March 03, 2005
Cricket Breaks Ground with Affordable Prepaid Wireless Service
SAN DIEGO - Cricket Communications, Inc., a leading provider of unlimited local and long distance wireless services, today announced the launch of JumpTM by Cricket® - its new unlimited prepaid wireless service launching tomorrow in its Cricket® markets across the country.
"We are thrilled to offer an affordable, high-quality wireless service to customers who prefer paying as they go, instead of being tied to a monthly bill cycle," said Al Moschner, executive vice president and chief marketing officer for Cricket. "With JumpTM by Cricket®, we're breaking barriers and offering prepaid wireless service at the lowest prices in the industry. Plus, we're not penalizing customers for receiving phone calls by deducting minutes from their prepaid accounts. Never before has a wireless company offered such an affordable service."
Designed to make wireless simple and affordable, JumpTM by Cricket® lets customers place local as well as domestic and international long distance (ILD) calls to more than 60 countries at the industry's lowest cost-per-minute, plus receive free unlimited inbound calls. And to kick off JumpTM by Cricket®, for a limited time customers can take advantage of free inbound and outbound text messaging.
Available through Cricket's direct retail stores and authorized Cricket® dealer locations, customers can purchase a Cricket® phone of their choice and then purchase the prepaid wireless service plan that best fits their needs. Upon purchase, the service will begin working immediately.
With JumpTM by Cricket®, outbound calling costs include:
10 cents per minute to 48 states in the continental U.S., plus Hawaii
18 cents per minute to Alaska
20 cents per minute to Canada and Mexico
Inbound calls are free on an unlimited basis as long as there is a balance in the account. And at no additional charge, JumpTM by Cricket® customers receive voicemail, caller ID, call waiting, and three-way calling. Customers can also purchase Cricket ClicksTM including wallpapers, games, entertainment, sports information, weather, entertainment guides, email and other personal and business content. A full listing of Cricket ClicksTM applications can be found at www.mycricket.com.
JumpTM by Cricket® is available in four packages including:
$15 -prepaid wireless service that expires in 15 days.
$25 -prepaid wireless service that expires in 25 days.
$35 -prepaid wireless service that expires in 35 days.
$50 -prepaid wireless service that expires in 50 days.
Additional time can be purchased by pushing *PAY on their Cricket® phone and paying by credit card, calling 1-800-CRICKET or by visiting any Cricket or authorized Cricket® dealer location.
"There's no question that wireless is the communications vehicle of choice for consumers," continued Moschner. "So why make it so difficult for them? There are people out there who simply don't want to enroll in inflexible, lengthy contracts just so they can use a wireless phone. We began offering customers an alternative to traditional wireless service when we first introduced Cricket® unlimited local calling nearly six years ago. With JumpTM by Cricket® we're offering yet another innovative alternative for consumers, which we believe will be very popular especially with urban youth, as well as those customers looking for a per-minute plan with no monthly bill cycle. We are excited about the launch of JumpTM by Cricket® and its market potential."
About Cricket
Cricket is a simple and affordable wireless solution offering unlimited anytime minutes within a Cricket® calling area over its high-quality, all-digital network. Cricket® service is an affordable wireless alternative to traditional landline service. With a commitment to predictability, simplicity and value as the foundation of its business, Cricket designs and markets wireless products to meet the needs of everyday people. Cricket offers unlimited anytime minutes starting at $29.99 a month (plus taxes and fees) with no long-term agreements required. Cricket® customers can also make long distance calls on an unlimited basis through several packaged offerings or on a per-minute basis. Operating in 39 markets in 20 states stretching from New York to California, Cricket® service is available to customers in more than 840 different municipalities. For more information, please visit www.mycricket.com. Cricket is a business of Leap Wireless International, Inc. [OTCBB: LEAP], headquartered in San Diego, Calif. Leap is a customer-focused company providing innovative mobile wireless services targeted to meet the needs of customers who are under-served by traditional communications companies. For more information visit www.leapwireless.com.
Except for the historical information contained herein, this news release contains "forward-looking statements" reflecting management's current forecast of certain aspects of Leap's future. Some forward-looking statements can be identified by forward-looking words such as "believe," "think," "may," "could," "will," "estimate," "continue," "anticipate," "intend," "seek," "plan," "expect," "should," "would" and similar expressions. This news release is based on current information, which we have assessed but which by its nature is dynamic and subject to rapid and even abrupt changes. Our actual results could differ materially from those stated or implied by such forward-looking statements due to risks and uncertainties associated with our business. Factors that could cause actual results to differ include, but are not limited to:
our ability to attract and retain customers in an extremely competitive marketplace;
our ability to attract, motivate and retain an experienced workforce;
changes in economic conditions that could adversely affect the market for wireless services;
our ability to successfully acquire additional spectrum;
the impact of competitors' initiatives;
our ability to successfully execute service expansion plans;
failure of network systems to perform according to expectations;
our ability to comply with the covenants in our senior secured credit facilities;
failure of the Federal Communications Commission to approve the transfers of the licenses covered by our sale agreement with Verizon Wireless, or to approve the transfers to Cricket Licensee (Reauction), Inc. or to Alaska Native Broadband 1 License, LLC of the respective licenses for which each entity was the winning bidder in the FCC's Auction #58;
global political unrest, including the threat or occurrence of war or acts of terrorism; and
other factors detailed in the section entitled "Risk Factors" included in our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the three months ended September 30, 2004, and in our other SEC filings.
