Cricket to Launch New Portland Wireless Service in December
PORTLAND – November 13, 2006 – Portlanders concerned about exceeding their monthly minutes and text messages will soon have less to worry about, as Cricket LCW (“Cricket”) today announced plans to launch in Portland on December 12. Cricket is known for providing unlimited wireless services at a flat rate: unlimited anytime minutes, U.S. long-distance, text messaging, picture messaging and instant messaging. The company does not require customers to sign contracts or pass credit checks.
Cricket, which currently provides service in Salem and Eugene, will add Portland and Vancouver as part of its Oregon home calling area on December 12. Cricket’s Portland launch will create more than 250 new jobs through its retail locations and other distribution channels.
“Portland is long overdue for a simpler, more predictable wireless alternative, and Cricket’s unique approach is a perfect match for our city,” said Neil Grubb, President and CEO of Cricket LCW, the joint venture bringing Cricket service to Portland. “Customers don’t want to be bound by contracts, and they don’t want to count minutes. With no long-term commitments, we need to win our customers’ business every day. And with our flat-rate plans, our customers will know exactly what their bill will be each month, regardless of how much they talk and text.”
Customers who use Cricket service are as distinct as the company. Approximately 93 percent use Cricket service as their primary phone, while 52 percent use it as their only phone, compared to the national average of just 6 percent, according to data from the Yankee Group. In addition, Cricket’s customers talk approximately 1,500 minutes per month, more than double the industry average, and send text messages far greater than the national average.
About Cricket® Service
Cricket® service is a simple, affordable mobile phone service offering consumers and local businesses a flat-rate, unlimited service over a high-quality, all-digital wireless network. Designed for customers under-served by traditional communications companies, Cricket service is the pioneer of unlimited minutes with no long-term commitments or credit checks required. Cricket service offers customers access to a variety of the latest handsets and feature-rich mobile applications such as unlimited text, instant and picture messaging, popular games, ringtones and wallpapers. For more information on Cricket service visit www.mycricket.com.
About Cricket LCW
Cricket LCW is joint venture between Cricket Communications, Inc., CSM Wireless, and WLPCS Management providing Cricket wireless service in Portland, Salem, and Eugene, OR, and Vancouver, WA.
