[Ready Now is Sprint's in-store user experience that provides one-on-one training and assistance to set up and demonstrate a customer's phone before leaving the store.]

Overland Park, Kan. -- Imagine this: You buy a new wireless phone with all the latest, high-tech applications, and then someone actually sits with you and helps you unlock its potential on the day you buy it. Not your techie cousin, not the Ph.D. next door, but a person who knows wireless phones and explains them in simple words. Someone who can help you really get your money’s worth – all the applications – which icons to touch for Instant Messaging, which buttons to click for Bluetooth. Someone who listens to you ask, “So, how do I get NFL scores?” And then – patiently – gives you the answer.

Today, it’s real.

Today, Sprint launches Ready Now, a revolution in the wireless retail experience.

With Ready Now, Sprint has trained and committed its retail associates to work one-on-one with customers to personalize phones, set up features and demonstrate how phones work – before customers leave the store.

“Everyone seems to think that customers should know how to use their wireless phones or that they should figure them out on their own,” said John Garcia, president of Sprint’s wireless division. “New smartphones and PDAs are as complex as they are popular, and most wireless customers use only a fraction of their features.”

A survey conducted by Opinion Research found that smartphones were the most returned electronic technology products of last holiday season, with slightly more than one-fifth (21%) of smartphone buyers returning their purchase to the retailer. Not understanding how to set up the product was cited as the primary reason for the return.

“With more data usage and more people who are data-curious, you have to take the time to explain to people how to get more out of their wireless phones. Ready Now helps customers fully realize the benefits of everything the Now NetworkTM can do for them,” Garcia added. “Whether it’s showing someone how to send an e-mail, download a photo, text, or use a live search to find an address, with Ready Now our retail associates will teach you what your phone will do from the first day you own it.”

“Simply EverythingTM brought an unprecedented high level of simplicity to wireless rate plans. Ready Now marks yet another first in the wireless industry -- no other wireless company offers its customers a program like it.”

Sprint customers can choose how much or how little they want to learn about the features and applications on their phone. Customers also have a choice of sitting down with a Sprint retail associate while in the store, or they can make an appointment for a later time. For additional customer convenience, Sprint customers have the flexibility to schedule appointments either in the store, or online via Sprint’s store locator tool. Customers can visit www.sprint.com/readynow to schedule an appointment.

“This is so important, we closed our stores for a full day to train associates on Ready Now,” said Kim Dixon, senior vice president of retail for Sprint. “Everyone’s trained – not just a few people. That’s a benefit you may not find at another wireless company’s store.”

“Already, the feedback from Ready Now trials in select stores has been phenomenal – and positive across the board. Every aspect of this program, from certifying our associates to helping our customers understand which phone is best for them, is about providing quality service.”

Ready Now is available to customers in all company-owned Sprint stores. All Sprint stores that offer Ready Now are identified by a Ready Now sticker that states the store is certified to provide the new service. Ready Now will also be offered in the near future to a limited number of exclusively branded dealer stores, which are Sprint stores owned by third-parties. The third-party dealer stores will be held accountable to the same stringent training and certification process before they are permitted to offer Ready Now to customers.

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