VoiceStream Wireless Launches in Chicago
Best Value and GSM Digital Service Bring New Competition to Marketplace
BELLEVUE, Washington - 04/30/2001 — VoiceStream Wireless Corp. (Nasdaq:VSTR) today announced the launch of its personal communications services (PCS) system in Chicago on May 1. VoiceStream's "GET MORE" pricing strategy and international roaming capabilities bring additional, aggressive competition to the wireless phone market in the Windy City.
Unlike current local providers, VoiceStream Wireless uses the globally dominant Global System for Mobile (GSM) communications system. Adopted by 164 countries, GSM is the most widely used digital wireless standard in the world with more than 475 million subscribers. GSM gives customers the choice of using their VoiceStream number and full digital features when traveling internationally.
Another VoiceStream customer advantage is the Great Lakes Neighborhood, included free with every rate plan. Customers in the Chicago area get free GSM digital roaming and, unlike other providers, free long-distance for calls placed in and to Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio and Wisconsin.
VoiceStream offers Chicago area residents 600 Nationwide Whenever Minutes of airtime a month for $39.99. The offer also includes 2000 Local Weekend Minutes within the Great Lakes Neighborhood for the first 12 months of service when new customers sign up by June 30, 2001. Nationwide Whenever Minutes means customers will pay no long distance charges when calling any city in the United States from their home multi-state neighborhood, regardless of time of day or day of week.
VoiceStream also offers wireless Internet service through their personal portal called MyVoiceStream.com. Customers can receive news, sports and entertainment updates directly on their handset. Additional services include text messaging from handset to handset and a e-mail feature that allows customers to send and receive e-mail from their wireless handset to a home or office e-mail address.
"VoiceStream's service offering is far superior to anything available in the marketplace today and has been highly successful when introduced into other markets across the United States," said Bob Stapleton, VoiceStream president and COO. "We're particularly pleased to bring GSM service to the Chicago area and give residents the choice of using their wireless phone service in many of the world's most popular destinations, whether traveling for business or pleasure."
Spokesperson Jamie Lee Curtis will be in Chicago during launch week to promote VoiceStream's entry into the marketplace. The actress and best-selling author will make public appearances and join employees for a launch celebration.
About VoiceStream Wireless Corporation
Based in Bellevue, Wash., VoiceStream Wireless Corp. is one of the major nationwide providers of communication services in the country, as well as operates and uses the globally dominant GSM technology platform. VoiceStream is a member of The GSM Alliance, L.L.C., a consortium of U.S. and Canadian digital wireless PCS carriers, which helps provide seamless wireless communications for its customers in more than 6,000 U.S. and Canadian cities and towns, or abroad. In North America, more than 10 million customers are using GSM service in 48 U.S. states, the District of Columbia, and six Canadian Provinces, including every top 10 market in North America. VoiceStream has roaming agreements with more than 125 of the major operators worldwide providing service in 70 countries. For more information, visit the company Web site at voicestream.com.
Contact Information
Jennifer Hoppner
Publicis Dialog
206-778-5364
jhoppner@publicis-usa.com
Kim Thompson
Director, Corporate Communications
VoiceStream Wireless
425-378-4074
kim.thompson@voicestream.com