Big Planet Launches Wireless Web Phone Offering in 34 Major U.S. Markets; Sprint PCS Offering Increases Value of Big Planet's Product Line.Business Editors/High-Tech Writers PROVO, Utah--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 17, 2000 Big Planet Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary Wholly Owned Subsidiary A subsidiary whose parent company owns 100% of its common stock. Notes: In other words, the parent company owns the company outright and there are no minority owners. of Nu Skin Enterprises Inc. (NYSE NYSE See: New York Stock Exchange : NUS), Friday announced a private-label, voice- and Web-enabled wireless phone offering called Big Planet Wireless(TM). Big Planet Wireless, offered immediately in major U.S. markets via Sprint PCS (1) (Personal Communications Services) Refers to wireless services that emerged after the U.S. government auctioned commercial licenses in 1994 and 1995. This radio spectrum in the 1. (R), increases the overall value and return on investment in Big Planet's product line and offers residual revenue streams to Big Planet Independent Representatives (IRs) based on monthly usage. Announced today at Big Planet's Momentum 2000 Leadership Conference, Big Planet Wireless network services will be provided on the Sprint PCS Nationwide Network, the largest 100 percent digital, 100 percent PCS nationwide wireless network in the United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. . Big Planet Wireless will include voice- and Web-enabled digital phone service in the nation's 34 largest metropolitan markets as well as service coverage in most secondary markets. According to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. a February 2000 Yankee Group (the Yankee Group, Boston, MA, www.yankeegroup.com) A major market research, analysis and consulting firm founded in 1970 by Howard Anderson. It provides general consulting and strategic planning in the computer and communications field. study, Internet-enabled "smart phones" are expected to have 48 million users worldwide by 2002, and 204 million by 2005. In 1998, there were an estimated 220 million digital wireless-phone subscribers worldwide, and 150 million Internet users. Within four years, there will be more than half a billion Internet accounts and roughly 1 billion digital wireless-phone subscriptions, the research firm reported. "Big Planet's wireless voice- and Web-phone offer is an attractive product for new and existing representatives as a means of producing sales commissions month after month," said Scott Schwerdt, COO of Big Planet. "Big Planet representatives will be paid a commission on the airtime usage of each individual customer, a concept different from the standard activation commissions. This way, Big Planet representatives can receive residual revenue streams based on their customers' monthly usage." Big Planet Wireless Features and Options Big Planet's digital wireless offering will enable IRs and their customers to choose from pre-pay and post-pay products; near real time call detail records (CDRs); as well as wireless Internet access See how to access the Internet. , data transmission and messaging services. Real-time CDRs will allow Big Planet to provide a metered-pay or spending limit product. Standard Big Planet Wireless features include voicemail, three-way calling Noun 1. three-way calling - a way of adding a third party to your conversation without the assistance of a telephone operator conference call - a telephone call in which more than two people participate , call forwarding call forwarding n. A telephone service that enables a customer to have an incoming call automatically rerouted to another extension. Noun 1. at 10 cents per minute, and call waiting. Optional features include text messaging Sending short messages to a smartphone, pager, PDA or other handheld device. Text messaging implies sending short messages generally no more than a couple of hundred characters in length. , paging, weekend bundle, Web access, handset insurance, roadside assistance and information services See Information Systems. . Product Offerings and Handset Pricing Big Planet Wireless will offer the following Web-enabled wireless handsets from some of the world's leading equipment manufacturers. For a list of call management features and included functions for each wireless handset, see www.bigplanetwireless.net. -- Nokia 5170 single band at $99.99 -- Qualcomm 1960 single band at $99.99 -- Qualcomm 2760 dual band at $149.99 -- Qualcomm QCP2700 dual band at $99.99 -- Motorola StarTAC single band at $199.99 -- Samsung SCH2000 offered free of charge Service Plan Pricing Big Planet Wireless offers five service plans with monthly recurring charges (MRCs) starting at $19.99, $39.99, $49.99, $99.99 and $149.99. Each market offers variable minutes included with the MRC See Maximum return criterion. . For a detailed listing of service plans by market, service plan minutes, additional minute charges, long distance charges, and on-network and off-network roaming charges, visit www.bigplanetwireless.net. Product Availability and Ordering Big Planet Wireless is available through either an online or phone ordering system. Big Planet's Web ordering system, www.bigplanetwireless.net, contains detailed descriptions of the coverage areas, handset descriptions, calling plans and pricing. Following the order placement, customers will receive a confirmation call from a Big Planet customer service representative and the product will be shipped within 24 hours. Live operator ordering is also available by calling 888/594-6378 between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m., any time zone; live operator orders will also be shipped within 24 hours. Market Coverage Big Planet Wireless will be available immediately in 34 major markets including Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco, Colorado, Connecticut, Washington, D.C., Miami, Orlando, Fla., Tampa, Fla., Atlanta, Honolulu, Chicago, Indianapolis, Louisville, New Orleans, Boston, Detroit, Minneapolis, Kansas City, St. Louis, Las Vegas, New York New York, state, United States New York, Middle Atlantic state of the United States. It is bordered by Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and the Atlantic Ocean (E), New Jersey and Pennsylvania (S), Lakes Erie and Ontario and the Canadian province of , Charlotte, N.C., Cincinnatti, Cleveland, Portland, Ore., Pittsburg, Nashville, Dallas, Houston, San Antonio, Salt Lake City and Seattle. For a service coverage map or complete listing of Big Planet's primary and secondary wireless coverage areas, see www.bigplanetwireless.net. About Big Planet Big Planet, a wholly owned subsidiary of Nu Skin Enterprises (NYSE: NUS), is an innovative provider of communications and integrated technology products and services for individuals and small businesses. Through Big Planet's representative sales force, the company's product offering is "making technology simple" by providing the device, connection and destination for customers to take advantage of technology -- including robust, fast access to the Internet and online shopping via www.bpstore.com. For more information about Big Planet and its products and services, visit www.bigplanet.com. Please note: This press release contains forward-looking statements which represent Big Planet's and Nu Skin Enterprises' expectations or beliefs concerning future events, including the new voice-and Web-enabled phone offering. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results and outcomes to differ materially from those discussed or anticipated and the risks set forth in the company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the company's most recent Form 10-K Form 10-K A report required by the SEC from exchange-listed companies that provides for annual disclosure of certain financial information. Form 10-K See 10-K. and Form 10-Q Form 10-Q See 10-Q. . Nu Skin Enterprises and Big Planet are registered trademarks in the United States and/or other countries. Other product and company names herein may be trademarks of their respective owners. |
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