1998 - Leap Wireless International, Inc. Is Founded
Leap Wireless International, Inc. is founded as a spin-off of QUALCOMM on September 23rd, with 30 employees and a vision to provide affordable wireless services to a wide range of customers.
1999 - Cricket Wireless Service Launches
Leap begins as primarily an international company with interest in wireless opportunities abroad. While the majority of employees are focused on the international marketplace, a small group is working on a new business concept for the U.S. marketplace called Cricket. Leap's Cricket Wireless service launches on March 17th in its first market, Chattanooga, Tennessee, with a flat rate, all-you-can-talk unlimited voice service for just $30 a month.
Leap is first listed on NASDAQ on September 11th, 1999 under the ticker symbol "LWIN".
2000 - Cricket Wireless Service Expands
Leap's Cricket Wireless service launches its second and third markets in Memphis and North Carolina.
2002 - Cricket Reaches 1 Million Customers
Cricket successfully completes its initial expansion into 40 new markets and celebrates its 1 millionth customer.
2003 - Leap Files Chapter 11 Bankruptcy
Leap files voluntary petitions for relief under Chapter 11 in federal bankruptcy court.
2004 - A New Company Emerges
The newly restructured company emerges from bankruptcy, committed to leveraging its low-cost structure to facilitate strategic growth.
2005 - Leap Hits NASDAQ, Again
Leap is re-listed on NASDAQ under the ticker symbol "LEAP".
2006 - Cricket Expands into 14 New Markets
Cricket successfully expands into 14 new markets with the potential to serve almost 20 million additional customers.
2007 - Cricket Reaches 2 Million Customers
Cricket's customer base reaches 2 million, and it completes its data network upgrade to CDMA 1XEVDO 3G technology.
2008 - Leap Turns 10 Years Old
Leap celebrates its tenth anniversary and begins its third wave of major footprint expansion into 10 new markets, with the potential to serve almost 35 million new customers.
Cricket launches its Broadband and PAYGoTM services.
2009 - Cricket Celebrates its Tenth Anniversary
Cricket now operates a facilities-based network in 35 states and the District of Columbia, serving more than 5 million wireless customers nationwide.
Cricket becomes the 7th largest wireless carrier in the U.S., and is distinguished as a Fortune(R) 1000 company.
2010 - Cricket Evolves
Cricket rolls out nationwide talk and text in March, followed by the simplified "all-inclusive" service plans, broader array of devices, including smartphones at affordable prices, and nationwide 3G coverage in August. Significant changes to management and back-office systems are made to put the Company closer to its customers.
2011 - MuveMusic Goes Live
Cricket launches MuveMusic, the first unlimited music service designed for the mobile phone that does not require a computer. MuveMusic is a revolutionary music operating system that is fully integrated to a handset. It enables total control of all aspects of music - listening, discovery, acquisition, sharing - without having to be tethered to a computer.
