Sprint Rolls Out Sprint Consultation Centers in Retail Stores to Simplify Wireless Buying for Businesses

Centers represent a next step for four-time J.D. Power Award winner for Wireless Purchase Experience among full-service wireless providers

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. (BUSINESS WIRE), April 22, 2013 – For small businesses, finding the right wireless solutions for the office can be disorienting, draining and even daunting. Wireless product and solution choices seem to pile on while pricing options come with the simplicity of an algebra proof.

Today, Sprint (NYSE:S, news, filings) announces a shopping solution for small businesses that simplifies the wireless buying process – Sprint Consultation Centers, a complete packaging of wireless assistance in Sprint retail stores that is customized to small business needs.

Sprint, the four-time J.D. Power Award winner for Wireless Purchase Experience among contract customers, developed Sprint Consultation Centers to pool the company’s business expertise and business solutions in a retail atmosphere that’s low-stress, confusion-free and convenient for customers.

After an initial assessment, Consultation Center experts can develop for customers customized proposals with multiple solution options at various price points that track with the customers’ needs.

“The concept takes the guesswork out of wireless for business customers,” said Jaime Jones, senior vice president-Consumer Sales. “Too many times guesswork leads to the wrong wireless solution and a bad wireless buy on a small business’ tight budget. That repeats itself over and over. The Sprint Consultation Center is intended to change that pattern.”

To find a Sprint Consultation Center, check www.sprint.com/storelocator. Customers can book time for an appointment online or simply stop by a Sprint retail store. Each appointment includes a discussion of the customer’s current telecommunications solution or product bundle, the size of the business and expected growth plans, current and future budgets, opportunities to improve ROI on their existing wireless network, and key sales and service challenges.

Sprint: an emerging leader in solutions for Small Business

Sprint Consultation Centers are a major next step in Sprint’s plans to lead in the small business space. The company made news among small businesses in 2011 and 2012 with the launch and subsequent refresh of Small Business Solutions. The Solutions bundle lets small businesses select the package of products, services, accessories and add-on features that work best for them, then customize the package for their unique needs. The Small Business Solutions portfolio includes wireline phone replacement options, Internet connectivity and backup solutions, custom IT support, special discounts, and productivity solutions to help customers do more – in more places.

Evolving the retail model

Sprint Consultation Centers also offer the perfect complement to Ready Now in Sprint retail stores. With Ready Now, Sprint trained and committed its retail associates to work one-on-one with each retail customer to personalize phones, set up features, and demonstrate how phones work – before customers leave the store.

“With more people trying to boost their wireless data performance, Ready Now and Sprint Consultation Centers make sense,” Jones said. “You have to take the time to explain how to pull the potential out of a wireless device. Across business and consumer segments, the demand for solid, certified, professional wireless assistance will continue to grow.”

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 55 million customers at the end of 2012 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. The American Customer Satisfaction Index rated Sprint No. 1 among all national carriers in customer satisfaction and most improved, across all 47 industries, during the last four years. Newsweek ranked Sprint No. 3 in both its 2011 and 2012 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.