Cricket Wireless 2011 Annual Report Download - page 14

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and develop our network and other business assets to allow us to continue to provide customers with
high-quality service. We currently plan to deploy next-generation LTE network technology across
approximately two-thirds of our current network footprint over the next two to three years. We
successfully launched a commercial trial market in late 2011 and plan to cover up to approximately
25 million POPs with LTE in 2012. In addition to our Cricket network footprint, we have entered into
roaming relationships with other wireless carriers that provide Cricket customers with nationwide voice
and data roaming services over an extended service area covering approximately 289 million POPs. We
have also entered into a wholesale agreement which we use to offer Cricket services in nationwide
retailers outside of our current network footprint. These arrangements enable us to offer enhanced Cricket
products and services, continue to strengthen our growing retail presence in our existing markets and
continue to expand our distribution nationwide.
Cricket Business Operations
Products and Services
Cricket Wireless. Our Cricket Wireless service plans are designed to attract customers by offering simple,
predictable and affordable nationwide voice and data services that are a competitive alternative to traditional
wireless and wireline services. We offer service on a flat-rate, unlimited usage basis, without requiring fixed-
term contracts, early termination fees or credit checks.
Our most popular Cricket Wireless service plans bundle unlimited local and U.S. long distance service and
unlimited text messaging with mobile web, 411 services, navigation, data back-up and other features. The service
plans we currently offer are “all-inclusive,” with telecommunication taxes and certain fees included within the
service plan price. We also offer a flexible payment option, BridgePay™, which gives our customers greater
flexibility in the use of and payment for our Cricket Wireless service and which we believe helps us to retain
customers.
Cricket PAYGo™.Cricket PAYGo is a pay-as-you-go, unlimited prepaid wireless service designed for
customers who prefer the flexibility and control offered by traditional prepaid services. Daily and monthly
pay-as-you-go versions of our Cricket PAYGo product are available in all Cricket markets as well as through
nationwide retailers.
Muve Music. In 2011, we launched Muve Music, our unlimited music download service in all Cricket
markets. Muve Music is the first unlimited music download service designed specifically for mobile handsets.
The service is available to customers as a feature in a number of our Cricket Wireless plans and is offered in all
of the markets in which we operate as well as through nationwide retailers. Muve Music had more than 500,000
customers at the end of 2011 and is currently the second largest digital music subscription service in the U.S. We
are currently exploring opportunities to expand the distribution of the service into international markets.
Handsets and Devices. Our current handset portfolio includes a wide spectrum of handsets ranging from
higher-end “smartphones” to lower cost feature phones. Our portfolio of handsets provides features that include
full web capabilities, mobile web browsers, picture-enabled caller ID, high-resolution cameras with digital zoom
and flash, integrated FM radio and MP3 stereo, USB, infrared and Bluetooth connectivity, on-board memory and
other features to facilitate digital data transmission.
Cricket Broadband. Cricket Broadband is our unlimited mobile broadband service offering and allows
customers to access the internet through their computers for low, flat rates that vary depending upon the targeted
amount of data that a customer expects to use during the month. These service plans are also “all-inclusive” and
do not require long-term commitments or credit checks. The service is available in all Cricket markets as well as
through nationwide retailers. As a result of strong customer adoption of our smartphones and other new handsets
and devices, we have deemphasized our Cricket Broadband service and have experienced a substantial reduction
in the number of customers subscribing to this service.
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