Sprint Corp. plans to launch its new mobile phone service in four cities.
Sprint PCS will be introduced in Milwaukee; Fresno, Calif.; Portland, Ore.; and Spokane, Wash., the company said Sunday in a news release. The all-in-one digital communications service will be available next month in up to four more markets that have not yet been named."The replacement for cellular is here," said Andrew Sukawaty, Sprint PCS chief executive officer. "We're not just providing consumers with a better phone. We're providing them a better connection that's clearer, more affordable and more secure."
Sprint is among several companies starting to offer digital personal communications services, or PCS, which allow users to combine phone, message and paging services in one hand-held unit.
Digital wireless communications technology differs from the more familiar cellular service. It provides greater security from eavesdroppers, better sound quality and smoother transitions among towers as a user travels.
The Kansas City-based company had planned to introduce the service in 15 to 20 cities by the end of this year. But that plan was scaled back because of computer software problems.
Sprint said PCS will be available in the first half of next year on a market-by-market basis in New York, San Francisco, Dallas-Ft. Worth, Boston, Miami, Minneapolis-St. Paul, Denver, Seattle and Kansas City.
Sprint said after the first phase of the launch is completed next year, PCS will be available in 65 cities nationwide.