May 05, 2005
Cricket Launches Affordable Text Messaging to Mexico for Its Customers
SAN DIEGO - Cricket Communications, Inc., a leading provider of unlimited wireless services, today announced that it launched international text messaging to Mexico for its Cricket® customers across the country. Priced at just $.10 per outgoing message and free for each incoming text message, Cricket's text messaging to Mexico is designed for its growing Hispanic customer base, which today accounts for approximately 20 percent of Cricket customers.
"We are pleased to offer international text messaging to Mexico, giving our customers another affordable option to stay in touch with friends, family and business associates," said Al Moschner, executive vice president and chief marketing officer of Cricket. "Domestic text messaging has been a big hit with our current Cricket customer base. On average, more than a third of our customers text message each month. We believe that text messaging to Mexico will be just as popular."
Text messaging to Mexico is available in all Cricket markets for customers on Cricket's Unlimited Access, Unlimited Plus and Unlimited Classic rate plans. Cricket subscribers can get text messaging to Mexico on a prepaid basis. Customers can sign up for a $5 Flex BucketTM account and their use of text messaging to Mexico will be deducted from this account at only $0.10 per outgoing text message. Customers can use the product as long as they have money in their Flex Bucket, have a text messaging-capable handset, and have the text messaging feature enabled on their service.
"As the industry's value leader, we felt it was important to offer an affordable text messaging service for our customers," said Moschner. "We believe that the convenience of text messaging to Mexico coupled with the low price will resonate well with our customer base."
About Cricket
Cricket is a simple and affordable wireless solution offering unlimited mobile services over our high-quality, all-digital network. Predictability, simplicity and value are the foundations of our business. As the pioneer of unlimited anytime minutes and no long-term contracts required, we offer an affordable alternative for those individuals and businesses looking for flat-rate wireless services. Operating in 39 markets in 20 states stretching from New York to California, Cricket® 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 registered trademarks of Leap Wireless International, Inc. Cricket is a registered trademark of Cricket Communications, Inc. Cricket Unlimited Access, Cricket Unlimited Plus, Cricket Unlimited Classic, Jump and the Cricket K are trademarks of Cricket Communications, Inc.
###
"We are pleased to offer international text messaging to Mexico, giving our customers another affordable option to stay in touch with friends, family and business associates," said Al Moschner, executive vice president and chief marketing officer of Cricket. "Domestic text messaging has been a big hit with our current Cricket customer base. On average, more than a third of our customers text message each month. We believe that text messaging to Mexico will be just as popular."
Text messaging to Mexico is available in all Cricket markets for customers on Cricket's Unlimited Access, Unlimited Plus and Unlimited Classic rate plans. Cricket subscribers can get text messaging to Mexico on a prepaid basis. Customers can sign up for a $5 Flex BucketTM account and their use of text messaging to Mexico will be deducted from this account at only $0.10 per outgoing text message. Customers can use the product as long as they have money in their Flex Bucket, have a text messaging-capable handset, and have the text messaging feature enabled on their service.
"As the industry's value leader, we felt it was important to offer an affordable text messaging service for our customers," said Moschner. "We believe that the convenience of text messaging to Mexico coupled with the low price will resonate well with our customer base."
About Cricket
Cricket is a simple and affordable wireless solution offering unlimited mobile services over our high-quality, all-digital network. Predictability, simplicity and value are the foundations of our business. As the pioneer of unlimited anytime minutes and no long-term contracts required, we offer an affordable alternative for those individuals and businesses looking for flat-rate wireless services. Operating in 39 markets in 20 states stretching from New York to California, Cricket® 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;
- 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 (a) to a third party of the wireless licenses covered by the
asset purchase agreement between Cricket Communications, Inc., and a
third party and the other parties to such agreement (b) to Cricket
Licensee (Reauction), Inc. of the Fresno, CA license and the licenses
for which it was the winning bidder in the FCC's Auction #58; and (c)
to Alaska Native Broadband 1 License, LLC of the licenses for which it
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 Form 10-K for the fiscal quarter 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 registered trademarks of Leap Wireless International, Inc. Cricket is a registered trademark of Cricket Communications, Inc. Cricket Unlimited Access, Cricket Unlimited Plus, Cricket Unlimited Classic, Jump and the Cricket K are trademarks of Cricket Communications, Inc.
