May 05, 2005
Cricket Launches Travel Time
SAN DIEGO - Giving mobile users even more reason to select its wireless service for their communications needs, Cricket Communications, Inc., a leading provider of unlimited wireless services, today announced that it has launched Travel TimeTM in select markets across the country. The new service caters to customers who have the need to occasionally roam outside their Cricket calling area - both nationwide and in Canada. Beginning today, Travel Time is offered to Cricket customers in Phoenix and Tucson, Ariz.; Little Rock, Fort Smith and Fayetteville, Ark.; and Charlotte and Greensboro, N.C.
"We have diligently worked over the past several months, signing roaming agreements with carriers across the country, to develop an away-from-home-calling option that would best meet the needs of our customers," said Al Moschner, executive vice president and chief marketing officer of Cricket. "We believe that Travel Time will be popular with all segments of our customer base. For example, we expect that many of our customers who are college students will use Travel Time when they return home to visit friends and family. We look forward to rolling out Travel Time to the remaining markets in the coming months, and are pleased with the added value it will bring our customers."
Travel Time enables Cricket customers to use their service outside the Cricket calling area on a prepaid basis. Customers can sign up for Travel Time with a $5 Flex Bucket account and per minute usage will be deducted from this account at $0.59 per minute or $0.69 per minute for JumpTM by Cricket® customers. Travel Time will be offered to Cricket customers who have dual- or tri-mode handsets. To use Travel Time, customers dial AWAY (2929) then dial the number when prompted. The two step process helps ensure customers understand they are being charged a per minute rate, so they can remain in control of their roaming charges.
"Our customers typically live, work and play within their Cricket footprint but they want the option to use their phone outside of the calling area, so we are thrilled to accommodate them," said Moschner. "In addition to having an anticipated positive effect on customer satisfaction, we expect Travel Time will be an important component of our ongoing customer retention efforts."
Cricket expects Travel Time will be available in all its markets this year. The Company is also working to implement roaming to Mexico.
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.
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"We have diligently worked over the past several months, signing roaming agreements with carriers across the country, to develop an away-from-home-calling option that would best meet the needs of our customers," said Al Moschner, executive vice president and chief marketing officer of Cricket. "We believe that Travel Time will be popular with all segments of our customer base. For example, we expect that many of our customers who are college students will use Travel Time when they return home to visit friends and family. We look forward to rolling out Travel Time to the remaining markets in the coming months, and are pleased with the added value it will bring our customers."
Travel Time enables Cricket customers to use their service outside the Cricket calling area on a prepaid basis. Customers can sign up for Travel Time with a $5 Flex Bucket account and per minute usage will be deducted from this account at $0.59 per minute or $0.69 per minute for JumpTM by Cricket® customers. Travel Time will be offered to Cricket customers who have dual- or tri-mode handsets. To use Travel Time, customers dial AWAY (2929) then dial the number when prompted. The two step process helps ensure customers understand they are being charged a per minute rate, so they can remain in control of their roaming charges.
"Our customers typically live, work and play within their Cricket footprint but they want the option to use their phone outside of the calling area, so we are thrilled to accommodate them," said Moschner. "In addition to having an anticipated positive effect on customer satisfaction, we expect Travel Time will be an important component of our ongoing customer retention efforts."
Cricket expects Travel Time will be available in all its markets this year. The Company is also working to implement roaming to Mexico.
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.
