Cricket MSGM8 Rounds Out Cricket’s Holiday Handset Lineup

New QWERTY Phone Makes Perfect Holiday Gift for “Constantly Connected” Wireless User

  Cricket Communications, Inc., a leading provider of unlimited wireless services and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Leap Wireless International, Inc. (NASDAQ:LEAP), today announces the Cricket MSGM8 (Message Mate) will be available to customers beginning Friday, November 27, 2009. The MSGM8 is a compact bar QWERTY phone optimized for one-touch connecting for access to messaging and email, scheduler and MyHomeScreen for favorite social networking sites, sports, weather, news, and more on Cricket’s 3G network.

The Cricket MSGM8 features a full QWERTY keypad, large 2.2” color display, a 1.3MP camera, Bluetooth^® and speech recognition for hands free calling. The phone supports tri-band connectivity and includes a toggle dial on the left side for easy scrolling/volume control. The MSGM8 can also store up to 1000 contacts and with MyBackup available, customers can be assured their contacts won’t get lost.

“The MSGM8 is a fantastic value addition to our QWERTY lineup just in time for the holidays. The MSGM8 is the perfect gift solution for that person who is constantly connected; it is loaded with features to make messaging, scheduling and social networking a breeze, all with a compact and sophisticated look and feel,” said Matt Stoiber, vice president and general manager of device strategy for Cricket. “The MSGM8 offers the key features that are important to Cricket customers who want to stay connected with family and friends, and its value price makes it affordable for budget-conscious holiday shoppers. It’s a great way to give the gift of Cricket’s unlimited service and 3G network.”

The Cricket MSGM8 will be available Friday, November 27, through Monday, November 30, 2009 for a special introductory promotion price of $99.99 at Cricket company-owned stores only. For more information, please visit a local Cricket retail location, or online visit www.mycricket.com.