MetroPCS Communications, Inc.: New Survey Finds Today's Teens View Text Messaging Plans as Restrictive, Would Text More with Unlimited Plans; Convenience and Ease-of-Use Continue to Spur Growth of Text Messaging

By Business Editors
(c) 2006 Business Wire

DALLAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 12, 2006--According to a new survey(a) conducted by MetroPCS Communications, Inc., a rapidly growing provider of wireless communications services, nearly a third of today's teens and young adults believe their current text messaging plan is restrictive, with over forty percent saying it led to a higher cell phone bill. Furthermore, according to those surveyed, the average number of text messages sent per day was between six and seven; however, the majority of those surveyed said they would send more text messages if their cell phone plan was not restrictive on text messaging.

With approximately one-third of MetroPCS' customer base in the youth segment, the target age of "text messagers," the company conducted a survey to track text messaging trends, including when and why consumers are most likely to use this rapidly growing form of communication.

"We continue to see a growing trend of text messaging among wireless users, but those same users are becoming more value-oriented than ever," said Roger Linquist, MetroPCS founder and CEO. "While many wireless providers offer text-messaging, most charge on a per-message basis which often creates outrageous cell phone bills. Our survey reinforces the idea that consumers want the freedom to text or speak as much as they want for a flat rate."

Additional key findings from the survey include:

-- The majority of those surveyed said their parent/guardian paid for their cell phone bill.

-- Nearly half of all respondents said they use text talk language, with "LOL" or "laugh-out-loud" being the most used text talk word.

-- Most respondents learned text talk language primarily through instant messaging services, followed by learning from their friends, making it up on their own or by other people text messaging them.

Along with its text messaging study, MetroPCS created the MetroPCS Text-Talk dictionary, which provides customers with definitions for the most popular texting shorthand phrases. The MetroPCS Text Talk dictionary allows those who may not be exposed to text talk language a way to learn and more effectively communicate via text messaging. The MetroPCS Text Talk Dictionary is available for download at www.metropcs.com or at local MetroPCS stores.

MetroPCS offers customers TextTalk which allows unlimited domestic text messaging for $3 per month, and TextTalk Global is available for unlimited international text messages for $3 per month. Together, the two service options allow subscribers to send an unlimited number of text messages internationally and in the United States for a flat rate of $6 per month. While many wireless providers offer text-messaging, most charge on a per-message basis and the rates are significantly higher for international messages. MetroPCS offers truly unlimited text messaging with no restrictions for a low, flat rate per month.

Dallas-based MetroPCS Communications, Inc. is a provider of wireless communications services. Through its subsidiaries, privately owned MetroPCS, Inc. holds 23 PCS licenses in the greater Miami, Tampa, San Francisco, Atlanta and Sacramento metropolitan areas. MetroPCS and its subsidiaries offer customers flat rate plans with unlimited anytime local and long distance minutes with no contract. MetroPCS is among the first wireless operators to deploy an all-digital network based on third generation infrastructure and handsets. For more information, visit the MetroPCS web site at www.metropcs.com. Prices do not include taxes, fees, or other surcharges.

(a) The survey was conducted in Oct. 2005 by ICR (International Communications Research) on behalf of MetroPCS. The survey interviewed 1,200 participants, ages 13-25, in Tampa, Fla.; Miami, Fla.; Atlanta, GA; San Francisco, Calif.; Sacramento, Calif.