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Boost Mobile: As More Wireless Consumers Are Adopting Flat-Rate Prepaid Plans, the Value of the New Boost Mobile Monthly Unlimi

^{Published on 2009-01-16 11:37:44, Last Modified on 2009-01-16 11:39:09 - Market Wire}
 

IRVINE, CA--(Marketwire - January 16, 2009) - As economic woes continue and consumers begin to receive sobering credit card bills from the holiday shopping season, Boost Mobile is redefining value for wireless consumers. On January 22, Boost Mobile will introduce a new prepaid plan offering unlimited anytime calling, text messaging, wireless Web and walkie-talkie services with a national calling area for $50 a month.

Why Boost Mobile 'Monthly Unlimited' is superior to MetroPCS and Cricket

By switching to the new Boost 'Monthly Unlimited', MetroPCS and Cricket customers can take advantage of unlimited nationwide service in 15,800 cities throughout the United States on the Nextel National Network -- all with no additional Telecom Taxes, or activation, roaming, traveling or long distance fees. Also, wireless customers seeking a flat-rate calling plan shouldn't have to sacrifice network quality for a good price. Cricket has more than four times dropped calls than Boost and MetroPCS has twice as many dropped calls than Boost*.

No hidden charges; everything's included for one low monthly fee

"Wireless consumers know there's a lot of wrong out there -- activation fees, overage charges and extra costs for services like voicemail and roaming. Unlike some other prepaid services, our new flat-rate plan will not include any of these charges; what you see is what you get," said Matt Carter, president of Boost Mobile. "The Boost Mobile Monthly Unlimited plan offers consumers straightforward pricing and predictable payments on a true nationwide network with no restrictions of a local calling area."

Unlimited Walkie-Talkie

The new unlimited plan includes unlimited calls to Baja California with our exclusive Boost® Walkie-Talkie service at no additional fee. Boost Mobile's walkie-talkie service is fully compatible with Nextel's Direct Connect radio service in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Argentina, Brazil, Chile and Peru. The same technology depended upon by many first responders may be used with Boost prepaid to save time and save money. Ideal for quick "get in/get out" conversations, walkie-talkie communication means instant, short and to-the-point calls. No country codes, operators or calling cards required. Just push the WT button. International Direct Connect calls often cost a fraction of international cellular rates. Boost Walkie-Talkie services may also be used while roaming in Baja California for rates as low as 10¢ per minute.

Customers have the freedom to pay how they want

"The Monthly Unlimited plan is another example of how the differences between prepaid and postpaid plans are becoming more and more blurred," said William Ho, research director for wireless services at Current Analysis. "We've seen the introduction of affordable unlimited calling plans on the postpaid side, and now Boost is making it even more reasonable to get unlimited calling plus texting, walkie-talkie and Web browsing, all without a contract. Especially during this recession, consumers are beginning to look at what prepaid plans, such as Boost's, have to offer them."

Boost Mobile provides its value-seeking customers with payment flexibility -- allowing them to pay for their wireless service per minute, per day or per month. Boost Mobile offers consumers affordable handsets, competitive plans and a dependable nationwide network. Operating on the robust Nextel National Network, Boost Mobile customers on the Monthly Unlimited plan receive nationwide service coverage that is not bound to a local calling area.

To sign up for Monthly Unlimited customers need a compatible Boost Mobile phone and will need to activate their account. If a customer is already a Boost subscriber, they can also change their current 10 cents per minute or $1/Day Chat Plan to the Monthly Unlimited plan via 'My Account' on their handset or at boostmobile.com; they can keep the same phone number. To sign up for Boost Mobile Monthly Unlimited visit [ www.boostmobile.com ] or call customer care at 1-888-BOOST-4U.

In order to add money to their account, customers have the option to prepay for service with cash, Re-Boost® Card, or credit/debit card and may pay in person, online, or over the phone. Boost Mobile recommends customers sign up for Auto Re-Boost so their phone stays active all the time. In order to keep the account active, the total monthly payment amount must be prepaid each month. Boost Mobile will continue to support Unlimited by Boost customers on the CDMA network.

About Boost Mobile

The prepaid division of Sprint Corporation (NYSE: [ S ]), Boost Mobile offers quality mobile phones, and flexible pay by the month, day and minute wireless services with no hidden fees, no contracts, or credit checks. Boost-branded wireless phones are available nationwide at approximately 16,000 major retail and independent wireless dealer locations; with Re-Boost® available at approximately 100,000 locations throughout the U.S. Purchase and experience Boost on the web at MySpace, Facebook and [ www.boostmobile.com ].

*Based on independent third party drive test data from Feb-Oct 08 for the 19 common Boost/Cricket markets and the 9 common Boost/MetroPCS markets within the top 50 most populous U.S. markets.