Sprint Strengthens Social Network Connections with Customers

[1]June 22, 2009 09:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Sprint's device portfolio continues to grow; Samsung Exclaim and HTC Snap on America's most dependable 3G network allow customers to easily enjoy social networks

OVERLAND PARK, Kan.--(BUSINESS WIRE [2])--Sprint (NYSE: S) has launched two devices that make it easier to stay connected with your friends and colleagues through increasingly popular social networking sites.

Sprint, which is listening to and reaching out to its customers through Twitter and Facebook^®, understands the power of the changing nature of communications. The new Samsung Exclaim^TM and HTC Snap^TM make it easier than ever for customers to use the social networks of their choice.

"Social networking is a powerful tool that helps people stay connected whenever and wherever they want," said Kevin Packingham, senior vice president-Product Development for Sprint. "HTC Snap and Samsung Exclaim are designed with social networking in mind, and they leverage America's most dependable 3G network¹ to deliver the promise of staying in touch with those who matter most; and Sprint's Ready Now [3] retail experience offers the perfect opportunity for customers to learn all about the key features and functionality of these new devices."

As part of the company's focus on a great customer experience, Sprint has expanded its social networking presence to meet and interact with customers where they are in order to provide direct and timely responses to their inquiries. Customers can receive Sprint updates on Twitter via @Sprint [4] or @SprintGreenNews [5] for specific company-wide green initiatives. Become a fan of Sprint on the company's Facebook [6] page, or check out Sprint's Flickr [7]^® and BuzzAboutWireless [8] sites.

Sprint recently highlighted two popular social networking sites, Facebook and Twitter, in its advertising. The company's Palm Pre Facebook [9] and Social NOW [10] TV spots both showcase what is happening on Sprint's Now Network.

Social networking requires access to the Web, and Sprint understands that people can't always be chained to their personal computer. With the new Samsung Exclaim and HTC Snap, Sprint offers customers easy one-click access to staying connected with friends and family:

Samsung Exclaim: Samsung Exclaim features a messaging-centric form factor in two great colors - Blueberry and Raspberry. The device's dual-slider design hides both a numeric keypad and a full QWERTY keyboard. Exclaim is focused on social networking, with new interactive Facebook and MySpace tiles right on the home screen as part of Sprint's award-winning One Click [11] customizable user interface. Customers can now add Twitter to their home screen using One Click as well. These new One Click tiles give customers a much richer experience than links to Facebook and MySpace on other feature devices in market today:

• Facebook tile - Provides One-Click access to share "What's on your mind," check status updates, monitor your news feed, manage your inbox and track the status of your friends.
• MySpace tile - Offers the ability to update your status, monitor your friend lists, review your pictures and albums, manage your inbox and friend requests and track your comments.
• Twitter tile - Allows you to post Tweets with one click, check updates for everyone you are following, see responses to your Tweets, manage the list of people you are following and those who are following you and see what the whole Twitter-verse is saying.

Samsung Exclaim will be available beginning June 21 in all Sprint retail channels, including www.sprint.com [12] and 1-800-Sprint1, for $79.99 (excludes taxes) with a new two-year service agreement, after a $50 mail-in rebate.

HTC Snap: HTC Snap is the first wireless phone to feature Inner Circle^TM, which allows people to prioritize emails from the most important people to them. Sprint is the exclusive nationwide provider of the 3G-enabled HTC Snap. Among the email standards this device supports are POP3, IMAP4 and seamless Microsoft Exchange email compatibility, which includes Microsoft Office Outlook Mobile software.

• Inner Circle - One-touch access to the people who matter the most. Add your most important contacts to your Inner Circle, and then see email from these people in one place regardless of which account received them.
• One-Touch Camera - Capture the moment before it's gone. Capturing and sharing photos doesn't get any easier.
• One-Touch Messaging - Monitor all your messaging and email accounts at a glance.

HTC Snap is easy to hold and carry, and the ergonomically sculpted QWERTY keyboard makes text entry a breeze. With a 1500 mAh battery, HTC Snap can keep up with the busiest of lifestyles. Paired with Sprint Navigation and built-in GPS, Snap makes getting from place to place easier than ever, and the crisp 2.0 megapixel camera means never missing a moment once there.

HTC Snap will be available beginning June 21 in all Sprint retail channels, including www.sprint.com [13] and 1-800-Sprint1, for $149.99 (excludes taxes) with a new two-year service agreement, after a $100 mail-in rebate.

These devices, along with Palm® Pre^TM, operate on America's most dependable 3G network. The Sprint 3G Network is faster in more places than AT&T's 3G network², and Sprint has more than 20 times the coverage of T-Mobile's current 3G network, based on square miles³. No carrier has a larger voice calling area than Sprint. The Nationwide Sprint Network (inclusive of roaming) reaches more than 304 million people in the United States, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, with a Sprint national calling plan that includes roaming.

In addition to America's most dependable 3G network, Sprint offers customers significant savings for individuals and families compared to similar plans from AT&T and Verizon. With Sprint's Everything Data plans, customers can save $120 or more per year compared to AT&T and Verizon. Families can save $360 or more per year with Everything Data Family plans from Sprint vs. AT&T and Verizon. These plans include unlimited messaging and unlimited data, including email, social networking, Web browsing, GPS navigation and exclusive applications.

About Sprint Nextel

Sprint Nextel offers a comprehensive range of wireless and wireline communications services bringing the freedom of mobility to consumers, businesses and government users. Sprint Nextel is widely recognized for developing, engineering and deploying innovative technologies, including two wireless networks serving more than 49 million customers at the end of the first quarter of 2009; industry-leading mobile data services; instant national and international push-to-talk capabilities; and a global Tier 1 Internet backbone. For more information, visit www.sprint.com [14].

1 "Dependable" based on independent, third-party drive tests for 3G data connection success, session reliability and signal strength for the top 50 most populous markets from January 2008 to February 2009. Not all services available on 3G and coverage may default to separate network when 3G unavailable.

2 Speed claim based on total network size, square miles, multiplied by network upload/download speed capability. User's speed experience may vary.

3 Coverage comparison based on publicly available information as of 4/1/09 inclusive of Sprint roaming partners. Based on square miles..

Contacts

Natalie Papaj, 703-586-0048
natalie.lariviere@sprint.com [15]
or
Caroline Semerdjian, 415-278-5364
Caroline.Semerdjian@sprint.com [16]