Sprint Expands Boost Mobile $50 Plan To Prepaid CDMA Customers

   DOW JONES NEWSWIRES 
 

Sprint Nextel Corp. (S) expanded its Boost Mobile $50 monthly plan to include prepaid customers on its CDMA network as the struggling wireless carrier continues to seek growth in the low end.

UNLTD By Boost customers, who use the same network as core Sprint subscribers, will see their bills cut by up to $20 a month. Roaming charges and regional restrictions, made popular by rivals Leap Wireless International Inc. (LEAP) and MetroPCS Communications Inc. (PCS) and offered in 13 states, will also be eliminated.

Previously, Boost offered the $50 plan to customers on the Nextel network, which uses different technology than the Sprint side. The cheaper offering was designed to spur growth and fill extra network capacity on Nextel.

"Our primary focus is to grow Boost Mobile on the Nextel National Network," said Boost Mobile President Matt Carter while saying the business also wanted to acknowledge its customers on the Sprint network.

Sprint last week agreed to pay up to $5 billion over the next seven years to L.M. Ericsson Telephone Co. (ERIC), turning over day-to-day operations of its network to the Swedish telecom company so it can focus on new devices and customer retention. Quarterly subscriber losses have been near 1 million for more than a year.

Sprint shares recently were up 1.2% at $4.35. The stock has more than doubled in 2009 but remains down over 47% from a year ago.

-By Kevin Kingsbury, Dow Jones Newswires; 212-416-2354; [e-mail]