InterDigital Inc (IDCC)

[nieves]

Point, Click and Share: Wireless Pictures Will Soon be a Common Way to
Communicate with New Picture Mail that Talks from Sprint Now more customers can
Share it When it Happens as Sprint brings mass market appeal of Picture Mail to
the U.S. with a built-in camera phone at an affordable price
OVERLAND PARK, Kan., Apr 24, 2003 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- Today, Sprint (NYSE: FON, PCS) is the first carrier to focus on making sharing digital pictures wirelessly as common as making wireless calls. The enhanced Picture Mail service allows PCS customers to instantly share life's everyday moments in a whole new way. Sprint, which operates the largest all-digital, all PCS nationwide network, offers customers a built-in camera phone for under $100 after a mail-in rebate, flat-rate data pricing, an intuitive way to share pictures, an online album at no additional charge, attachable voice memo and the ability to wirelessly share pictures with more people in more places.
(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20001013/SPRINTLOGO )
To date, millions of pictures have been uploaded and shared on the enhanced PCS Nationwide Network and more than two million have been shared and uploaded in the last two months alone. More than 75 percent of Sprint customers who currently use Picture Mail share their pictures with family and friends.
Sprint is building on the success of its existing pictures product by offering the most comprehensive wireless pictures package in the industry in conjunction with the PCS Phone by Sanyo 8100:


* Easy to use: It's now easier than ever to share and receive pictures over Sprint's enhanced nationwide PCS network. Once a picture is taken, it's put into share mode allowing the customer to instantly share life's moments to e-mail addresses or any PCS Vision Phone. Sharing is made even easier by enabling customers to send a picture to up to 10 recipients at one time directly from their phone book. If received by e-mail, customers will be delighted the picture now comes embedded directly in the body of the e-mail. Pictures can be sent directly from the PCS Phone Book to up to ten e-mail addresses or PCS Vision Phones at one time. Sprint is also making picture taking and sharing more fun by introducing fun frames, and a 10-second audio memo, available on the Sanyo 8100 that can be attached to any Picture Mail. Also, when a customer takes a picture they can select to hear either a natural camera shutter sound or a voice instructing the subject to "Say CHEESE!" * Affordable: The PCS Phone by Sanyo 8100 is now available for $99.99 after a $100 instant or mail-in rebate (regular price $199.99), depending on the retailer. The 8100, the most fun and affordable camera phone on the market, features a built-in camera, downloadable frames and the ability to attach a 10-second voice clip to any Picture Mail. The 8100 also features the most advanced screen, the TFT, at the most affordable price. The 8100 is available in Sprint Stores, RadioShack, Best Buy and Circuit City. In the coming months, it will be available almost everywhere PCS Phones are sold. * Nationwide service: Sprint operates the largest all-digital, all-CDMA Third-Generation (3G) wireless network in the United States, enabling customers to instantly share everyday moments no matter where they are on the PCS network. * Value: The PCS Vision Pictures Package is available for an additional $15 to any PCS Free and Clear plan, giving Vision customers the freedom to instantly share and receive Picture Mail without worrying about extra charges. The package includes unlimited picture taking and sharing, unlimited access to PCS Vision, an on-line picture album and up to $5 of premium content per month, including ringers, screen savers, games, etc.
"The early success of Sprint's wireless pictures product and PCS Vision is a clear indication that this service is ready to be embraced by the mass market. So, Sprint has taken its already successful pictures product and improved the service, the product and the overall customer experience for both sending and receiving pictures," said Len Lauer, president of the PCS division of Sprint. "The introduction of the Sanyo 8100, at a net price point of under $100, will give customers an affordable, simple way to get started -- don't be surprised if this becomes the largest selling PCS Phone in history. It was only when the Asian market combined affordability with ease of use did the 'nice to have' become the 'must have.' We expect the same now in the U.S."
The PCS Picture Mail package is available for an additional $15 per month, and includes:


