Following the spin-off of its local telephone operations (Embarq), Sprint Nextel will focus primarily on building its position in the market for mobile communications products and services. Sprint’s progress and plans include:
- Continue to enhance the “Sprint Power Vision” network by extending the high-speed footprint. By year-end 2006, the network is expected to reach 190 million people. Sprint will implement second-generation technology upgrades later this year, with additional mobility benefits to users planned to begin in 2007.
- Formed a joint venture with four of the nation’s leading cable companies to offer integrated wireless and cable based services leading to the development of next-generation converged video entertainment, wireline and wireless data and communications products and services. Initial launch of integrated services is planned for seven pilot cities in the second half of 2006, with next-generation services scheduled to be available on a national scale in 2007.
- Enhanced relationships with various cable companies
- Continued development of a dual-mode phone designed to combine Nextel walkie-talkie features and the power of Sprint voice and data services in the second half of 2006.
- Continued focus on wireless data, with the highest data revenue per user, and plans to introduce more products, services and features
- Sprint plans to announce a technology selection in mid-2006 for the provision of fourth generation wireless broadband services in the 2.5 GHz spectrum.
“Our company is now positioned to focus on our vision of converging our unique wireless and Internet wireline assets to create an entirely new suite of mobility and IP-based products and services for our customers. With each month since our merger concluded last August, we’ve announced steps that support our strategy to become a data services company with the ability to erase the barriers between wireless and wireline services for consumer and business customers. In the months ahead, we’ll build on that momentum as we bring greater innovation to the marketplace, allowing customers to do what they want, where they want, when they want,” said Sprint Nextel president and CEO Gary Forsee.
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