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Press Release -- April 19th, 2012
Source: Sprint Nextel
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Sprint Gives Customers Incentives to Go Green on Earth Day

Phone recycling discounts, sweepstakes and online offers put “green” back in customer’s pocket

OVERLAND PARK, Kan.– April 18, 2012 – While Sprint (NYSE:S, news, filings)maintains a year-round commitment to sustainability, the company is marking Earth Day this year by offering customers additional incentives for joining in efforts to protect the environment.
Ranked No. 3 in Newsweek’s 2011 Green Rankings, Sprint is encouraging more consumers to recycle old wireless phones with an additional credit offered through the Sprint Buyback program. The Sprint portfolio of eco-friendly phones with eco-friendly features also continues to expand with the availability of LG Viper™ 4G LTE*, the first Sprint 4G LTE phone with eco-friendly attributes and LG Optimus Elite™; both available on Earth Day, April 22.
Last year, Sprint was recognized by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for its commitment to phone recycling, which remains a key focus for the company. Through Sprint recycling programs, such as Sprint Buyback, Sprint has kept more than 28 million phones out of landfills. Sprint is seeking to increase the momentum of this program by offering a $50 credit (for each new line of service), on top of the Sprint Buyback program standard offer, to all customers who participate in the Buyback program from April 15 to May 17.
Today, customers who participate in the Sprint Buyback program can receive a Sprint credit up to $300 instantly toward a new device when recycling eligible devices – regardless of whether the phone is from another manufacturer or carrier when you add a new line. According to Compass Intelligence Research1, the instant credit is a big part of why Sprint’s Buyback Program was named the best of the four major carriers based on expert analysis, secondary research and primary research with users about what they most prefer in a buyback program.
Sprint’s first 4G LTE phone with eco-friendly attributes, LG Viper, hits store shelves this Sunday. Five individuals will have the chance to receive one of the phones by participating in an Earth Day sweepstakes. Registration is available by going online to www.sprint.com/earthday or by texting “green” to 229466, where users can register once a day through April 27. Winners will be selected April 30. For the most up-to-date details on Sprint’s 4G LTE rollout, please visit www.sprint.com/4GLTE.
The eco-friendly attributes of LG Viper include:
  • ULE Platinum Certification, the highest level of environmental performance recognized by sustainable requirements established by UL Environment and Sprint.
  • A casing made of 50 percent recycled plastics and packaging that is 100 percent recyclable.
  • CarbonFree certification to offset the carbon footprint of the phone’s full lifecycle.
The working partnership between Sprint and LG on sustainable product design continues with LG Rumor Reflex™. Another phone with eco-friendly features available through Sprint – LG Rumor Reflex™ – will be made available for FREE to new customers and existing customers eligible for an upgrade when ordered on sprint.com through May 17.
The e-friendlyattributes ofLG Rumor Reflexinclude:
·         An outer cover constructed from 31 percent post-consumer recycled materials by weight
as defined by ULE.
·         A battery charger qualified as the most energy-efficient, 5-star rating for extremely low
power draw while still plugged in after the phone is fully charged.
·         CarbonFree certification to offset the carbon footprint of the phone’s full lifecycle.
Sprint not only offers green products but many of its phones also come equipped with apps that aid consumers seeking to live greener lifestyles. The Green ID pack allows customers, on select Sprint devices, to instantly download a complete mobile experience, including applications, widgets, ringtones and wallpapers related to the environment through Sprint ID. With mobile content like TreeHugger.com, Earth911.com, LightBulb Finder and the National Audubon Society, consumers can lead more environmentally sustainable lives and help others to do the same.
According to Adam Borut, co-founder of EcoHatchery, the company that owns and created the Light Bulb Finder application, Sprint customers using the lightbulb application are expected to have saved almost $1 million after having used the application and switched to a more efficient lighting solution by using Sprint’s Green ID pack.
“These offers help our customers and Sprint reduce our impact on the environment,” said Jeff Hallock, Sprint’s vice president of marketing. “We’ve seen how our customers adopt green practices if we make products and service available, everything from smartphones that are more “earth friendly,” to solar accessories, to customers who choose online bill pay over a paper bill. Consumers in general want to do what’s best for the planet and we want to help them do that.”
Sprint’s industry-leading role in corporate responsibility and environmental sustainability continues to receive recognition. Sprint ranked No. 3 on Newsweek’s 2011 Rankingsof America’s Greenest Companies, up from No. 6 in 2010 and No.15 in 2009. For the past two years, Sprint received the Sustainability Leadership Award from the International Electronics Recycling Conference & Expo. Sprint also was named to the Dow Jones Sustainability Index North America and leads the wireless industry in green power, securing the No. 13 spot on the EPA Fortune 500® Green Power Partner List, the only wireless carrier named to National Top 50.
To learn more about Sprint programs that protect the environment, go to www.sprint.com/responsibility or follow @SprintGreenNews on Twitter.
About Sprint
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 55 million customers at the end of 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. 3 in its 2011 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.
 
* Sprint’s 4G LTE network is expected in limited markets in mid-year 2012. See sprint.com/4GLTE for details.
1. Survey and analysis provided by Compass Intelligence was sponsored by eRecyclingCorps. Sprint’s BuyBack program is powered by eRecyclingCorps.
 
 
Sprint Earth Day Sweepstakes
ABBREVIATED RULES
NO PURCHASE OR TEXT MESSAGE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN.  A PURCHASE WILL NOT INCREASE YOUR CHANCE OF WINNING.  The Sprint Earth Day Sweepstakes is open to legal residents of 50 United States/District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands who are at least 18 years old. Sweepstakes begins at 12:00:01 a.m. (EDT) April 5, 2012, and ends at 11:59:59 p.m. (EDT) April 27, 2012  (the “Entry Period”).  Void elsewhere and where prohibited. Text Green to “229466” to find out where to enter or visit http://www.sprint.com/earthday. Msg & Data rates may apply. For complete Official Rules, including entry instructions, entry without text messaging, prize details, etc., visit http://www.sprint.com/earthday. Subject to Official Rules. This Sweepstakes is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administrated by, or associated with, Facebook®. Sponsor: Sprint Communications Company L.P.
Contact(s):

Sprint
Media Contacts:
Marci VerBrugge-Rhind, 913-794-6319
marci.j.verbrugge@sprint.com

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