Cricket’s Flat-rate, Unlimited Wireless Service Now Available in Rockford, Ill.
ROCKFORD – February 17, 2009 – A new option for simple and affordable wireless services is available beginning today in Rockford and the Chicagoland area with the introduction of Cricket. Cricket offers customers unlimited wireless services at a predictable flat rate, and does not require long term contracts or credit checks.
Cricket wireless service includes unlimited anytime minutes, U.S. long distance, text and picture messaging, text to Mexico, Mobile Web and directory assistance, with rate plans ranging from $30 to $60 per month. Cricket offers the latest phones and accessories, as well as feature-rich mobile applications such as ringtones and ringback tones, Mobile Music, Mobile Video, games, wallpapers and more.
Cricket Broadband provides customers with unlimited high-speed wireless Internet service with speeds comparable to DSL, plus the mobility to use it from home, work or on the go anywhere in Cricket coverage areas. The service costs $35 per month for existing Cricket mobile phone customers and $40 per month as a standalone service. The service works on the UTStarcom UM100C tri-band USB modem, which is compatible with Mac and PC laptops or desktop computers – anything with a USB port. It is available for $59 after rebates.
“Now more than ever, it is important for wireless carriers to demonstrate value to their customers,” said Mike Schwartz, district director for Cricket. “With the launch of Cricket service in Rockford and the broader Chicagoland area, consumers now have an honest, affordable wireless carrier that respects their time and their wallet, without sacrificing great service and features.”
Cricket’s coverage area spans approximately 8,400 square miles across the Greater Chicago area, with contiguous coverage stretching from more than 60 miles south of Chicago in Kankakee to as far north as central Wisconsin, as well as northwest Indiana to South Bend and Goshen.
Cricket brings more than 50 jobs to the Rockford area, including new positions created through its operation and distribution partners. The Cricket retail store in Rockford is located at 3774 E. State St. Cricket’s launch in Illinois includes Chicago, as well as Janesville and Beloit in Wisconsin.
Community Events
To celebrate the launch, Cricket is hosting a series of events and promotions with the intention of raising awareness in the Rockford community.
• Tuesday, February 24 – A celebratory community “cord-cutting” will be held at the Cricket store at 3:30 p.m. Rockford Mayor Lawrence Morrissey, Alderman Frank Beach and Rockford Chamber of Commerce President Einar Forsman will help “cut the cord” and welcome Cricket to Rockford. Cricket will also announce and kick-off its partnership with local nonprofit, The Carpenter’s Place.
• Saturday, February 28 – WXRX-FM will broadcast live from Cricket’s store from 2-4 p.m. Customers will enjoy special promotions on phones and accessories, as well as free Cricket prizes.
Cricket is partnering locally with The Carpenter’s Place, a nonprofit organization that provides the necessary tools for rebuilding the lives of the homeless. The Carpenter's Place (CP) has become recognized as an innovative leader in development of efficient and effective methods for addressing the core life issues of the chronically homeless. CP serves 90-100 people daily through its Day Room, offering a variety of services to guests. Through job placement efforts, CP helps about 200 people find employment every year. Phones and computers help make this happen.
The current economic climate makes it difficult for anyone to find work, which poses an even bigger challenge for the homeless. Cricket will present a $1,500 check to The Carpenter’s Place at its launch and cord-cutting event February 24. To help CP guests with their job search, Cricket will also provide cell phones and a year of free service.
To learn more about Cricket and launch events in Illinois, visit www.mycricket.com.
Cricket service will be offered in the Greater Chicago area by Denali Spectrum Operations, LLC, a company in which Cricket Communications, Inc. has a majority, non-controlling beneficial interest and in which Denali Spectrum Manager, LLC, has a controlling beneficial interest.
About Cricket®
Cricket is a simple, affordable wireless service offering consumers and local businesses a flat-rate unlimited service over the latest technology, high-quality, all-digital CDMA2000 1X and 1xEV-DO wireless network. Designed for customers whose basic and advanced wireless needs have not been met by traditional communications companies, Cricket is the pioneer of unlimited services with no long-term commitments or credit checks required. Cricket offers customers access to a variety of the latest devises and feature-rich mobile applications such as unlimited text, instant and picture messaging, Mobile Web, popular games, ringtones and wallpapers. For more information on Cricket, visit www.mycricket.com.
About Denali Spectrum Manager, LLC
Denali Spectrum Manager, LLC is controlled by Doyon, Limited. Headquartered in Fairbanks, Alaska, Doyon is one of the 13 Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act regional corporations. Its mission is to continually enhance its position as a financially strong Native corporation in order to promote the economic and social well being of its shareholders and future shareholders, to strengthen its Native way of life and to protect and enhance its land and resources. The corporation has more than 16,500 shareholders and is one of the largest private landowners in North America.
