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Press Release -- June 2nd, 2011
Source: Sprint Nextel
Tags: Equipment, Video

Attention Nature-lovers: Sprint’s ‘Bird-cam’ Offers a Nest-side View as Red-tailed Hawk Matures from Chick to Fledgling

Attention Nature-lovers: Sprint’s ‘Bird-cam’ Offers a Nest-side View as Red-tailed Hawk Matures from Chick to Fledgling

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. (BUSINESS WIRE), June 02, 2011 – She soars, dives, swoops, then lightly touches down, beak-to-beak with a fuzzy little face that only a mother could love a mother HAWK, that is, and any nature lovers who wish to have a nest-side view of a pair of red-tailed hawks as their single offspring matures from chick to fledgling.

A pair of Red-tailed hawks and their chick have taken up residence near the top of the 162-foot icon ... A pair of Red-tailed hawks and their chick have taken up residence near the top of the 162-foot iconic clock tower on the Sprint campus. (Photo: Dominic Salvato)

Making this view especially intriguing is where it’s housed – near the top of the 162-foot iconic clock tower on Sprint’s (NYSE:S, news, filings) Overland Park headquarters campus. Equally intriguing is how nature lovers can get so close to a nest so high: This “bird’s-eye view” of a different kind is made possible through an enhanced wireless video surveillance camera that puts Sprint’s and VaraSight’s machine-to-machine (M2M) technology to use. As the chick reaches the fledgling stage, which is expected in the next few weeks; the camera will be in place as long as the fledgling stays within sight of viewers. Sprint offers America’s Favorite 4G Network, delivering average download speeds of 3-6 Mbps and peak speeds of over 10 Mbps, which is up to 10 times faster than 3G today.

Want to take a peek at what the hawk family is up to? The bird-cam is available, live, during daylight hours, seven days a week, along with photos, by visiting http://community.sprint.com/baw/groups/campus-hawks.

Integrating technology with nature

Here’s what makes this unique perspective possible: Sprint has teamed with its Emerging Solutions Partner (ESP) Feeney Wireless and its VaraSight Surveillance camera division to install an enhanced video surveillance camera on an adjacent campus building for this up-close view of the hawk family who chose to make Sprint’s clock tower their home. The wireless video system not only provides this nest-side view, it also showcases just one example of how VaraSight Surveillance technology, coupled with Sprint’s blazing fast 4G wireless network via a Sprint 3G/4G USB Modem by Sierra Wireless, can provide mobile surveillance that is live and nearly seamless.

“This is an excellent example of the unexpected ways technology can impact lives; in this case bringing us a close-up view into a marvel of nature,” said Wayne Ward, vice president-Emerging Solutions Group, Sprint. “M2M is a massive growth opportunity because there is no limit to the number of devices that can be connected, what they can be connected with, and how they can be applied. As a result, M2M can be applied to virtually any business or lifestyle situation we can imagine.”

Sprint’s commitment to sustainability

Sprint’s 240-acre Overland Park, Kan., headquarters campus is 60 percent green space, and includes prairie grasses, flowers, trees and walking paths. The campus’ three lakes are used to capture rainwater, which is then used to irrigate its grounds; they also provide a welcome environment for wildlife. Even the wind that blows through the 40,000 shrubs and perennials, and 6,000 trees is put to good use: more than 90 percent of the power consumption on the property is provided by this natural energy source. The red-tailed hawk is an iconic symbol of the Kansas eco-system; giving visibility to the hawk family nesting honors its place in the local habitat while helping keep viewers in tune with nature.

Sprint’s leadership in environmental sustainability has received numerous accolades: For the second year in a row, Sprint ranked highest among all U.S. telecom companies on Newsweek’s 2010 Rankings of America’s Greenest Companies at No. 6. Sprint also was ranked highest among the wireless carrier industry on the Carbon Disclosure Project’s “Carbon Disclosure Leadership Index.” In addition, Sprint received the “Sustainability Leadership Award” at the 2010 International Electronics Recycling Conference and Expo for its leadership among wireless carriers in the recycling of mobile handsets. To learn more about Sprint initiatives that protect the environment, go to www.sprint.com/responsibility.

Follow news about the hawks on Twitter @SprintGreenNews or @RockNRedTails.

About Sprint’s Emerging Solutions Group

The Sprint Emerging Solutions Group (ESG) is an industry leader in machine-to-machine (M2M) and embedded solutions Sprint’s M2M solutions wireless connect a rapidly proliferating variety of electronic devices for business, as well as innovative new consumer and commercial services. Those devices are as varied as digital billboards, medical equipment, video surveillance and security solutions, remote sensors, utility meters, electric charging stations and appliances. For more information please visit www.sprint.com/m2m.

About Sprint Nextel

Sprint Nextel offers a comprehensive range of wireless and wireline communications services bringing the freedom of mobility to consumers, businesses and government users. Sprint Nextel served more than 51 million customers at the end of 1Q 2011 and is widely recognized for developing, engineering and deploying innovative technologies, including the first wireless 4G service from a national carrier in the United States; offering industry-leading mobile data services, leading prepaid brands including Virgin Mobile USA, Boost Mobile, and Assurance Wireless; instant national and international push-to-talk capabilities; and a global Tier 1 Internet backbone. Newsweek ranked Sprint No. 6 in its 2010 Green Rankings, listing it as one of the nation’s greenest companies, the highest of any telecommunications company. You can learn more and visit Sprint at www.sprint.com or www.facebook.com/sprint and www.twitter.com/sprint.

About Feeney Wireless

Feeney Wireless, a Sprint Emerging Solutions Partner (ESP), provides product innovation, speed-to-market, and rapid commercialization of new products within the rapidly growing M2M and embedded solutions market. VaraSight™ Surveillance, a division of Feeney Wireless, specializes in wireless camera solutions and cellular-based video surveillance products. Feeney Wireless serves the needs of municipalities, corporations, and federal agencies across the United States. Thousands of customers depend on Feeney Wireless as a provider of wireless technology equipment and mobile data solutions for wireless video operations. As a full service integrator and product development company, Feeney Wireless reduces complexity and risk by engineering certified solutions backed by a comprehensive delivery, managed services and support model.

Broadcast note – For media interested in using b-roll footage of the Red-tailed Hawks, please see this link. http://wdl27.streamhoster.com/sprint/newsroom/redtailhawks.mov

Editor’s note: Photos attached with this release are courtesy of Sprint employee Dominic Salvato

Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available: http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/mmg.cgi?eid=6746554&lang=en

Contact(s):

Sprint
Media Contact:
Mary Kunkel, 703-433-3060
Mary.kunkel@sprint.com

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