The Prepaid Press - Sprint and LG Launch Third Device in 2012

05/26/2013

Sprint and LG Launch Third Device in 2012

LG Optimus Elite Offers Eco-Friendly Features

OVERLAND PARK, KS and SAN DIEGO, CA (April 17, 2012) Sprint (NYSE:S) says now is the perfect time to switch to a mobile phone with eco-friendly features, and its data-centric, no-contract brand, Virgin Mobile USA. The company, along with LG Mobile, have announced the upcoming availability of LG Optimus Elite on the Sprint 3G Network.

LG Optimus Elite became available in Titan Silver and White on Earth Day - Sunday, April 22 - exclusively through www.sprint.com and 1-800-SPRINT1 for $29.99 with a new two-year service agreement and $50 mail-in rebate via reward card (excludes taxes and surcharges). The device will become available in additional channels, including Sprint retail, on May 18. Timing and pricing for the device on Virgin Mobile USA will be announced shortly.

LG Optimus Elite marks the third device launched from Sprint and LG this year that boasts eco-friendly attributes and UL Environment Platinum Certification.

"As a leader in environmental responsibility and sustainability, Sprint continues to expand its portfolio of eco-friendly devices and services by providing consumers with strong device choices," said David Owens, vice president, Product Development, Sprint. "LG Optimus Elite is a dynamic and affordable green option for customers who want to go green without sacrificing the latest features. We are thrilled to make this available as we celebrate Earth Day and think about what each of us can do to support sustainability."

Stylish and Feature Rich with Eco-friendly Attributes
As the successor to the LG Optimus S, this smartphone includes Android 2.3, Gingerbread, and other features, including a 3.5-inch capacitive touch-screen, 800 MHz processor, 5 MP rear-facing camera and camcorder with flash, virtual QWERTY keyboard and mobile hotspot capability supporting up to five Wi-Fi enabled devices.

LG Optimus Elite also is enabled with Near Field Communication (NFC), allowing users to access value features such as Google Wallet, an app that allows payment using a mobile device at participating retailers like Bloomingdales, Toys "R" Us, CVS, Gap, Macy's and more. This is the first device in the Virgin Mobile USA line-up to support NFC and Google Wallet.

Also, consumers can download Box on LG Optimus Elite and receive 50GB of free cloud storage and sharing directly from LG, an estimated value of $240 per year, so users don't have to stress about storing all of their favorite music, files, photos and other memories. The 50GB of free storage is exclusive to LG devices until July 22.

"With the introduction of LG Optimus Elite, we felt it was critical to continue our eco-friendly-focused partnership with Sprint, and by extension, Virgin Mobile USA," said Tim O'Brien, vice president of marketing for LG Mobile. "It was important to both us and our consumers that we offer a competitively priced, fully featured smartphone that takes advantage of the latest advancements in green mobile technology. Earth Day presents the perfect opportunity for us to introduce LG Optimus Elite with eco-friendly features to the marketplace and to raise awareness about the importance of being environmentally responsible."

The Virgin Mobile USA version comes in fully recyclable packaging that uses soy inks, and contains up to 30 percent post-consumer paper. Up to 70 percent of the thermoform plastic contains a combination of post-industrial or post-consumer waste.

Source: Sprint Nextel; Virgin Mobile USA; LG Electronics USA