SAN DIEGO -- Focused on further enriching the mobile experience for its Cricket® customers, Leap Wireless International, Inc. (NASDAQ:LEAP), a leading provider of innovative and value-driven wireless communications services, today announced a definitive agreement to provide users with direct access to an array of Google™ products and services. Cricket customers will have access to Google’s popular search engine, as well as its email and map applications in 2007.
“Keeping mobile content both simple and unlimited for our Cricket customers is a continuing priority for the company,” said Doug Hutcheson, chief executive officer and president of Leap. “Teaming with an industry leader like Google enables us to effectively provide consumers with the wealth of information they have become accustomed to getting through Google, only now they no longer need to be tethered to their home or office computer. We believe that this enhancement to our product portfolio will resonate well with customers and further advance our innovative and unlimited position in the marketplace.”
With the addition of Google™ services to the Cricket wireless data offering, customers will have access to several popular features, including:
Search – Customers can wirelessly access Google’s entire index of Web and mobile Web pages, with the pages designed to fit each mobile device’s smaller screensize.
Local Listings – Users can search and locate everything from tailors to restaurants.
Personalized Home – With this service, Cricket customers can customize their Google personalized homepage for their mobile device, as well as view their most recent GmailTM messages, check weather updates and keep up-to-speed on important information without being tethered to their home or office.
Email correspondence – Cricket customers can read and compose GmailTM messages while on the go since GmailTM is optimized for the mobile device being used.
Email attachment viewing – Customers can also open attachments they receive in GmailTM including photos, Microsoft Word™ documents, and PDF files.
Maps – With Google Maps for mobile, Cricket customers can wirelessly access business locations; interactive maps that allow users to zoom in or out and move in all directions for easy orientation; and directions, with routes displayed on the map itself, together with step-by-step directions. In addition, local business locations and contact information appear all in one place, which is integrated on the map, and users can also get a bird’s eye view of their desired location with Google’s satellite imagery service.
Real-time traffic – Using on of the newest features of Google Maps for mobile, customers can identify where traffic congestion is and estimate delays in over 30 major U.S. metropolitan areas.
Leap Wireless International Inc. (Nasdaq: LEAP)
Google (Nasdaq: GOOG)