Sprint Customers Expected to Ring Up and Text Friends and Family to Say “Happy New Year!”

OVERLAND PARK, Kan.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Say “Happy New Year” wirelessly. That is exactly what Sprint (NYSE:S) is expecting its customers will do, based on historical network trends. Sprint’s network team has taken steps to bolster its wireless networks so that everyone who intends to use their Sprint devices to send “New Year’s” cheer can have a great experience when making those important connections with friends and family.

“Sprint 3G Data Service Speeds Top AT&T and Verizon in Download Performance Test”

“New Year’s is one of the highest ‘text messaging’ days of the year,” said Bob Azzi, senior vice president of network services for Sprint. “We anticipate traffic volumes this New Year’s to be about 200 percent, double the normal rate. Every year, we enhance our networks in areas like New York's Times Square, Las Vegas and in other cities across the nation where our customers may be celebrating.”

How do you plan to ring in the New Year wirelessly?

Sprint subscribers can indicate how they prefer to ring in the New Year wirelessly by texting their vote to 22331.

A) Sending a text message
B) Sending a picture message
C) Calling loved ones
D) Sending a video message showing how much fun you’re having ringing in the New Year
E) Using Nextel Direct Connect®, the industry’s leading push-to-talk service, to communicate instantly with family, friends, and co-workers
F) Using Sprint 3G or 4G mobile broadband service to access your social network as the clock counts down to the New Year

* There is no charge to participate in the poll. Poll results are expected to be posted on Buzzaboutwireless.com the week of Jan. 5. Participants in the poll will receive the results via free text message.

Network Investment

Since 2006, Sprint has invested more than $15 billion in capital largely to enhance its networks. Across the country, thousands of cities received the benefit of this major investment. Sprint’s wireless networks are performing at their best-ever levels, and independent third-party reports confirm Sprint’s networks are performing very well relative to the competition’s.

“Holidays and large-scale events do put additional load on wireless networks, so preparation is critical to ensure high-performing networks, when demand is at its highest,” said Azzi. “Sprint’s experience includes preparing for holidays; sponsorship events, such as NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races and the Super Bowl; network preparations before, during and after natural disasters; and political conventions and events, including the upcoming presidential inauguration. Every event provides an opportunity for us to put our experience into action for our customers, so that they have a great experience when using their Sprint devices and services.”

In addition to operating two wireless networks, Sprint operates America’s largest, most dependable 3G network*, providing customers access to the mobile Web, e-mail and various social networking sites – wirelessly and on the go. Gizmodo, a well-respected technology blog with more than 80 million page views a month in traffic, recently announced that consistent testing of Sprint’s 3G network in eight cities selected by the blog showed Sprint unequivocally beating both AT&T and Verizon in download performance speeds.

Current and prospective customers can view coverage maps using the Sprint Coverage Tool, which is available at www.sprint.com/coverage and at self-service, touch-screen kiosks at many Sprint retail stores.

Related Links:

Press release dated Oct. 22, 2008: “Thanks to Millennials, Older Adults Increasingly Adopt Text Messaging”
Press release dated Oct. 30, 2008: “Sprint to Rejuvenate Nextel National Network”
Press release dated Dec. 18, 2008: “Sprint 3G Data Service Speeds Top AT&T and Verizon in Download Performance Test”

About Sprint Nextel

Sprint Nextel offers a comprehensive range of wireless and wireline communications services bringing the freedom of mobility to consumers, businesses and government users. Sprint Nextel is widely recognized for developing, engineering and deploying innovative technologies, including two wireless networks serving nearly 51 million customers at the end of the third quarter 2008; industry-leading mobile data services; instant national and international push-to-talk capabilities; and a global Tier 1 Internet backbone. For more information, visit www.sprint.com.

* Largest based on square miles (inclusive of roaming). Dependability based on independent, third-party drive tests for 3G data connection success, session reliability and signal strength for the top 50 most populous markets, March to September 2008.