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Sprint Deploys Innovative Wireless Solution for University of California – Davis

Teaming with Cisco Systems and Vocera Communications, Sprint deploys customized Wi-Fi network to enhance staff-to-staff communications for optimal patient care

Overland Park, Kan. (Aug 19, 2004) – Sprint (NYSE: FON) announced today the implementation of a private Sprint Wi-Fi network (IEEE 802.11g) for the University of California – Davis (UC Davis) Health System to enhance their wireless voice communication system. This customized solution allows physicians, nurses and administrators to communicate instantly with each other to share patient and administrative information from virtually anywhere in the medical center.

The private Wi-Fi network will be deployed over 1 million square feet at the UC Davis Medical Center, a 576-bed facility located in Sacramento and has been consistently ranked as one of the top 50 hospitals in the nation, according to an annual study by US News & World Report.

"Because most of our clinicians are always on the move throughout our hospital, the communication and information management tools have to be mobile, too,” said Dr. Thomas Tinstman, associate director for clinical information systems at the UC Davis Medical Center. “Sprint assisted us by providing the infrastructure that supports these needs.”

Sprint customized an 802.11g WiFi network for UC Davis that is enabled through Cisco Aironet Access Points as part of Cisco’s strategic relationship with Sprint. Cisco Aironet provides customers with a standards-based and open architecture providing the strongest level of security available, and ensuring effective security management from a central point of control.

Additionally, the custom Wi-Fi network will utilize a voice over IP solution via a Vocera Communications System to allow quick and easy communications between all doctors, nurses and support staff. The system consists of a software application and a voice controlled badge that enables instant, hands-free wireless communication between staff members. Medical center staff can call resources instantly by name, function or group. For example, a nurse can call an anesthesiologist by name (“call Dani Charles”), by function (“call an anesthesiologist”), or call a department by simply saying “call pharmacy” or “call radiology”.

Potential uses for such a Wi-Fi network include a variety of advanced voice and data solutions such as alignment of voicemail with the system, integration of the nurse call and alarm notification system, electronic medical record sharing and providing/authorizing patient orders through multiple wireless devices.

“This customized use of a Wi-Fi network allowed us to best meet UC Davis’ need to streamline multiple traditional communications systems within the medical center thus simplifying processes for the medical staff and enhancing overall patient care,” said Cathy Bryant, vice president of business development and state government, Sprint’s Government Systems Division. “UC Davis is the first hospital in the country where Cisco and Sprint have teamed to deliver a private 802.11g (54 MBPS) network augmented by our CDMA/1xRTT services. It will become the primary means of both voice and data for all critical care staff.”

Sprint is dedicated to providing integrated communication solutions that help healthcare providers balance patient care, manage costs and comply with mandated regulations. Leveraging its portfolio of wireless and wireline assets, Sprint can provide integrated, managed mobility solutions designed for the healthcare market. In addition, Sprint has built a strong portfolio of security products and services that healthcare organizations can leverage to address HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) security requirements.

Sprint has been recognized for its leadership in vertical markets overall with the 2004 Frost & Sullivan Telecom Services Vertical Company of the Year Award and the 2002 Frost & Sullivan Market Engineering Leadership Award for Customized Healthcare Solutions. For more information, please visit www.sprintbiz.com/solutions/healthcare.

The alliance between Sprint and Cisco focuses on meeting customer needs for wireless and wireline data services through shared market research, joint development of new products and technologies, and joint sales and marketing.

Sprint Government Systems Division (www.sprint.com/government) is based in Herndon, Va., and offers the full range of Sprint product and service offerings for federal and state government customers. Sprint provides a variety of voice and data services, both wireless and wireline, to all 50 states.

About Sprint
Sprint is a global integrated communications provider serving more than 26 million customers in over 100 countries. With more than 61,000 employees worldwide and over $26 billion in annual revenues in 2003, Sprint is widely recognized for developing, engineering and deploying state-of-the-art network technologies, including the United States’ first nationwide all-digital, fiber-optic network and an award-winning Tier 1 Internet backbone. Sprint provides local communications services in 39 states and the District of Columbia and operates the largest 100-percent digital, nationwide PCS wireless network in the United States. For more information, visit www.sprint.com.

About Vocera Communications
Vocera Communications has created a wireless communications system to enhance customer service productivity and teamwork throughout organizations by enabling instant voice communication among mobile workers. The company, headquartered in Cupertino, Calif., was founded in March 2000. For more information, please contact the company at (408) 882-5100 or visit the Web site at www.vocera.com.

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