OVERLAND PARK, Kan., December 20, 2004 -- Is that music coming from your mobile phone? Sprint (NYSE: FON) announced today the addition of Music Choice® to its Sprint PCS VisionSM Multimedia Services channel line up. Music Choice is a premier, multiplatform music network that will provide Sprint customers popular audio music channels, including R&B and Hip-Hop, Hit List, 80s, 90s, Country and Rock. Customers can also access "Music Choice Today" for daily video clips, including artist interviews and performances produced at the Music Choice studios, and "Music Choice News" for music news and artist gossip.
Music Choice on Sprint's new multimedia service will allow subscribers to check out the latest headlines and then click on their favorite type of music, start streaming music, fold their phone up and have a portable music player for a few quick minutes of music while waiting in line, walking down the street, or sitting in the airport or at a train station.
"Broadcast music is a critical piece of the overall mobile-music puzzle, and in our consumer research is one of the most popular multimedia content categories," said Clint Wheelock, director of wireless research at In-Stat/MDR, referring to the recent study, Consumer Demand for Mobile Music Services. "The launch of the Music Choice service is a significant milestone for Sprint as the company continues its track record of leadership in deploying a broad range of wireless multimedia services."
"We are excited to partner with Sprint as the music content provider for their new Sprint PCS Vision Multimedia Services," said David Del Beccaro, President and CEO of Music Choice. "This alliance furthers our objective to reach a larger audience through diverse mediums. As wireless phones evolve into multipurpose, mobile devices, Music Choice is poised to deliver unparalleled music content, extending our reach from the home to the mobile universe."
Earlier this year, Sprint announced Sprint PCS Vision Multimedia Services, a service that delivers streaming audio and video content at up to 15 frames per second, from familiar sources, including NBC Mobile, CNN, ABC News, FOX Sports, The Weather Channel, Discovery, E! Entertainment, mFlix, Twentieth Century Fox, AccuWeather, Cartoon Network, Adult Swim, Comedy Time, 1KTV and now Music Choice. At launch, Music Choice will only be available on the Sprint PCS Vision Multimedia Phone MM-7400 by Sanyo, but will be made available on other multimedia phones in the near future.
"Music is personal; it reflects a person's unique character and personality and provides a great form of entertainment for customers of all ages," said Jeff Hallock, vice president - Product Marketing and Strategy, Sprint. "Millions of customers have come to enjoy Music Choice at home, and now Sprint customers can continue to enjoy it while exercising, traveling or just on the go!"
Sprint customers can select from a basic package of multimedia services, called Sprint TV - a compilation channel that offers news, sports and entertainment, including Music Choice Today - for $9.99 per month. Customers can also select the full Music Choice channel for $5.95 per month, in addition to other premium channels that range in price from $3.95 - $5.95 per month. Customers choosing the Sprint Multimedia Pack receive Sprint TV, unlimited Sprint PCS Vision, Picture MailSM, Sprint PCS Video Mail and 100 SMS text messages for $25.00 per month.
About Sprint
Sprint is a global integrated communications provider serving more than 26 million customers in over 100 countries. With more than $26 billion in annual revenues in 2003, 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 communications services in 39 states and the District of Columbia and operates the largest 100-percent digital, nationwide PCS wireless network in the United States. For more information, visit www.sprint.com.
About Music Choice
Music Choice is the premier multi-platform music network that reaches millions of consumers nationwide through their TVs, PCs, and cell phones. Music Choice programs both video and audio music channels, produces exclusive music shows, films in-studio artist performances
and interviews, and distributes daily entertainment news. Headquartered in Horsham, PA, Music Choice is a partnership among subsidiaries of Microsoft Corporation, Motorola, Inc., Sony Corporation of America, EMI Music and several leading U.S. cable providers: Adelphia Cable Communications, Comcast Cable Communications, Cox Communications and Time Warner Cable. MUSIC CHOICE® is a registered trademark of Music Choice. Visit the Music Choice website at www.musicchoice.com.
