Sprint Offers Fee Waivers and Credits for Wireless Calls and Texts To and From Japan

OVERLAND PARK, Kan.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--To aid wireless customers in making critical contact with family, friends and emergency personnel in Japan following last week’s earthquake and resulting tsunamis, Sprint (NYSE: S) is waiving and/or crediting fees for wireless calls and text messages to and from Japan for customers who are on Sprint’s networks – retroactive from March 11 and continuing to April 10, 2011.

“It is Sprint’s hope that this continued support of the relief efforts in Japan will further aid family, friends and emergency personnel affected by last week’s earthquake – helping them stay connected, safe and informed”

During times of emergency, it has been shown that text messages may go through when calling capabilities aren't available and may help free up networks for critical communication between first responders, other emergency personnel and aid workers.

Additionally, Sprint is continuing its waiver of standard text-messaging fees for various Japan disaster-relief short codes and mobile-donation campaigns from March 11 until June 30, 2011, including:

• Text “REDCROSS” to “90999” to donate $10 on behalf of the American Red Cross.
• Text “TSUNAMI” to “50555” to donate $10 on behalf of Convoy of Hope, Inc.
• Text “WAVE” to “50555” to donate $10 on behalf of the World Relief Corp. of National Association of Evangelicals.
• Text "JAPAN" or "QUAKE" to “80888” to donate $10 on behalf of The Salvation Army.

“It is Sprint’s hope that this continued support of the relief efforts in Japan will further aid family, friends and emergency personnel affected by last week’s earthquake – helping them stay connected, safe and informed,” said Ralph Reid, Sprint vice president-Corporate Social Responsibility.

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 served more than 49.9 million customers at the end of 2010 and is widely recognized for developing, engineering and deploying innovative technologies, including the first wireless 4G service from a national carrier in the United States; offering industry-leading mobile data services, leading prepaid brands including Virgin Mobile USA, Boost Mobile, and Assurance Wireless; instant national and international push-to-talk capabilities; and a global Tier 1 Internet backbone. Newsweek ranked Sprint No. 6 in its 2010 Green Rankings, listing it as one of the nation’s greenest companies, the highest of any telecommunications company. You can learn more and visit Sprint at www.sprint.com or www.facebook.com/sprint and www.twitter.com/sprint.