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Sprint Launches Nationwide Streaming Video and Audio in United States on the First Built-In MediaPlayer Phone From Samsung

Posted on: Friday, 13 August 2004, 06:00 CDT

OVERLAND PARK, Kan., Aug. 13 /PRNewswire/ -- Sprint today announced the launch of Sprint PCS Vision(SM) Multimedia Services, a service that offers streaming video and audio content available nationwide. The Sprint PCS Vision Multimedia Phone MM-A700 by Samsung(R) will be the first CDMA device in the United States to deliver streaming audio and video content from familiar sources such as CNN, NBC, FOX Sports, The Weather Channel, E! Entertainment, mFlix, Twentieth Century Fox, AccuWeather and 1KTV.

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

Consumers using this first-of-its-kind device and service will be able to access more than 600 new streaming video and audio clips every day, covering the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment. The service offers a wide range of content for everyone - from NFL injury reports to red-carpet interviews from E! Entertainment. The launch of this service further fortifies Sprint's lead in the mobile data market.

"Sprint PCS Vision Multimedia Services represents a milestone in delivering innovative new ways to connect people to the world around them where they want, when they want, in a dramatically new way," said Jeff Hallock, vice president - Product Marketing and Strategy, Sprint. "Whether it's an unforgettable moment during the presidential campaign, a summer games first or simply killing time with a needed fix for the best dressed at the Emmy Awards, Sprint is delivering an experience unlike anything seen before on a mobile phone."

"Samsung is the first in the United States to offer a CDMA phone with the processing power capable of delivering streaming content," noted Peter Skarzynski, senior vice president of Samsung's wireless division. "The MM-A700 by Samsung showcases the breadth of Samsung's capabilities by combining industry-best screens, hi-resolution imaging and streaming video technology in a distinct form factor consumers desire."

The MM-A700 by Samsung enables customers to listen and view audio/video clips on-demand in real time directly from the phone's 262K TFT full-color screen. The content, decompressed and played on the embedded media player, is directly delivered to the handset from the high-speed (CDMA1X) Sprint PCS Vision network, eliminating the download process and the storage of files on the handset. Video and audio content is streamed to the MM-A700 by Samsung at 15 frames per second (fps).

The 4.2-ounce clamshell MM-A700 by Samsung also features a megapixel camera and digital camcorder, allowing consumers to send/receive hi-resolution images or videos with Sprint PCS Picture Mail(SM) and Sprint PCS Video Mail services. Users also will enjoy the added benefit of the MM-A700 by Samsung's Advanced Audio Coding (AAC) quality, providing unparalleled CD-like sound quality when listening to multimedia video and audio content such as Music Tone ringers from Sprint.

Sprint's legacy with mobile multimedia began two years ago with the launch of industry-first technology like 1KTV and Idetic's MobiTV, the leading provider of live and on-demand multimedia content for wireless networks.

With Sprint PCS Vision Multimedia Services, Sprint PCS Vision subscribers can browse and stream the various channels in the service. Initially, Sprint will offer 10 channels to choose from for accessing audio and video content. Content can be accessed in two primary categories:

1) My Channels: a 'basic cable' type package consisting of:

-- Ch. 1 = Sprint TV, which is a compilation of content from NBC, FOX

Sports, The Weather Channel and more. The content and technology for

Sprint TV are being delivered by MobiTV.

-- Ch. 20 = Twentieth Century Fox, that offers free movie trailers;

-- Ch. 49 = The Preview Channel, which offers free previews of all

channels; and

-- Ch. 24 = Athens on Location - free summer games highlights from NBC

through Aug. 29.

2) Premium Channels: this is a more in-depth service that provides more content more frequently as determined by the channel content providers. The additional premium services channels available at launch are:

-- Ch. 2 = CNNtoGO - $4.95/month

-- Ch. 3 = FOX Sports - $4.95/month

-- Ch. 4 = The Weather Channel - $4.95/month

-- Ch. 5 = 1KTV - $4.95/month

-- Ch. 7 = mFlix - $4.95/month

-- Ch. 8 = E! Entertainment - $4.95/month

-- Ch. 14 = AccuWeather - $3.95/month

The providers determine and create the unique mobile viewing content and customers have the opportunity to subscribe to Sprint TV or one specific channel. The content providers offer new clips every day plus hourly updates, ensuring the content is fresh and current. Sprint TV content and premium channels will continue to be expanded.

The MM-A700 by Samsung is available in Sprint Stores nationwide and online at http://www.sprintpcs.com/ for at a retail price of $399.99 or $249.99 after rebate with two-year agreement. Sprint PCS Vision subscribers may add Sprint TV to their existing Sprint PCS Vision plan for $9.99 per month. Or, subscribers may choose the Sprint Multimedia Pack and get unlimited free access to Sprint TV, in addition to Picture Mail, Video Mail, Vision and 100 SMS for just $25.00 per month. All multimedia services plans are in addition to voice calling.

About Sprint

Sprint is a global integrated communications provider serving more than 26 million customers in over 100 countries. With more than 61,000 employees worldwide and over $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/ .

About Samsung Telecommunications America

Samsung Telecommunications America, a Dallas-based subsidiary of Samsung Electronics Company, Ltd., researches, markets and develops wireless handsets and telecommunications products throughout North America. For more information, see STA's website at http://www.samsungusa.com/wireless .

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. is a global leader in semiconductor, telecommunication, digital media and digital convergence technologies with 2003 parent company sales of $36.4 billion and net income of $5.0 billion. Employing approximately 88,000 people in 89 offices in 46 countries, the company consists of six main business units: Corporate Technology Operations, Digital Appliance Business, Digital Media Business, LCD Business, Semiconductor Business and Telecommunication Network Business. Recognized as one of the fastest growing global brands, Samsung Electronics is the world's largest producer of color monitors, color TVs, memory chips, TFT-LCDs and VCRs. For more information, visit http://www.samsung.com/ .

Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20001013/SPRINTLOGOAP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org/PRN Photo Desk, +1-888-776-6555 or +1-212-782-2840

Sprint

CONTACT: Leslie Letts, +1-913-794-3654, office, +1-816-679-4610, PCS, orleslie.j.letts@mail.sprint.com , Kathleen Dunleavy, +1-212-450-9629, office,+1-917-204-7109, PCS, or kathleen.dunleavy@mail.sprint.com , both of Sprint;or Ann Jane Cox of Publicis USA for Samsung, +1-972-628-7743, office,+1-214-498-4966, PCS, annjane.cox@publicis-usa.com

Web site: http://www.sprint.com/http://www.samsungusa.com/wirelesshttp://www.samsung.com/

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