The forward-looking statements should be considered in the context of these risk factors. Investors and prospective investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Leap and the Leap logo design are trademarks of Leap Wireless International, Inc. Cricket is a registered trademark of Cricket Communications, Inc. Cricket +1, Cricket +2, Cricket Unlimited, Cricket Multi Value Plan, and Cricket Clicks are trademarks of Cricket Communications, Inc.
###
"We are thrilled to offer an affordable, high-quality wireless service to customers who prefer paying as they go, instead of being tied to a monthly bill cycle," said Al Moschner, executive vice president and chief marketing officer for Cricket. "With JumpTM by Cricket®, we're breaking barriers and offering prepaid wireless service at the lowest prices in the industry. Plus, we're not penalizing customers for receiving phone calls by deducting minutes from their prepaid accounts. Never before has a wireless company offered such an affordable service."
Designed to make wireless simple and affordable, JumpTM by Cricket® lets customers place local as well as domestic and international long distance (ILD) calls to more than 60 countries at the industry's lowest cost-per-minute, plus receive free unlimited inbound calls. And to kick off JumpTM by Cricket®, for a limited time customers can take advantage of free inbound and outbound text messaging.
Available through Cricket's direct retail stores and authorized Cricket® dealer locations, customers can purchase a Cricket® phone of their choice and then purchase the prepaid wireless service plan that best fits their needs. Upon purchase, the service will begin working immediately.
With JumpTM by Cricket®, outbound calling costs include:
Inbound calls are free on an unlimited basis as long as there is a balance in the account. And at no additional charge, JumpTM by Cricket® customers receive voicemail, caller ID, call waiting, and three-way calling. Customers can also purchase Cricket ClicksTM including wallpapers, games, entertainment, sports information, weather, entertainment guides, email and other personal and business content. A full listing of Cricket ClicksTM applications can be found at www.mycricket.com.
JumpTM by Cricket® is available in four packages including:
Additional time can be purchased by pushing *PAY on their Cricket® phone and paying by credit card, calling 1-800-CRICKET or by visiting any Cricket or authorized Cricket® dealer location.
"There's no question that wireless is the communications vehicle of choice for consumers," continued Moschner. "So why make it so difficult for them? There are people out there who simply don't want to enroll in inflexible, lengthy contracts just so they can use a wireless phone. We began offering customers an alternative to traditional wireless service when we first introduced Cricket® unlimited local calling nearly six years ago. With JumpTM by Cricket® we're offering yet another innovative alternative for consumers, which we believe will be very popular especially with urban youth, as well as those customers looking for a per-minute plan with no monthly bill cycle. We are excited about the launch of JumpTM by Cricket® and its market potential."
About Cricket
Cricket is a simple and affordable wireless solution offering unlimited anytime minutes within a Cricket® calling area over its high-quality, all-digital network. Cricket® service is an affordable wireless alternative to traditional landline service. With a commitment to predictability, simplicity and value as the foundation of its business, Cricket designs and markets wireless products to meet the needs of everyday people. Cricket offers unlimited anytime minutes starting at $29.99 a month (plus taxes and fees) with no long-term agreements required. Cricket® customers can also make long distance calls on an unlimited basis through several packaged offerings or on a per-minute basis. Operating in 39 markets in 20 states stretching from New York to California, Cricket® service is available to customers in more than 840 different municipalities. For more information, please visit www.mycricket.com. Cricket is a business of Leap Wireless International, Inc. [OTCBB: LEAP], headquartered in San Diego, Calif. Leap is a customer-focused company providing innovative mobile wireless services targeted to meet the needs of customers who are under-served by traditional communications companies. For more information visit www.leapwireless.com.
Except for the historical information contained herein, this news release contains "forward-looking statements" reflecting management's current forecast of certain aspects of Leap's future. Some forward-looking statements can be identified by forward-looking words such as "believe," "think," "may," "could," "will," "estimate," "continue," "anticipate," "intend," "seek," "plan," "expect," "should," "would" and similar expressions. This news release is based on current information, which we have assessed but which by its nature is dynamic and subject to rapid and even abrupt changes. Our actual results could differ materially from those stated or implied by such forward-looking statements due to risks and uncertainties associated with our business. Factors that could cause actual results to differ include, but are not limited to:
The forward-looking statements should be considered in the context of these risk factors. Investors and prospective investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Leap and the Leap logo design are trademarks of Leap Wireless International, Inc. Cricket is a registered trademark of Cricket Communications, Inc. Cricket +1, Cricket +2, Cricket Unlimited, Cricket Multi Value Plan, and Cricket Clicks are trademarks of Cricket Communications, Inc.
