Sprint - Nextel 2015 Annual Report Download - page 5

Table of Contents
and data services in numerous countries outside 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 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 devices at prices below our cost in
response to competition to attract new subscribers and as retention inducements for existing subscribers. Subscribers also have the option to purchase eligible
devices through our installment billing program, or to lease eligible devices through our leasing 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 served customers utilizing WiMAX technology until the network was shutdown on March 31, 2016. 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. 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;
• co-branded Sprint-RadioShack retail stores-within-a-store exclusively selling or leasing Sprint devices and the associated postpaid and prepaid
service plans;
•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.
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.
Competition
We believe that the market for wireless services has been and will continue to be characterized by competition on the basis of price, the types of
services and devices offered and quality of service. We compete with a number of wireless carriers, including three other national wireless companies: AT&T,
Verizon Wireless and T-Mobile. Our prepaid services compete with a number of carriers and resellers, which offers competitively-priced calling plans that include
unlimited local
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