Sprint Nextel’s Assurance Wireless sub-brand expanded its subsidized wireless telecommunications offering by adding 250 text messages to its free service offering that previously provided 250 calling minutes or a new plan that provides 500 voice minutes and 500 text messages for $5 per month to eligible low-income residents across 32 states.
The new plans will join its previous offering that includes 1,000 voice minutes and 1,000 text messages for $20 per month. All plans include a free device.
The Assurance service is part of the Lifeline Assistance program that is supported by the federal Universal Service Fund and is eligible for people participating in Medicaid, Food Stamps/SNAP, Temporary Cash Assistance (TCA/TANF), Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Federal Public Housing Assistance (Section 8), Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), or the National School Lunch Program’s Free Lunch Program.
Assurance Wireless is currently available in Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia and Wisconsin.
The Assurance Wireless service is part of Sprint Nextel’s Virgin Mobile USA offering and is part of the carriers extensive prepaid platform that also includes Boost Mobile. The carrier last year folded its traditional prepaid Common Cents offering into its PayLo prepaid service that was part of the Virgin Mobile USA offering.
Sprint Nextel reported that it had approximately 15.3 million direct prepaid customers on its network at the end of the first quarter, having added nearly 2.2 million over the previous 12 months.
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