As the race to deliver high-speed Internet access heats up across the nation, Sprint announced today it is expanding its consumer broadband offerings to allow consumers to choose from a portfolio of services. Under the Sprint ION name, the company is now offering consumer broadband services ranging from stand-alone high-speed Internet access, to more robust services that integrate high-speed access with multiple phone lines, local calling and long-distance service over a single connection to the home.

The offers in the Sprint ION family of products include:

Sprint ION xt4SM: High-speed Internet access with downstream speeds up to 8 Mbps, upstream speeds up to 1 Mbps. Four voice/fax lines with enhanced features such as Voice Mail and Caller ID. Unlimited local calling, plus 750 minutes of domestic long distance. Plus use of the Sprint ION Control Center web interface for controlling telephone services, personal start pages, account information and interacting with customer support. Priced at $149.99 per month.

Sprint ION xt2SM: High-speed Internet access with downstream speeds up to 8 Mbps, upstream speeds up to 1 Mbps. Two voice/fax lines with enhanced features such as Voice Mail and Caller ID. Unlimited local calling, plus 400 minutes of domestic long distance. Plus use of the Sprint ION Control Center web interface for controlling telephone services, personal start pages, account information and interacting with customer support. Priced at $119.99 per month.

Sprint ION direct^SM: Dedicated, always on, high-speed Internet access with up to 1.5 Mbps (megabit per second) downstream speeds. Customizable personal start pages. Priced for Sprint long distance customers at $44.99 per month.

More detailed information on the new suite of products can be found at http://www.sprintion.com/. The newly-designed Web site allows consumers to compare the different broadband products and enter their home address for instant information on Sprint ION availability. Consumers can also get assistance in choosing a broadband product from trained consultants by calling 1-8-SPRINT-ION.

The new portfolio of Sprint ION broadband services will become immediately available in 12 major markets, including Austin, Dallas, Denver, Fort Worth, Houston, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Orange County, Phoenix, San Antonio, San Diego and Seattle. Sprint also offers broadband wireless service in Colorado Springs, Detroit, Houston, Phoenix and Tucson.

With rapid growth of our national broadband footprint, a unique portfolio approach to products, and exclusive technology like the Sprint ION network and fixed wireless MMDS, we're well on our way to becoming one of the nation's preeminent consumer broadband providers, said Bernie Amyot, vice president of marketing in Sprint's National Consumer Organization.

Over the past year, Sprint has been busy deploying consumer broadband services in more than 25 current markets nationwide via DSL and fixed-wireless technologies. But Amyot said Sprint's deployment and reach will significantly accelerate over the next 12-15 months.

By the end of 2001, we will have DSL broadband coverage to 33% of all homes in the nation, said Amyot, noting that Sprint's wireline broadband facilities will be built out in nearly 2,100 central offices in the top 85 cities nationwide. In addition, our broadband wireless efforts will allow us to reach 30% of the country - in many cases delivering broadband services where wireline technologies simply cannot reach today.

We believe this unique combination of access technologies --added to our national brand and recognized ability to create industry-leading products -- will allow us to offer customers better choice and selection as the consumer broadband industry moves from it's infancy into its next stage of explosive growth and greater mass appeal.