Leap Wireless

Leap Wireless International, Inc. was a telecommunications operator that provided wireless services to approximately 4.6 million subscribers, the 5th largest, through its subsidiary, Cricket Communications, Inc. (Cricket Wireless). It was headquartered in San Diego, California. Leap Wireless and Cricket Wireless are now subsidiaries of AT&T.

Leap was founded in 1999 and was built on the premise of unlimited services with no contracts and no credit checks, providing access to wireless services to customers who couldn’t otherwise afford it, didn't want the long-term commitment of a one- or two-year contract, or had a moral or religious objection to a credit check. A credit check is normally required for contract plans offered by telecommunications companies.

Leap has all-digital CDMA 1X, EV-DO and LTE networks that have expanded significantly in the past few years.[1]

On July 12, 2013, AT&T agreed to acquire Leap Wireless for $1.2 billion.[2] On March 13, 2014, the Federal Communications Commission approved the merger between AT&T and Leap Wireless. On the same day, Leap announced the completion of the acquisition by AT&T.[3]

History

Leap Wireless was founded in 1999, spun off as an independently traded company from San Diego–based Qualcomm. Leap was started with the idea to provide affordable wireless services to a wide range of customers, without credit checks or long-term commitments. Under that principle, it founded Cricket Communications in 1999 and launched in Chattanooga, Tennessee that year. During this time, Leap also operated all-digital wireless service in Mexico and Chile under partnership with other companies. In May 2000 Leap Wireless sold its Chilean wireless operator Smartcom PCS to Endesa.

In March 2002, Leap sold its 20 percent stake in Mexican Wireless carrier Pegaso PCS to Telefónica Moviles.

On September 4, 2007, MetroPCS announced a proposal that MetroPCS and Leap Wireless could merge into a single wireless company.[7] The proposal was withdrawn less than two months later on November 1, 2007. However, due to LEAP's current financial situation, some analysts still believe that a merger will take place.[8][9]

On September 10, 2007, Leap's Chief Financial Officer Amin Khalifa, resigned.[10] On November 9, 2007 Leap announced that it would restate its financial statements for fiscal years 2004, 2005 and 2006 and for the first and second quarters of 2007.[11]

On December 28, 2007, filed restatements of its earnings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Leap reported that it had overstated its income by $22.5 million and service revenue by $7.5 million between 2004 and 2007. During the period, Leap had reported an operating profit of $102.2 million and $3.09 billion in service revenue.[12]

On February 1, 2010, it was reported that Leap was exploring a sale of the company to a larger rival. Media reports indicated that talks had been held with Verizon Wireless and AT&T Mobility.[13]

In August 2010, Leap Wireless entered into a 5-year wholesale agreement MVNO with Sprint Nextel, which allows Cricket to offer its products and services over Sprint's 3G network throughout the United States.

On March 31, 2012 Cricket Wireless, part of Leap Wireless International Inc., announced that it plans to become the first pre-paid provider with an iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S in its month-to-month service offer on June 22, 2012.

On July 12, 2013, AT&T agreed to buy Leap Wireless for $1.2 billion.[2]

On March 13, 2014, the Federal Communications Commission approved the merger between AT&T and Leap Wireless.[14]

fate	Acquired by AT&T
successor	AT&T
foundation	1999
defunct	March 14, 2014
location city	San Diego, California
location country	United States
type	Public
industry	Telecommunications
revenue	US$ $694 million (Q4 2013)
net income	US$ $160 million (Q4 2013)
subsid	Cricket Wireless Jump Mobile Pocket Communications (76%)

Cricket Wireless

Jump Mobile

History

Executive Team prior to AT&T acquisition

Coverage Areas

References