SAN DIEGO, Aug 06, 2010 (BUSINESS WIRE) --

Cricket Communications Inc.,a leading provider of unlimited wireless services and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Leap Wireless International, Inc. (NASDAQ:LEAP), today announced the immediate availability of the BlackBerry^(R) Curve 8530 Smartphone from Research In Motion (RIM). This popular BlackBerry model, featuring RIM's signature email and keyboard combination, as well as full HTML Web browsing and access to BlackBerry App World, is the first Smartphone to join the diverse handset line-up at Cricket and will come with a low-priced 3G BlackBerry plan.

Starting today, Cricket branded retail stores, dealers nationwide and www.mycricket.com will offer the BlackBerry Curve 8530 for $299.99. The device will be accompanied by Cricket's true rate $60 BlackBerry Plan, offering unlimited nationwide talk, text, email, web browsing, picture mail, and international text capabilities on Cricket's all-3G network, and the convenience and ease of a flat-rate monthly service plan that includes all taxes and fees, except applicable sales tax.

"By offering industry-leading Smartphones, like the BlackBerry Curve 8530, Cricket is delivering the products people want at the prices they can afford," stated Al Moschner, Cricket's chief operating officer. "Add that to our new all-inclusive, true rate BlackBerry Plan that offers 3G service at nearly half the cost of other 3G Smartphone plans in the market, and Cricket is solidifying its position as the cost-conscious provider, respecting the budgets and real-life needs of our customers every step of the way."

The sleek BlackBerry Curve 8530 Smartphone comes equipped with numerous advanced features including the industry's leading email and messaging solution, a comfortable full-QWERTY keyboard, high-resolution 320 x 240 pixel color display, BlackBerry Messenger, and access to thousands of applications via BlackBerry App World. It also features a powerful media player with dedicated media keys integrated into the top of the handset, a 2 MP camera with video recording*, built-in GPS and Wi-Fi (802.11 b/g) as well as Bluetooth support, plus, of course, unlimited talk, text, video and picture messaging capabilities offered on Cricket's BlackBerry service plan.

For more information about Cricket's dynamic handset lineup, please visit www.mycricket.com.

The BlackBerry and RIM Families of related marks, images and symbols are the exclusive properties and trademarks of Research In Motion Limited.

Wi-Fi is a registered trademark of the Wi-Fi Alliance.

*Video recording requires a microSD card, which may be sold separately.

About Cricket

Cricket is the pioneer of simple and affordable unlimited wireless services with no long-term commitments or credit checks required serving more than 5.3 million customers in 35 states and the District of Columbia. Cricket offers wireless voice and broadband Internet services over the latest technology, high-quality, all-digital 3G CDMA2000 1X and 1xEV-DO wireless network. Cricket's nationwide wireless voice service plans include unlimited anytime minutes, unlimited U.S. long distance, unlimited text and picture messaging, unlimited text to Mexico, unlimited Mobile Web, unlimited directory assistance, as well as a variety of calling features and feature-rich mobile applications such as popular games, ringtones and wallpapers. Cricket Broadband provides unlimited Internet access anywhere within Cricket's coverage areas at speeds comparable to DSL. For more information on Cricket, visit www.mycricket.com. Cricket is offered by Leap Wireless International, Inc., headquartered in San Diego, Calif. For more information on Leap, visit www.leapwireless.com.

SOURCE: Cricket Communications, Inc.

Cricket Communications, Inc.
Greg Lund, Media Relations
858-882-9105
glund@cricketcommunications.com
or
Amy Wakeham, Investor Relations
858-882-9876
awakeham@leapwireless.com