* Instant Share: With the PCS Phone by Sanyo 8100, once a picture is taken, it's instantly placed in the "Share" mode. From there, pictures can be sent to e-mail addresses or any PCS Vision Phone. Share it when it happens! * Storage options: Customers can store their personal pictures in the phone's picture wallet or online at www.picturemail.sprintpcs.com at no additional charge. On the Web site, users have enhancement options that include cropping and lightening/darkening or adding fun effects such as comic bubbles, cartoons and line drawings. * Personalization: Once downloaded, pictures can be assigned to individual callers or saved as the phone's screen saver. * Unlimited access to PCS Vision and picture sharing; $5 of premium content per month, including ringers, screen savers, games, 1KTV, etc.
Camera Phones from Sprint
Sprint has introduced seven phones that allow customers to capture pictures. Sprint expects more camera phones, from quality manufacturers like Sanyo and Samsung, will be added to its lineup later this year. All 13 existing PCS Vision-enabled phones can receive pictures.


* PCS Phone by Sanyo 8100 -- The newest built in camera phone from Sprint. Currently available for $99.99 after $100 instant or mail-in rebate. Gives customers ability to attach a 10-second voice message to any picture. Available in three colors: all silver, navy/gold and pearl/lilac. * PCS Phone by Sanyo 5300 -- America's first built-in camera phone. * PCS Phone by Samsung N400 with attachable PCS Vision camera * PCS Phone by Samsung A500 with attachable PCS Vision camera * Available Soon: - PCS Phone by Samsung A600: Built-in camera phone features America's first fully-rotating screen -- making the inside appear on the outside for full-screen picture viewing. - Microsoft Windows Powered PCS Phone by Samsung(R) SPH-i700-Pocket PC Phone Edition features a rotating, built-in camera - Microsoft Windows Powered PCS Phone by Hitachi(R) G1000-Sprint's Windows Device features the first built-in QWERTY keyboard and a built-in rotating camera
"The number one reason people use wireless phones is to communicate -- that is why the 8100 makes a great phone. But now, Sprint is taking communication one step further by allowing our customers to visually communicate anywhere on the PCS network and by offering enhancements designed to improve the customer experience by making picture sharing faster and easier," said Lauer. "With Sprint's enhanced service and full lineup of camera phones from manufacturers like Sanyo and Samsung, sending pictures as they happen will become as common as making a call."
Sprint recently announced 1.3 million PCS Vision customers through the end of first quarter. Sprint leads the industry in the use of advanced data services. PCS Vision from Sprint includes services that allow customers to take and receive pictures from select PCS Phones; browse the Internet at speeds faster than most dial-up connections; check personal and corporate e-mail; watch clips and stream audio for news and music; download polyphonic, animated and voice ringers, and full-color, graphically-rich games and screen savers, all on the enhanced Nationwide PCS Network.
The PCS Phone by Sanyo 8100 is available in Sprint Stores, RadioShack, Best Buy and Circuit City for $99.99 after a $100 mail-in rebate (regular suggested retail price of $199.99). Offer is available to customers who activate a new line of PCS service. Existing customers who do not wish to add a new line of service may be eligible for other savings offers at Sprint Stores -- check your local Sprint Store for more information. In the coming months, the Sanyo 8100 will be available almost everywhere PCS Phones are sold.
About Sprint
Sprint is a global communications company serving more than 26 million business and residential customers in over 70 countries. With approximately 72,000 employees worldwide and nearly $27 billion in annual revenues, Sprint is widely recognized for developing, engineering and deploying state-of-the- art network technologies, including the United States' first nationwide all-digital, fiber-optic network and an award-winning Tier 1 Internet backbone. Sprint provides local voice and data services in 18 states and operates the largest 100-percent digital, nationwide PCS wireless network in the United States.
SOURCE Sprint PCS


CONTACT: Media, Nancy Sherrer, [phone], or [e-mail], or Jenny Stevens, [phone], or [e-mail], both of Sprint PCS /Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20001013/SPRINTLOGO AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org PRN Photo Desk, [phone] or [phone]URL: http://www.prnewswire.com" target="_new">http://www.sprintpcs.comhttp://www.prnewswire.com
Copyright (C) 2003 PR Newswire. All rights reserved.
-0-
KEYWORD: KansasINDUSTRY KEYWORD: TLS