WIRELESS AND MOBILE NEWS

Virgin Mobile announced its launch of Assurance Wireless, a new cell phone service that makes wireless calling available at no cost to more than a million eligible lower-income households throughout New York. The wireless company is partnering with non-profit organization HeartShare Human Services in New York City to introduce this new service that provides more free minutes per month than other similar prepaid programs.

Qualifying Assurance Wireless customers in New York State can now receive a free Kyocera Jax handset and 200 minutes of free wireless local and long-distance calling within the United States every month.

To learn more about Assurance Wireless, including eligibility requirements, please call 1-888-898-4888, or visit www.assurancewireless.com. Information is available in English and Spanish. Services are available in North Carolina, New York, Tennessee, and Virginia. You can use your Virgin Mobile phone for Assurance Wireless if you're a current Virgin Mobile customer.

Assurance Wireless also provides customers with free voicemail, call waiting, caller ID, and access to 911 in case of emergency. Beyond the free 200 minutes, customers can choose to pay for additional 20-cent per minute domestic calling, international calling, 15-cent text, email or instant messages, mobile Web access, and more.(3)

"Most of us take cell phone service for granted. Mobile phones allow us to stay connected with friends, family and employers and provide critical support in case of emergency," said Dan Schulman, president of Sprint's Prepaid group which includes Virgin Mobile USA. "The government estimates that more than 1 million households in New York State are eligible for income-based assistance programs. We are proud to offer this valuable service, particularly in these tough times, which disproportionately affect lower income customers.""This is a special situation in which the public and private sectors are working together to meet the needs of the community. We are excited to work with Virgin Mobile and local organizations to provide these much-needed cell phones to lower-income individuals who may use the phone to obtain employment, schedule medical appointments or be in contact with their childrens' schools," said William R. Guarinello, president and chief executive officer, HeartShare Human Services of New York. HeartShare is helping to get the word out about Assurance Wireless through outreach to individuals and families likely to be eligible as well as other community service groups.

"Individuals given the opportunity to have wireless connections at no cost are offered accessibility and convenience; I applaud Virgin Mobile and HeartShare for their commitment to improve local communities," said New York State Assemblyman Peter M. Rivera, 76th District. An outreach training program was hosted today at the Assemblyman's office in the Bronx.