SAN DIEGO, Oct. 8, 2003 (PRIMEZONE) -- Leap Wireless International, Inc. (OTCBB:LWINQ), an innovator of wireless communications services, today announced that its operating subsidiary, Cricket Communications, Inc., has launched a new, fresh version of its website, www.MyCricket.com. With a new look and feel, the site showcases improved purchase and payment functionality, providing a greatly enhanced customer experience.
"Built from the ground up with the customer's experience as the top priority in mind, we are excited to launch the redesigned MyCricket.com Web site," said Dave Maquera, Leap's chief information officer and vice president of IT. "This expanded site provides our current and potential customers with our latest service offerings at the click of a button. It is a one-stop resource for customers who want up-to-the-minute information on new service features, promotions and more. We believe that the intuitive capabilities and streamlined navigational features we have incorporated into MyCricket.com will enable the site to be an industry-leading customer service channel."
With its new look and feel, MyCricket.com features streamlined functionality including online purchase, bill presentment and payment options. Through these features, Cricket's customers are able to access their account information quickly and easily and can also pay their Cricket bills online. For users inquiring about or interested in becoming a Cricket customer, the site also includes a detailed description of Cricket's service offerings and features a comprehensive Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) section, which provides the necessary data to make an informed purchase decision, and the ability to make online purchases.
The new site also serves as the home of Cricket Rewards(tm), a program designed for Cricket customers, which allows them the opportunity to sign up for the convenience of Automatic Bill Payment on their credit card and to participate in special promotions such as monthly sweepstakes for free service.
Cricket service is available in 39 markets with more than 1.45 million customers stretching from New York to California.
About Cricket Service
With Cricket(r) service, customers can make unlimited local calls over their service area for a low, flat rate. Cricket customers can call long distance anywhere for a little more -- just 8 cents per minute to anywhere in the United States and just 18 cents per minute anytime to anywhere in Mexico or Canada. The service offers text messaging, voicemail, caller ID, three-way calling and call waiting for a small additional monthly fee. Cricket also offers downloadable Ringtones. The extra value Cricket(r) Talk rate plan is $39.99 per month plus tax, which includes unlimited local calls, 500 free minutes of U.S. long distance and a three-feature package (including caller ID, call waiting and three-way calling). Cricket(r) service is an affordable wireless alternative to traditional landline service, and appeals to people completely new to wireless -- from students to young families and local business people. For more information, please visit www.mycricket.com.
About Leap
Leap, headquartered in San Diego, Calif., is a customer-focused company providing innovative communications services for the mass market. Leap pioneered the Cricket Comfortable Wireless(r) service that lets customers make all of their local calls from within their local calling area and receive calls from anywhere for one low, flat rate. For more information, please visit www.leapwireless.com.
Except for the historical information contained herein, this news release contains "forward-looking statements" reflecting management's current forecast of certain aspects of Leap's future. Some forward-looking statements can be identified by forward-looking words such as "believe," "think," "may," "could," "will," "estimate," "continue," "anticipate," "intend," "seek," "plan," "expect," "should," "would" and similar expressions. This news release is based on current information, which we have assessed but which by its nature is dynamic and subject to rapid and even abrupt changes. Our actual results could differ materially from those stated or implied by such forward-looking statements due to risks and uncertainties associated with our business. Factors that could cause actual results to differ include, but are not limited to:
-- our ability to cause a Chapter 11 plan of reorganization to be
approved by the creditors entitled to vote on such plan and to be
confirmed by the Bankruptcy Court despite objections of several
parties, including our largest stockholder; our ability to obtain
approval from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for the
transfer of licenses associated with the change of control that
will occur upon our emergence from bankruptcy; and our ability to
implement the plan;
-- our ability to continue as a going concern;
-- our ability to obtain Bankruptcy Court approval with respect to
motions prosecuted by us in our Chapter 11 cases from time to
time;
-- risks associated with third parties seeking and obtaining
Bankruptcy Court approval to terminate or shorten the exclusivity
period for Leap, Cricket and substantially all of their
subsidiaries to propose and confirm one or more plans of
reorganization; to appoint a Chapter 11 trustee; or to convert the
Chapter 11 cases of Leap, Cricket and substantially all of their
subsidiaries to Chapter 7 cases;
-- our ability to obtain and maintain normal terms with vendors and
service providers;
-- our ability to maintain contracts that are critical to our
operations;
-- the potential adverse impacts of the Chapter 11 cases on the
liquidity or results of operations of Leap and Cricket;
-- our ability to attract, motivate and/or retain key executives and
other employees;
-- our ability to attract and retain customers;
-- the unsettled nature of the wireless market, the current economic
slowdown, service offerings of increasingly large bundles of
minutes of use at increasingly low prices by some major carriers,
other issues facing the telecommunications industry in general,
our announcement of restructuring discussions, and our subsequent
Chapter 11 filing, which have created a level of uncertainty that
adversely affects our ability to predict future customer growth,
as well as other key operating metrics;
-- changes in economic conditions that could adversely affect the
market for wireless services;
-- the acceptance of our product offering by our prospective
customers;
-- the effects of actions beyond our control in our distribution
network;
-- rulings or actions by courts or the FCC adversely affecting our
rights to own and/or operate certain wireless licenses, or changes
in our ownership that could adversely affect our status as an
"entrepreneur" under FCC rules and regulations;
-- our ability to maintain our cost, market penetration and pricing
structure in the face of competition;
-- failure of network systems to perform according to expectations;
-- the effects of competition;
-- global political unrest, including the threat or occurrence of war
or acts of terrorism; and,
-- other factors detailed in the section entitled "Risk Factors"
included in our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal
quarter ended June 30, 2003 and in our other SEC filings.
The forward-looking statements should be considered in the context of these risk factors. Investors and prospective investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
Leap and the Leap logo design are trademarks of Leap Wireless International, Inc. Cricket and Comfortable Wireless are registered trademarks of Cricket Communications, Inc.