News
Issue #2002 - 40 (October 2002)
(Updated Oct. 22, 2002)

MARKET OUTLOOK & TRENDS

Sprint Introduces Simplified, Predictable Pricing Programs for Business Market - Simplified, Predictable Pricing Programs, Enhanced Corporate Discounts and Online Tools for Business Market 

OVERLAND PARK, Kansas. — October 18, 2002

Sprint, announced plans to address the needs of enterprise customers with significant improvements to its pricing plans. This includes simplified, all-inclusive nationwide business pricing plans with unlimited PCS Vision usage, an enhanced corporate volume discount structure, and management tools that allow telecom managers to more effectively monitor and analyze their wireless spending.

"Sprint is uniquely positioned in the enterprise market," said Len Lauer, president, PCS Division, Sprint. "We are the only carrier with a single nationwide billing platform; a full suite of voice and data products designed to wirelessly enable the enterprise; and only Sprint offers next generation services nationwide today. The new all-inclusive business pricing plans and volume discount structure are aimed at providing business customers with simple, predictable and cost effective pricing options that encourage companies to take a centrally managed approach to purchasing wireless services. Paired with management tools that show when and how their wireless dollars are being spent, Sprint can help companies realize an immediate and significant cost savings, in addition to the productivity gains a customized PCS Clear Wireless Workplace solution can provide."

Designed with the mobile professional in mind, the new PCS Total Wireless Access for Business Plans for use with PCS Vision enabled phones range from $85 to $150 and include a generous amount of Anytime Minutes, unlimited PCS Vision data usage, unlimited PCS to PCS calling, PCS Business Connection Personal Edition, PCS Voice Command and Off-network Roaming. The latter feature allows customers to use up to half of their Anytime Minutes usage to make calls while off the Sprint Nationwide PCS Network at no additional charge. All plans include nationwide long distance, voicemail, caller ID, call forward, call waiting, numeric paging and three-way calling on the Sprint Nationwide PCS Network at no additional charge. Plans will be available starting October 21, 2002.

Enterprise customers can take advantage of Shared Minutes, a powerful savings tool that lets customers pool or share all their Anytime Minutes across the company for a one-time set-up fee of $20 per subscriber. Customers using PCS Connections Cards can choose from a set of data-only PCS Vision for Laptops and PDAs plans ranging from $39.99 to $119.99 that include 20 megabytes to 120 megabytes respectively. Sprint is extending the $99.99 unlimited data-only plan offer until early 2003. 

"Sprint allows our business customers to customize a PCS Clear Wireless Workplace solution that allows mobile employees take their office with them and be more productive. Whether it's real-time access to corporate email, high-speed wireless connectivity to the Internet, or making clear calls, these services work the same everywhere on the enhanced Sprint Nationwide PCS Network," said Phil Bowman, vice president, business marketing, PCS Division, Sprint. "By simplifying pricing and introducing valuable incentives for corporate purchases, we are making it easier and more cost effective for business customers to leverage their wireless investments with Sprint." 

Even analysts note that the industry is heading toward a world in which wireless phones are viewed as indispensable business tools similar to PCs and desk phones. The Yankee Group predicts that by 2006, the percentage of wireless business users who are on corporate accounts will nearly double from the current 24 percent to 46 percent. 

The new structure for the Nationwide Volume Program (NVP) is designed to provide deeper discounts for customers that centrally manage their wireless accounts with Sprint. The discount grows as the number of lines within a company increases. Customers must have a minimum of five company- sponsored lines to be eligible for the NVP. Beginning early November, business customers that sign or upgrade to an NVP contract of 100 lines or more can choose one of the following products free for three months. Installation or initial set-up fees will also be waived. 

PCS Business ConnectionSM Enterprise Edition - This network-based solution allows enterprise customers to get secure, remote access to their company email, calendar, company directory and personal contacts behind the corporate firewall - all in real-time on select PCS Phones and laptops connected to the Internet with a PCS Connection Card. 

PCS eBilling and AnalysisSM - This web-based tool allows company administrators to utilize formatted data to examine nationwide usage, plan budgets and customize invoicing reports to company specifications. 

PCS Integrated OfficeSM - Customers can combine the mobility of their PCS Phones with the features of their desk phones, giving them a single number and single voicemail box plus the convenience of abbreviated dialing. 

For more information: www.sprint.com/mr

MobileInfo Comments and Advisory: We welcome Sprint's new pricing plan. We think its competitors will have to follow its lead. The trade press including this website has been calling for decreased pricing for wireless data for the enterprise for some time. We are glad that Sprint listened to its customers and analysts. Now, wireless data price is in the right ball park for more applications to be justified on wireless networks.

Note: This news release may contain forward-looking statements. Readers should take appropriate caution in developing plans utilizing these products, services and technology architectures.  All trademarks used in this summary are the property of their respective owners.