April 04, 2005
Cricket Launches Unlimited Multimedia Messaging Services for Its Cricket Customers Across the Nation
SAN DIEGO - Say goodbye to per-picture charges. Cricket Communications, Inc., a leading provider of unlimited local and long distance wireless services, is raising industry eyebrows by offering an unlimited multimedia messaging service (MMS) package at an affordable flat rate for its Cricket® customers across the nation.
For just $5 a month with certain rate plans, Cricket customers can send and receive an unlimited number of messages containing pictures, video, audio and text from their Cricket handset to other MMS-enabled devices and email accounts.
"There's no doubt consumers are buzzing with excitement about the latest camera phones and MMS services to hit the market," said Al Moschner, executive vice president and chief marketing officer for Cricket. "Our new MMS service lets camera phones perform at their potential with an array of messaging capabilities from picture to video messaging and more. Our flat-rate, unlimited MMS offering eliminates per-picture charges, so customer can enjoy sending and receiving pictures, video and audio as much as they want. We believe that packaging MMS as an unlimited feature will be a big hit and are thrilled to bring this affordable, exciting service to our customers."
"The 2004 average cost across all U.S. carriers to send one picture message from wireless phone to wireless phone was approximately 22 cents," said Lewis Ward, senior research analyst for IDC. "Cricket's flat-rate, unlimited MMS service is a more affordable offer for those who do not want to track how many messages they send each month. We believe their customers will find this offer appealing."
As part of Cricket's new service pricing, which was also announced today, customers who sign up for Cricket's Unlimited Access plan will get unlimited MMS and text messaging as part of the package, which also includes unlimited local and domestic long distance, caller ID, voicemail, call waiting and two directory assistance calls. The unlimited MMS feature will be an additional $5 per month for those customers on Cricket's Unlimited Plus and Unlimited Classic plans.
Moschner continued, "MMS provides the wireless wow factor that a lot of consumers are looking for, which is why we believe it will strengthen our overall service package. We are very excited about the launch of MMS. Looking at the results we have had with our services such as our unlimited text messaging offer, we believe MMS will have great traction in our markets."
Cricket launched two new phones that support MMS in the first quarter of 2005 including: the Kyocera Koi and Audiovox 8910. The service, along with MMS-capable handsets, can be purchased through Cricket's direct or indirect retail stores, or by visiting www.mycricket.com.
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; ailure of the Federal
* Communications Commission to approve the transfers (a) to a third party of the ireless licenses covered by
* the asset purchase agreement between Cricket Communications, Inc., and a tird 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 and Jump are trademarks of Cricket Communications, Inc.
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For just $5 a month with certain rate plans, Cricket customers can send and receive an unlimited number of messages containing pictures, video, audio and text from their Cricket handset to other MMS-enabled devices and email accounts.
"There's no doubt consumers are buzzing with excitement about the latest camera phones and MMS services to hit the market," said Al Moschner, executive vice president and chief marketing officer for Cricket. "Our new MMS service lets camera phones perform at their potential with an array of messaging capabilities from picture to video messaging and more. Our flat-rate, unlimited MMS offering eliminates per-picture charges, so customer can enjoy sending and receiving pictures, video and audio as much as they want. We believe that packaging MMS as an unlimited feature will be a big hit and are thrilled to bring this affordable, exciting service to our customers."
"The 2004 average cost across all U.S. carriers to send one picture message from wireless phone to wireless phone was approximately 22 cents," said Lewis Ward, senior research analyst for IDC. "Cricket's flat-rate, unlimited MMS service is a more affordable offer for those who do not want to track how many messages they send each month. We believe their customers will find this offer appealing."
As part of Cricket's new service pricing, which was also announced today, customers who sign up for Cricket's Unlimited Access plan will get unlimited MMS and text messaging as part of the package, which also includes unlimited local and domestic long distance, caller ID, voicemail, call waiting and two directory assistance calls. The unlimited MMS feature will be an additional $5 per month for those customers on Cricket's Unlimited Plus and Unlimited Classic plans.
Moschner continued, "MMS provides the wireless wow factor that a lot of consumers are looking for, which is why we believe it will strengthen our overall service package. We are very excited about the launch of MMS. Looking at the results we have had with our services such as our unlimited text messaging offer, we believe MMS will have great traction in our markets."
Cricket launched two new phones that support MMS in the first quarter of 2005 including: the Kyocera Koi and Audiovox 8910. The service, along with MMS-capable handsets, can be purchased through Cricket's direct or indirect retail stores, or by visiting www.mycricket.com.
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; ailure of the Federal
* Communications Commission to approve the transfers (a) to a third party of the ireless licenses covered by
* the asset purchase agreement between Cricket Communications, Inc., and a tird 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 and Jump are trademarks of Cricket Communications, Inc.
