now happening at c spire

Store Offers Hands-On, Interactive Retail Experience To Help Customers Choose Wireless Devices, Plans, Apps, Content and Accessories That Best Meet Their Individual Needs

Ridgeland, Miss. (April 3, 2012) – C Spire Wireless, the only wireless provider in the U.S. that offers consumers and businesses a suite of personalized wireless services, today announced the grand opening of its new 3,000 square foot prototype retail store in Starkville.

The new, state-of-the-art store, located at 337 Highway 12 West in Starkville, features C Spire’s latest open floor plan design, wireless devices, feature and smart phones and accessories, as well as the company’s industry-leading personalization program, which gives customers apps and content that fit who they are, services that anticipate their needs and rewards for using their phone in new ways.

The store officially opens today with an 11 a.m. ribbon-cutting, reception and celebration featuring C Spire executives, elected officials and local business and community leaders in Starkville and Oktibbeha County. Food, prizes and giveaways will also be a part of the grand opening.

The Starkville store has a state-of-the-art, hands-on design to engage customers and provides a “try before you buy” personalized service experience, according to Sylvester Adams, market manager for C Spire. Adams and his 11-member staff are trained to assist consumer and business customers with individual purchasing decisions, personalized customer service and technical support. Store hours of operation are Monday through Saturday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

“C Spire is customer inspired and we want customers to feel that from the moment they walk through our doors,” said Bryan Templeton, regional manager of Retail Operations for C Spire Wireless. “Our new retail design makes it easy for customers to learn more and fully immerse themselves in the personalized wireless experience.”

Templeton said the new Starkville store features C Spire’s new open floor plan that removes barriers between the service area and sales floor, making the entire store one environment designed to personalize the customer experience. The store showcases a highly interactive and engaging retail concept and offers consumers a more high-tech, personalized experience, providing them with the latest and most innovative products and services.

Among the new store’s features are:

• A distinctive exterior design that reinforces the unique personalized experience customers receive
• A redesigned entry area where customers can relax and refresh with free bottled water as C Spire retail staff help them through every step of personalizing their wireless experience
• Placement and organization of smartphones, tablets, wireless modems, mobile hotspots and other devices along the walls so customers and retail staff can receive more personalized service
• A new Engage area is the hub of store activity with compelling, interactive high-definition screens that demonstrate all of the benefits of personalized wireless available only from C Spire. Customers can interact with the touchscreen displays or browse on tablet computers in the lounge area to learn more about industry-first personalization programs like PERCS, the company’s personalized rewards and customer engagement program; Scout, C Spire’s app personalization tool and Circle, the company’s community forum that engages consumers in a two-way conversation about products, services and their wireless experience.
• A reconfigured consultation area in the center of the store where C Spire retail CREW staff can work alongside customers at casual café style stations to give personalized attention to their wireless needs.

“We’re proud of our new store, but we’re even more excited about continuing to contribute to the economic development of this region,” Templeton said. The new retail location builds on C Spire’s significant capital and network investments in Starkville and the surrounding area. C Spire has invested more than $3.7 million since 2008 to expand its network and give Starkville and Oktibbeha County businesses and consumers the best personalized wireless experience available.

“Expansion of C Spire’s retail operations is good news for Starkville and Oktibbeha County. C Spire is a great corporate neighbor and we really appreciate the investments they continue to make in our community and in our people,” said Starkville Mayor Parker Wiseman. “This announcement reinforces their high level of commitment to providing our residents and businesses with access to the latest wireless technology, including a strong network, a wide variety of devices, plans, apps and more.”

Local business leaders echoed Wiseman’s praise of the company’s decision to select Starkville as the first market for its new prototype retail store design. “C Spire’s efforts to expand its retail operations and enhance wireless coverage in Starkville and Oktibbeha County will greatly benefit the communities in this region,” said Jennifer Gregory, COO of the 415-member Greater Starkville Development Partnership and Chamber of Commerce.

“Continued retail expansion and the provision of high-speed wireless data and the services and applications it supports are becoming increasingly important to both consumers and business users,” Gregory said. “We appreciate the work that C Spire is doing to extend the benefits of expanded broadband access to consumers and businesses who rely heavily on wireless technology for work and entertainment.”

Last month, C Spire announced that Starkville would be one of the first 20 markets where the company plans to introduce 4G LTE, the next generation of high-speed mobile broadband services, in September. The new service provides consumers and business with wireless data speeds up to 10 times faster than today’s levels.

For more information on C Spire’s retail operations, network expansion and overall community investment, visit www.cspire.com.

About C Spire Wireless

C Spire Wireless is a diversified wireless communications company passionately committed to helping customers by personalizing wireless services designed just for them. The company is the first wireless provider in the U.S. to personalize customers’ experience by offering apps that fit who they are, services that anticipate their needs, and rewards for using their phone in new ways – all with seamless ease and at amazingly fast speeds. This news release and other announcements are available at www.cspire.com/news. For more information about C Spire Wireless and its products and services, visit www.cspire.com or follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/cspire or Twitter at www.twitter.com/cspire.