Sprint to bring more brand-name games to wireless customers
through the Sprint 3G Nationwide Network
LOS ANGELES, May 20 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- E3 Expo -- Tetris(R) will
soon be available to wireless customers anytime, and virtually anywhere on
Sprint's Third Generation Network this summer as Sprint (NYSE: FON, PCS),
which operates the largest all-digital, all-PCS nationwide wireless network
and is the fastest growing wireless carrier, and Blue Lava Wireless join
forces to bring this timeless, best seller exclusively to Sprint's wireless
customers with Third-Generation (3G) PCS Phones. Blue Lava Wireless, a leading
provider of wireless entertainment content, plans to launch versions of Tetris
specifically optimized for each of Sprint's new 3G phones.
(Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20001013/SPRINTLOGO
)
For Sprint customers, 3G1X services are planned to launch nationwide this
summer. After the launch, Sprint expects faster wireless data speeds and
enhancements for existing applications and services when using a 3G enabled
device. Sprint's 3G Network establishes a platform for later releases of new
and more robust applications as data speeds increase including advanced games,
video and audio clips, enhanced messaging, email with attachments, high-speed
Internet browsing and digital imaging. Specifically for games, 3G enables
Sprint to move the game experience from the text-based games of today to
graphic, full-color brand name games like Tetris on 3G-enabled PCS Phones
using the Java 2 platform, Micro Edition (J2ME(TM)).
"The Sprint 3G Network will take mobile communications from wireless you
can hear to wireless you can play," said Chip Novick, vice president of
consumer marketing for Sprint's PCS division. "As the leading carrier
providing mobile entertainment, Sprint is clearly delivering on its promise to
work with select gaming companies like Blue Lava Wireless to provide Tetris
and other top-notch, recognizable games to its wireless customers."
"We are thrilled to be working with Sprint to launch Tetris across their
all-digital 3G network," said Henk Rogers, CEO of Blue Lava Wireless. "Tetris
has always been one of the top selling games on hand held devices, and these
new phones will allow us to continue this pattern with compelling, addictive,
color versions of this evergreen title."
Sprint was the first wireless carrier to launch wireless games in October
2000 and currently offers more than 60 games on the Sprint PCS Wireless Web.
Sprint offers the largest selection of both single-player and multi-player
games in a variety of categories - such as action, adventure, casino,
classics, puzzles and sports - that challenge and entertain all levels of
players. With the launch of Sprint's 3G wireless network this summer, Sprint
plans to continue to provide the biggest and best selection of games to its
customers on dynamic, full color screens.
The evolution of gaming has gone through many stages, from board games
such as checkers to arcade games. After evolving from the arcade to the PC,
gaming became portable and has now evolved to the ultimate in portability: the
wireless phone.
Research firm DataMonitor says that one in six U.S. cell phone subscribers
(21.6 million people) played games on mobile phones in 2001, and it forecasts
that 93 million people will be playing wireless games in 2006.
For more information on products and services, please visit
http://www.sprint.com/mr and http://www.bluelavawireless.com .
About Sprint
Sprint is a global communications company serving more than 26 million
business and residential customers in over 70 countries. With approximately
80,000 employees worldwide and more than $26 billion in annual revenues,
Sprint is widely recognized for developing, engineering and deploying state of
the art network technologies, including the United States' first nationwide
all-digital, fiber-optic network. Sprint's award-winning Tier 1 Internet
backbone is being extended to key global markets to provide customers with a
broad portfolio of scalable IP products. Sprint's high-capacity, high-speed
network gives customers fast, dependable, nonstop access to the vast majority
of the world's Internet content. Sprint also operates the largest 100-percent
digital, nationwide PCS wireless network in the United States, already serving
the majority of the nation's metropolitan areas, including more than 4,000
cities and communities.
About Blue Lava Wireless
Blue Lava, based in Honolulu, Hawaii, develops and publishes mobile
entertainment content. Founded in 2002, Blue Lava is the publisher of the #1
mobile game of all time "Tetris". The company is focused on bringing the best
games for the casual gaming community to wireless platforms everywhere. For
more information visit our web site at http://www.bluelavawireless.com .
Tetris(R); (C) 1987-2002 Elorg. All Rights Reserved. Java, J2ME and all
Java-based marks are trademarks or registered trademarks of Sun Microsystems,
Inc., in the United States and other countries.
CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION
This news release includes certain estimates, projections and other
forward-looking statements. Future performance cannot be ensured. Actual
results may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements.
The words "estimate," "project," "intend," "expect," "believe" and similar
expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. You should
not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of
the date of this news release. Sprint and Blue Lava Wireless are not obligated
to publicly release any revisions to forward-looking statements to reflect
events after the date of this news release or unforeseen events.
Sprint provides a detailed discussion of risk factors in periodic SEC
filings.
SOURCE Sprint PCS
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Related links:
http://www.sprint.com/mr
http://www.bluelavawireless.com
Photo Notes:
NewsCom:
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20001013/SPRINTLOGO
AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org
PRN Photo Desk, +1-888-776-6555 or +1-212-782-2840
CONTACT:
Media - Nancy Sherrer, +1-913-706-9051,
(PCS), or Nsherr02@mail.sprintpcs.com, or Bit Vo, +1-816-729-7891
(PCS), or Bvo01@mail.sprintpcs.com, both of Sprint; or John Ray
of Blue Lava Wireless, +1-415-420-0563, or
jray@bluelavawireless.com
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