Sprint Unveils Two-Way Messaging Services

10/19/2000--Sprint PCS today announced a complete suite of messaging services on the Sprint PCS Wireless Web. Along with today's announcement of the availability of AOL Instant Messenger (AIM) on Internet-ready Sprint PCS Phones, Sprint PCS leads the industry again with the introduction of a full suite of new and innovative messaging services - giving customers a greater choice when choosing how they want to communicate.
A new "Messaging" folder - which makes it simple for customers to quickly access the communication tools that will make their life easier - holds a full portfolio of two-way messaging services including AOL Instant Messenger, Sprint PCS Short Mail(SM), Wireless Chat, and Sprint PCS Mail(SM) on the Sprint PCS Wireless Web. With the "Messenger" folder taking the top slot on the homedeck of the Sprint PCS Wireless Web, customers nationwide are just one click away from a variety of ways to communicate via messaging: AOL Instant Messenger to stay connected with their online buddies; two-way, handset-to-handset text messaging through Sprint PCS Short Mail services; wireless chat rooms to engage in group conversations and to be part of unique wireless communities; and popular e-mail services to send and receive daily e-mail messages from virtually anywhere, nationwide.

"Sprint PCS is excited to offer this powerful package of messaging services to our customers nationwide," said Charles Levine, chief operating officer for Sprint PCS. "Once again we lead the industry in providing clear, state-of the-art communication solutions for our customers. The youth market in particular is a high-growth segment who already understand and utilize these popular applications on a daily basis. We believe that young adults in particular will be especially interested in taking advantage of the suite of messaging services we're introducing today, and we expect that customers across all markets will find value in these interactive messaging applications."

AOL Instant Messenger - Clear Access to Family, Colleagues and Friends Sprint PCS today announced the nationwide availability of the AOL Instant Messenger(SM)(AIM) service on any of more than 15 models of Internet-ready Sprint PCS Phones.

Now Sprint PCS customers nationwide have a clear and convenient, new way to see when family, colleagues, and friends are available so that they can communicate with them in real-time whether from an Internet-ready Sprint PCS Phone or from their PC. Sprint PCS is the first to offer wireless access to the AOL Instant Messenger service to customers nationwide via the nation's largest all-digital, all-PCS wireless network.

AIM's instant messaging feature on Internet-ready Sprint PCS Phones introduces a new level of convenience for consumers by giving them additional ways to stay in touch via their wireless phones with those they care about. People "on-the-go" can enjoy private text conversations in real-time with others directly from their wireless phones. With AIM's Buddy List feature, they will know when personal contacts are connected online and available to send and receive instant messages - whether they are on their Internet-ready Sprint PCS Phones or on their PC.

Short Mail
Sprint PCS today introduced Sprint PCS Short Mail, a quick and convenient way to communicate without talking. Since it's not always convenient to make or take phone calls, Sprint PCS Short Mail allows customers to send a message directly from a Sprint PCS Phone to someone else's Sprint PCS Phone via the Wireless Web. To address a message, customers simply enter the recipient's Sprint PCS Phone number and send their message - so there is no need to remember anything but a phone number. Customers can simply enter their phone number and send a quick text message straight to their Sprint PCS Phone. Customers can type a short text message by using their keypad or select a pre-set "canned" message to quickly and easily send a message to other Sprint PCS customers. Canned messages can be customized from the Sprint PCS Phone or online at http://www.sprintpcs.com.

Retrieving messages is just as easy. Customers receive notification of new messages via a Sprint PCS Web Alert(SM) that takes customers directly to their Short Mail messages. Customers have the option to compose new messages or reply with pre-set or "canned" messages, such as "I received your message and will get back to you." or "Call me ASAP".

The Sprint PCS Wireless Web ShortMail service is a quick replacement for a phone call for the consumer who cannot talk on the phone or doesn't want to be heard, but still needs to communicate. This service will be particularly useful for busy executives who need to multi-task and tech-savvy youth who seek today's most popular technologies for their wireless communications.

Wireless Chat Powered by Jumbuck - A Wireless First: Chatrooms on Web Phones Sprint PCS is offering the first wireless chat service in the nation with today's unveiling of the Wireless Chat service powered by Jumbuck. An especially popular communication vehicle among the youth market, customers nationwide now have instant and real-time access to wireless chatrooms from any one of more than 15 Internet-ready Sprint PCS Phones.

Wireless Chat powered by Jumbuck allows customers nationwide to conduct text conversations with other users in unique chatrooms focusing on specific subjects such as Campus, Sports, Celebs or Wall Street. In these rooms, users can see the nicknames of other people using the service, read the last messages posted by them and respond - joining a wireless chat conversation from virtually anywhere, anytime, on the Sprint PCS nationwide network. Since this is a PCS-to-PCS service, customers will be able to read and post messages in a chatroom at a comfortable pace.

Jumbuck Chat, a wireless text-based chatroom capable of supporting hundreds of simultaneous wireless phone users and messages, powers the Wireless Chat service. Sprint PCS chose Jumbuck Corporation Ltd. as a partner in this initiative due to the popularity and tremendous user growth of their wireless chat service since it was launched in early 2000. Jumbuck currently handles over 500,000 text messages a month and specializes in providing high-usage text messaging solutions to wireless carriers.

Wireless E-mail - Taking Your E-mail With You
Sprint PCS announced earlier this year the nationwide availability to send and receive e-mail through the Sprint PCS Wireless Web. With the introduction of Sprint PCS Wireless Web Mail, customers now have clear access to a free e-mail account that enables access to important e-mails virtually anytime, anywhere on the Sprint PCS nationwide wireless network. Sprint PCS customers nationwide are able to consolidate e-mail from other select e-mail service providers into their Sprint PCS Wireless Web Mail account, to simplify management of their email account.

Sprint PCS also introduced ubiquitous access to popular e-mail services from America Online and Yahoo! on more than 15 Internet-ready Sprint PCS Phones.

Customers can send and receive e-mails as well as set-up and manage an account through Sprint PCS Wireless Web Mail services at http://www.sprintpcs.com . By setting-up a Sprint PCS Wireless Web Mail account, customers receive a free wireless-capable e-mail account with the address username@sprintpcs.com .

About Sprint PCS
Sprint PCS operates the largest 100 percent digital, 100 percent PCS nationwide wireless network in the United States, already serving the majority of the nation's metropolitan areas including more than 4,000 cities and communities across the country. Sprint PCS has licensed PCS coverage of nearly 270 million people in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. For more information, visit the Sprint PCS Web site at www.sprintpcs.com .

Source: Sprint PCS