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Nextel Partners Selects PAR3 for Automated Customer CommunicationsSEATTLE – May 10, 2005 – PAR3 Communications, a leading provider of enterprise customer communication solutions, announced today that Nextel Partners, Inc. (Nasdaq:NXTP), which has the exclusive right to offer the same fully integrated, digital wireless communications services offered by Nextel Communications, Inc., has chosen PAR3 as a strategic complement to its existing collections process. By deploying PAR3’s automated customer communications solution, Nextel Partners expects to collect a higher percentage of outstanding customer balances while also gathering valuable interaction information to help drive future collections strategies. “PAR3 demonstrates a thorough understanding of the collections process and their experience has enabled us to optimize our solution very quickly,” said Tom Poston, director of customer finance, Nextel Partners. “Because the PAR3 solution automates customer outreach, identifies the responsible party for the account and manages the self-service options, we’ve been able to reallocate our outbound resources to other care functions, thereby increasing our overall customer service and productivity.” With PAR3, Nextel Partners delivers fully interactive voice notifications that enable customers to take immediate action on their account. Customers can promise to pay, confirm a prior payment, pay directly from within the notification with a credit card or check, or transfer to a customer service agent for additional information. If a customer chooses to speak to an agent, the PAR3 solution connects the customer to the contact center, complete with a “whisper” message that provides the agent with incoming call details to ensure service levels remain high. “This is a great example of how leveraging technology can help a company keep the lines of communication open,” said Denis Pombriant, managing director, Beagle Research Group. “Using an automated system to make the initial contact, and in many cases, the entire interaction, can reduce the stigma associated with a collection call. The evidence suggests that consumers are responding well to this approach, which has led to a significant increase in collections for companies across industries.” Fully integrated into Nextel Partners’ collections system, PAR3 handles the customer dialogue throughout the entire interaction, from notification delivery to answering machine callbacks, and updates Nextel Partners’ collections system with the results of every contact attempt. Companies in the healthcare, utility, financial services and communications industries are leveraging PAR3’s automated communications solution to interact with customers about a variety of important events. From customer service and marketing to collections and billing issues, these companies are realizing improved agent productivity, enhanced contact center performance and significant bottom line results. About PAR3 Communications, Inc. Seattle-based PAR3 Communications, Inc. is the leading provider of enterprise customer communication solutions that enable dynamic conversations between companies and the customers they serve. PAR3’s interactive communication solution is a blend of advanced multi-channel applications built upon enterprise software. It delivers its solution through a software services model. Businesses such as Wachovia, T-Mobile, Medco and US Airways use PAR3’s technology to leverage their rich enterprise-level customer data to proactively and personally interact with their customers with timely, relevant information. For more information about PAR3 please visit www.par3.com. About Nextel Partners, Inc. Nextel Partners, Inc., (NASDAQ: NXTP), a FORTUNE 1000 company based in Kirkland, Wash., has exclusive rights to offer the same fully integrated, digital wireless communications services offered by Nextel Communications (Nextel) in mid-sized and rural markets in 31 states where approximately 54 million people reside. Nextel Partners and Nextel together offer the largest guaranteed all-digital wireless network in the country serving 297 of the top 300 U.S. markets. To learn more about Nextel Partners, visit www.nextelpartners.com. |