Sprint - Nextel 2014 Annual Report Download - page 5

Table of Contents
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of the U.S. through roaming arrangements. We offer customized design, development, implementation and support for wireless
services provided to large companies and government agencies.
Products
Our services are provided using a broad array of devices and applications and services that run on these devices to
meet the growing needs of subscriber mobility. Our device portfolio includes many cutting edge handsets from various original
equipment manufacturers (OEMs) as well as hotspots, which allow the connection of multiple WiFi enabled devices to the
Sprint platform and embedded tablets and laptop devices. We have historically sold these handsets at prices below our cost in
response to competition to attract new subscribers and as retention inducements for existing subscribers. Subscribers now have
additional options to purchase eligible devices through our installment billing program, Sprint Easy PaySM, or to lease eligible
devices through our lease program. In addition, we sell accessories, such as carrying cases, hands-free devices and other items
to subscribers, and we sell devices and accessories to agents and other third-party distributors for resale.
Wireless Network Technologies
We deliver wireless services to subscribers primarily through our Sprint platform network. Our Sprint platform uses
primarily 3G CDMA and 4G LTE wireless technologies. We continue to serve customers utilizing WiMAX technology,
although we expect to shut our WiMAX network down by the end of calendar year 2015. Our 3G CDMA wireless technology
uses a digital spread-spectrum technique that allows a large number of users to access the band by assigning a code to all voice
and data bits, sending a scrambled transmission of the encoded bits over the air and reassembling the voice and data into its
original format. Our 4G LTE wireless data communications technology utilizes an all-internet protocol (IP) network to deliver
high-speed data communications. To integrate voice into LTE, we expect to use Voice over LTE technology (VoLTE). We
provide nationwide service through a combination of operating our own network in both major and smaller U.S. metropolitan
areas and rural connecting routes, affiliations under commercial arrangements with third-party affiliates and roaming on other
providers' networks.
Sales, Marketing and Customer Care
We focus the marketing and sales of wireless services on targeted groups of retail subscribers: individual
consumers, businesses and government.
We use a variety of sales channels to attract new subscribers of wireless services, including:
• direct sales representatives whose efforts are focused on marketing and selling wireless services primarily to
mid-sized to large businesses and government agencies;
• retail outlets, owned and operated by us, that focus on sales to the small business and consumer markets;
• indirect sales agents and third-party retailers that primarily consist of local and national non-affiliated dealers
and independent contractors that market and sell services to businesses and the consumer market, and are
generally paid through commissions; and
• subscriber-convenient channels, including Internet sales and telesales.
Effective April 1, 2015, Sprint entered into an agreement with General Wireless, who recently acquired 1,743 retail
outlets of RadioShack Corporation (RadioShack) pursuant to a bankruptcy auction. Under the arrangement, General Wireless
and Sprint are establishing co-branded Sprint-RadioShack retail stores at 1,435 locations throughout the U.S. Using a store-
within-a-store concept, the co-branded stores will exclusively sell or lease Sprint devices and the associated postpaid and
prepaid service plans as well as RadioShack products, warranties, services and accessories. The arrangement is designed to
provide Sprint with a substantial increase in its direct retail footprint.
We market our postpaid services under the Sprint brand. We market our prepaid services under the Sprint, Boost
Mobile, Virgin Mobile, and Assurance Wireless brands as a means to provide value-driven prepaid service plans to particular
markets. Our wholesale customers are resellers of our wireless services rather than end-use subscribers and market their
products and services using their own brands.
Although we market our services using traditional print, digital and television advertising, we also provide
exposure to our brand names and wireless services through various sponsorships. The goal of these marketing initiatives is to
increase brand awareness and sales.
Our customer care organization works to improve our subscribers' experience, with the goal of retaining
subscribers of our wireless services and growing their long-term relationships with Sprint. Customer service call centers
receive and resolve inquiries from subscribers and proactively address subscriber needs.