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Wirefly Launches New 'Test Drive' 100% Customer Satisfaction Program

Posted on: Wednesday, 7 June 2006, 09:00 CDT

Wirefly (www.wirefly.com), an online leader in one-stop comparison shopping for wireless phones and wireless service plans, today announced a new customer-centric initiative designed to cultivate greater consumer adoption and satisfaction in buying wireless products and services online. The new program offers any shopper the opportunity to order any cell phone, PDA, Smartphone or wireless PC card with any new wireless service plan, and if the customer doesn't like their selection - Wirefly will exchange it for another model of their choice or refund 100% of the purchase price.

"Our new 'Test Drive' program allows the customer to see and feel the product, make some calls, check the reception and carrier coverage in their area, and decide whether to keep or return the device," said Brian Westrick, Wirefly's president. "According to industry research firm Compete, almost 80% of Americans first research and shop on the Internet before the majority of them go to a retail store to buy a wireless product. Unquestionably, shopping online for a wireless product is easier, faster, less expensive and offers far greater choice than retail stores, but many consumers still prefer the retail environment."

Westrick continued, "Why go into a store to touch and feel a phone for five minutes, when you can now 'test drive' the phone from Wirefly for up to two weeks. We see this new program as an opportunity to attract the more traditional retail customer and a great bridge towards creating greater consumer confidence in shopping online for wireless products and services."

Wirefly has a long list of e-commerce customer service firsts in its short history. Among its awards and industry acclaim, Wirefly was named "Best in Overall Customer Experience" last year for wireless providers by Keynote Systems, The Internet Performance Authority(R) and the worldwide leader in services that improve online business performance. Keynote's competitive intelligence customer experience studies rely on actual user behavior and feedback to benchmark the customer experience and its impact on brand and conversion. From these and similar industry studies of online consumer shopping behavior, Wirefly developed and launched the 'Test Drive' program in response to consumer desire and satisfaction in the tangible benefits that retail stores provide.

"We recognize that a wireless purchasing decision means that you have to live with that phone for the next year to two years, and we want our customers to be absolutely satisfied with the product. We are extremely committed to ensuring the finest online shopping experience and we believe this new program further showcases Wirefly's dedication to customer satisfaction and service," said David A. Steinberg, CEO of InPhonic, Wirefly's parent company. "Buying a wireless phone today is as much about lifestyle and utility, as it is about price and features. We believe the 'Test Drive' program is also an excellent way for Wirefly to build a deeper customer relationship by demonstrating transaction integrity and providing customers the ability to touch and feel the product - the top two concerns of the hesitant online shopper."

Launched last month, the 'Test Drive' program has already received early acceptance from online shoppers, helping to convince otherwise apprehensive online consumers of the ease in shopping on the Internet for their wireless needs. Going forward, every Wirefly shipment will include a postage-paid return label for easy return or exchange of their wireless device. If a customer elects to change or return a product, they have between 14 and 30 days from activation date with no more than 30 minutes of usage, the time based on which carrier's service the customer has chosen. For full program details, please visit www.wirefly.com. The new program does not supersede established manufacturer or carrier return policies already in place to accommodate returns for device defect or service issues.

About Wirefly

Launched in 2003, Wirefly (www.wirefly.com) is an online leader in one-stop comparison shopping for cell phones, wireless service plans and wireless accessories. A wholly-owned subsidiary of InPhonic, Inc. (NASDAQ:INPC), Wirefly is an authorized dealer for every major cellular carrier, including Cingular Wireless, Verizon Wireless, T-Mobile and Sprint. Wirefly also offers discounts and services not available in retail wireless stores, including real-time online order status and tracking, and the guaranteed lowest price - online or anywhere else -- on cell phone devices from Motorola, Nokia, Samsung, LG, BlackBerry and many other cell phone handset manufacturers. Wirefly.com has been named Best of the Web by Forbes magazine as the "best all-around number portability portal" and "Best in Overall Customer Experience" by Keynote Performance Systems. For more information on Wirefly, its wireless products and its services, visit www.wirefly.com. INPCG.

"Safe Harbor" Statement - Under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, this press release may contain forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Important factors, which could cause actual operating results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements, are detailed in filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission made from time to time by the Company. This press release and statements are current as of the date of the individual announcements and the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly release any revisions to any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date thereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

Source: Business Wire

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