 are available nationwide in Sprint Stores, online at http://www.sprintpcs.com/ and through Sprint business channels for a suggested retail price of $299.99 with special rebate offers depending on the service agreement.

The new nationwide walkie-talkie style service called PCS Ready Link gives customers a quick, convenient way to communicate one-on-one or to groups of up to five with the simple push of a button. Ideal for short "get in, get out" conversations, PCS Ready Link is an efficient and cost-effective way to quickly access co-workers, clients, suppliers, family and friends anywhere on the enhanced Sprint Nationwide PCS Network. The new service makes its debut on the two new PCS Vision Ready Link Phones by Sanyo, including ruggedized and clamshell designs, complementing a comprehensive suite of Sprint wireless voice and data products to help increase productivity for mobile workers and individuals.

"Sprint has historically been an industry leader in wireless devices and service integration. The launch of the Sanyo RL2000 and RL2500 continues this tradition by offering advanced, yet stylish, handsets that are tightly linked to a key nationwide service, PCS Ready Link," said Len Lauer, chief operating officer and president of the consumer division of Sprint. "The overall customer experience of PCS Ready Link will be unrivaled because only Sprint can offer the complete package of a nationwide push-to-talk service on handsets that also make clear calls and roam when needed, support additional PCS Vision data services, and allow customers to easily and conveniently maintain separate personal and company calling lists."

"The Sanyo RL2000 and RL2500 offer superb 'push and talk' technology and a full complement of in-demand features, including an excellent speakerphone, color LCD displays and convenient answering machine functionality," said Atsushi Kodera, group vice president and general manager of Sanyo Fisher Company's Wireless Communications Division. "These phones are designed specifically for use with Sprint's new nationwide PCS Ready Link service and PCS Vision data services. Both are feature-rich handsets that are fun to use at home, at work or on the road."

The RL2000 features a sporty blue and black ruggedized cover and an easy-to-grip, bar-style design, ideal for use on-the-go. In addition, it offers:

* A thumb-operable PCS Ready Link button on the side of the phone to

instantly speak with family members, friends or co-workers from

coast-to-coast.

* A top-quality, built-in speakerphone for enjoying hands-free calls and

letting friends join the conversation.

* A 1.7-inch, 4,096-color STN LCD display showing the phone's main menu,

features and modes, and providing an exciting, high-quality viewing

experience with PCS Vision-enabled Web sites, downloadable Java-based

games and screen savers.

* Built-in answering machine allowing the user to screen calls or to

answer anytime while the caller is leaving a message.

* Digital talk time of up to 4.5 hours with included standard Lithium

Ion battery. Digital standby time is up to 5.8 days.

* The RL2000 measures 5.06"H x 2.18"W x 1.10"D. Weight is 5.3 ounces.

The RL2500 is the first clamshell-design phone that Sanyo has introduced in the United States to include a built-in speakerphone. In addition, it offers:

* A side-mounted, thumb-operable PCS Ready Link button.

* Two 65,536-color TFT LCD displays, including a 2.1-inch main display

and 1-inch sub display.

* Built-in answering machine functionality.

* Digital talk time of up to 3.25 hours with included standard Lithium

Ion battery. Digital standby time is up to 3.75 days.

* The RL2500 measures 3.60"H x 1.85"W x 1.04"D. Weight is 3.71 ounces.

PCS Vision(SM) from Sprint is optionally available when using these phones. The service allows customers to browse the Internet wirelessly with speeds comparable to a home computer's dial-up connection; check personal and corporate e-mail; download polyphonic ringers and colorful, graphically-rich games and screen savers; and take and receive pictures on select Vision-enabled PCS Phones.

The PCS Phones by Sanyo RL2000 and RL2500 specifically support the following PCS Vision applications:

* Web - PCS Vision provides an improved Web experience with downloads,

icons and color graphic versions of popular Internet sites.

* Games - PCS Vision enables Sprint and its development partners to move

the wireless game experience from the text-based games of today to

graphically-rich, colorful brand name games on Vision-enabled PCS

Phones using the Java 2 platform, Micro Edition (J2ME(TM)).

* Ringers - Sprint was the first to offer polyphonic ringtones and now,

with Vision-enabled PCS Phones from Sprint, users can express even

more personality with hundreds of unique downloadable ringers,

including the latest music releases, showtunes and sound effects that

can be assigned to specific numbers in the address book.

* PCS Business Connection(SM) - Stay connected to your personal or

company email with access to multiple inboxes. This includes up to

two Internet-based mailboxes such as Yahoo! and Earthlink, as well as

one corporate account using Microsoft(R) Outlook(R) or Lotus Notes(R)

for quick, real-time access to email, calendar, company directory,

personal contacts and attachments -- all on any Internet-ready PCS

Phone, laptop or handheld device connected to the Internet.

* Messaging - PCS Vision makes wireless messaging services from Sprint

an extension of the desktop experience with fully functioning

Web-based PCS Mail, PCS Short Mail, Wireless Chat and Messaging Fun

games.

* Screen Savers - PCS Vision allows customers to personalize their

wireless service by wirelessly downloading screen savers right from

their phone, many featuring synchronized animation.

About Sprint

Sprint is a global integrated communications provider serving more than 26 million customers in over 100 countries. With approximately 70,000 employees worldwide and nearly $27 billion in annual revenues, 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/ .

About Sanyo

Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd. is a $20 billion manufacturer and distributor of consumer and commercial electronics, including multimedia and telecommunication products. Based in Chatsworth, California, Sanyo Fisher Company (a division of Sanyo North America Corporation, a subsidiary of Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.) markets PCS phones, audio systems, portable and mobile audio equipment, televisions, DVD players, dictation machines, digital still cameras, home appliances, LCD projectors, security video equipment and air conditioning systems.

For more information, visit Sanyo Wireless Communications online at http://www.sanyowireless.com/ .

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