Sprint Marks Major Milestone in Mobile Communications with Launch of Relay ID Pack

OVERLAND PARK, Kan.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sprint (NYSE: S) today announced the Sprint Relay ID pack, which allows anyone who has difficulty hearing on their phone and members of the deaf community who use sign language to receive a customized bundle of applications, links, tips, icons, widgets and wallpapers on their Sprint ID-capable Android device. The bundle includes voice mail transcripts, visual and vibrating alerts and readable captions, among others – all available in a single download.

“as these apps have taken into consideration our unique informational and entertainment needs.”

The bundle marks the first time a carrier has developed multiple applications in one package for the needs of the deaf and hard of hearing communities. The Sprint Relay ID pack is currently available on the following Sprint ID devices: LG Optimus S™, Sanyo Zio™, Samsung Transform™, Samsung Epic™ 4G and Samsung Galaxy Tab™.

The Sprint Relay ID pack includes the following applications:

Sprint Mobile Video Relay Services – video relay services for sign language users
Calendar Notifier – provides visual alerts and repeating reminders of calendar events
Handcent SMS – visual alerts and notifications of texts
VideoPlayer – captions on videos downloaded to a secure digital (SD) card
Gmail Notifier – visual and vibrating alerts and reminders for your gmail email
TuneWiki – to read and learn the lyrics to songs
Captionfish.com – captioned movies playing in a customer’s area
AIM Instant Messenger – access telephone relay services through AIM Buddy "SprintIP"
Google Voice – transcribe audio messages left on voice mail into text

According to Claude Stout, executive director, Telecommunications for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Inc. (TDI), "TDI commends Sprint Relay for its ‘Sprint Relay ID pack.’ While TDI has a non-endorsement policy, we salute Sprint for taking the lead as the first telecommunications carrier to give attention to a bundle of new apps that directly benefit users who are deaf and hard of hearing. Only with relevant information and resources included in Sprint's Relay ID pack can we have an exciting "mobile online experience" as these apps have taken into consideration our unique informational and entertainment needs."

Mike Ellis, director-Sprint Relay Service, said, “The Sprint Relay ID pack addresses current and future needs of an important – and growing – segment of the U.S. population. It also demonstrates that Sprint takes corporate responsibility for disabilities. Sprint has provided relay capabilities for more than 20 years, and we’re pleased to now make it even easier for people who have trouble hearing on the phone to use their mobile phones.”

Sprint Relay services capabilities were recently featured on “The Balancing Act on Lifetime Television” where Ellis and Mary Beth Mothersell, Sprint Relay customer relations manager, introduced viewers to Sprint’s communication options for people who are deaf, deaf-blind, hard of hearing or have a speech disability. The segment http://www.thebalancingact.com/story/?id=2910 will air during May.

Sprint Relay services, a leader in the industry, was recently lauded with two major honors for innovation and customer experience. The Paisley Group National Relay TTY Performance Index™ ranked Sprint Relay highest in customer care and speed of service. Sprint Relay also earned ABILITY Magazine’s Best Practices Award for its relay service and its “spirit of inclusion, both in the workplace and in the consumer marketplace.”

Customers with Sprint ID-capable devices can download up to five ID packs onto their phone and easily switch back and forth between them or swap them out for new ones. Sprint ID packs are free to download with an Everything Data plan. Sprint ID packs are tailored to specific interests (e.g. entertainment or golf enthusiast), business needs or favorite brands (e.g. ESPN or MTV).

For more information about Sprint ID and to see all Sprint ID packs, visit www.sprint.com/sprintid.

About Sprint Relay

Sprint is the largest and most technologically advanced Telecommunications Relay Service provider in the nation, providing relay services for 31 states and the federal government, in addition to New Zealand and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. Sprint has more than 20 years of experience in providing relay services to persons who are deaf, hard of hearing, deaf-blind or have a speech disability to communicate over the phone. Sprint’s relay services are available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, with no restriction on the number of calls placed or call length. For more information, visit www.sprintrelay.com.

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 51 million customers at the end of 1Q 2011 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.