Broward County Public Schools, located in South Florida, is the first school district in the nation to implement a real-time, location-based wireless weather alert system that will notify the faculty and staff of severe weather conditions that threaten the safety of athletes, coaches, students and spectators. The system utilizes Sprint GPS-enabled handsets on the Nextel National Network equipped with a weather alert application from WeatherBug, a leading provider of live, local weather information services. WeatherBug Protect is the first alert system to integrate live streaming weather information from the 8,000 WeatherBug Tracking Stations located throughout the country primarily in neighborhoods atop schools.

Sprint and Motorola, Inc. announced nationwide availability of its PowerSource phones and first-in-the-category phones the Motorola Buzz ic502 and the Motorola Blend ic402. An industry first, these phones represent a new category of handsets that utilize the Nextel National Network (iDEN) for walkie-talkie services and the Sprint Nationwide Network (CDMA) for voice and data services. Bringing together the strength of both networks, Sprint customers now have the power to make voice calls; communicate instantly with Nextel Walkie-Talkie services; and stay connected with Sprint Text Messaging, GPS and other advanced applications, all with one single phone.

The Inkster Public Schools, consisting of four schools (two elementary schools, a middle school and a high school) and approximately 1,600 students, is one of the first districts in Michigan to implement this GPS (global positioning system) solution. The district’s 25 buses have been outfitted with mounted Motorola i355 GPS-enabled handsets. Each handset will be equipped with Comet Tracker from ActSoft, a GPS-tracking application, as well as Nextel Walkie-Talkie service, enabling instant voice communication between drivers and the district’s transportation office. It also gives drivers the capability to contact 911 in an emergency.

Holiday shoppers can depend on the power of Sprint’s network, unique line-up of products and services, and value-added pricing for the ideal gift-giving opportunity. As part of its “Twelve Days of Power Shopping” campaign, Sprint today announced great deals on several mobile devices designed to match the lifestyle needs of friends and family members this holiday season.