WEST U.S. -- J.D. Power and Associates Recognizes Sprint for "Highest Call Quality Performance" in

J.D. Power and Associates Recognizes Sprint for "Highest Call Quality Performance" in the West Region in a Tie

With Improvement in Four U.S. Regions, Sprint Is Delivering More of What Customers Want Now

OVERLAND PARK, Kan.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Mar. 18, 2009-- Customers are taking notice of Sprint’s (NYSE:S) network performance and overall call quality. Today, Sprint received the J.D. Power and Associates Award for “Highest Call Quality Performance Among Wireless Cell Phone Users in the West Region in a Tie.” Sprint’s commitment to improving its networks--specifically reducing dropped calls and ensuring call quality--is paying off.

According to J.D. Power and Associates’ 2009 Wireless Call Quality Performance StudySM - Volume 1, overall, the company improved its ranking in four of six regions nationally, when compared to the previous J.D. Power and Associates 2008 Wireless Call Quality Performance StudySM – Volume 2. Sprint has shown sequential improvement since the 2008 study, outpacing the industry average.

The J.D. Power and Associates 2009 Wireless Call Quality Performance Study measures wireless call quality based on seven criteria that impact a carrier’s performance. Wireless phone subscribers surveyed were asked about their experiences with dropped calls, static/interference, connection on first try, voice distortion, echoes, immediate voice mail notification, and immediate text message notification. The West Region includes: Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Iowa, Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Mexico, Nevada, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington and Wyoming – and is the largest geographical region in the J.D. Power and Associates 2009 Wireless Call Quality Performance StudySM - Volume 1.

Since 2006, Sprint has invested more than $16 billion in capital largely to enhance its wireline and wireless networks across the nation. In addition, Sprint is leading the way with the launch of its mobile WiMAX service and bringing the Internet to life with its next generation 4G network.

“Not only are our wireless networks performing very well, but we’re also launching innovative devices, like the highly anticipated Palm® Pre™, on America’s most dependable 3G network,*” said Sprint CEO Dan Hesse. “We’re also helping customers save money with cost-effective wireless plans, and teaching them how to tap the full potential of their wireless devices through our in-store Ready Now experience.”

Sprint customers enjoy the best value in the industry with a dynamic suite of Everything plans that allow customers to use their phones the way they want without worrying about their wireless bills. For example, Sprint’s Simply EverythingSM plan provides unlimited nationwide calling, texting, email, Web browsing, GPS navigation and much more for only $99.99 per month.

Families can also save with Sprint. Sprint’s Simply Everything Family plan with unlimited voice, data and messaging for two customers begin at $99.99 per month, allowing two customers to share 1,500 minutes and unlimited text, picture and video messaging.

Sprint's Highest Call Quality rating by J.D. Power and Associates is the most recent accolade the company has received for its network performance. Sprint has earned top honors for network quality and improved customer service metrics. For a summary of awards, visit Sprint

*Sprint's 3G dependability is based on independent, third-party drive tests for 3G data connection success, session reliability and signal strength for the top 50 most populous markets, June to November 2008.

Disclaimer: Sprint Nextel received the highest numerical score among wireless service providers in the proprietary J.D. Power and Associates 2009 Wireless Call Quality Performance StudySM - Volume 1. Study based on 27,754 consumer responses measuring five providers in the West region (AZ, CA, CO, ID, IA, MN, MT, ND, NE, NM, NV, OR, SD, UT, WA, WY) and measures opinions of wireless users about the call quality of their service. Proprietary study results are based on experiences and perceptions of consumers surveyed in July - December 2008.

 

Re: J.D. Power and Associates Recognizes Sprint for "Highest Call Quality Performance

Think the Nextel merger had nothing to do with this? Now I just hope Sprint's CDMA customers in the West will appreciate this and not jump ship for a carrier with a cooler gadget or better marketing campaign.

 

Re: J.D. Power and Associates Recognizes Sprint for "Highest Call Quality Performance

Yeah I'm not surprised that I was the one to post this. If this had been a study showing Sprint in last it would have been posted by someone hours before I even woke up this morning (I'm on the West Coast). The usual people who can't wait to post these things when T-Mobile & Verizon win seemed to have been MIA today.

That may be true but the CDMA system wouldn't really be affected by that as much as the iDEN system. I'm sure the loss of customers (mainly on the iDEN side) has helped improve Nextel service.

 

Re: J.D. Power and Associates Recognizes Sprint for "Highest Call Quality Performance

About that if you don't consider the data speed tests they have often won.

 

Re: J.D. Power and Associates Recognizes Sprint for "Highest Call Quality Performance

That goes to show that you can't judge a carrier based on how they were in 2003. Times have changed and networks have greatly improved since those early days.