MetroPCS Commits to Informing, Helping New Mothers through National text4baby Partnership
February 04 2010 - 9:31AM
PR Newswire (US)
text4baby service offers free mobile information service to promote
safe and healthy pregnancies DALLAS, Feb. 4 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/
-- MetroPCS Communications, Inc. (NYSE:PCS) today announced its
participation as a founding wireless partner of text4baby, a free
mobile information service providing timely health information to
pregnant women and new moms from pregnancy through baby's first
year. As part of its involvement, MetroPCS customers who sign up
for the service will receive weekly SMS text messages with health
information timed with the mother's due date or her baby's date of
birth. Each year in the United States, more than 500,000 babies are
born prematurely and an estimated 28,000 children die before their
first birthday--signifying a public health crisis. The infant
mortality rate in the U.S. is one of the highest in the
industrialized world, and for the first time since the 1950s, that
rate is on the rise. "Premature births and rising infant mortality
rates are a serious problem in the United States," said Judy
Meehan, executive director, National Healthy Mothers, Healthy
Babies Coalition. "Text4baby presents a unique opportunity to
deliver health messages to those who need them most in a format
that is second nature in today's world. We are proud to have such a
broad network behind this innovative effort." An educational
program of the National Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition
(HMHB), text4baby delivers timely health tips via text message to
those who need it most. The program is made possible through a
broad, public-private partnership which includes the White House
Office on Science and Technology Policy, the U.S. Department of
Health and Human Services, Voxiva, CTIA-The Wireless Foundation,
Grey Healthcare Group and founding corporate sponsor Johnson &
Johnson. HMHB works to help women have safe and healthy pregnancies
by empowering them with information, resources and knowledge to
give their babies the best possible start in life. "For many
MetroPCS customers, wireless phones are their primary way to
communicate and receive information that's most important in their
lives. As a founding wireless partner of text4baby, we're committed
to ensuring that consumers have access to the vital information
that gives a healthy start for new mothers and their children,"
added Phil Terry, senior vice president of corporate marketing for
MetroPCS. Women who sign up for the service by texting BABY to
511411 (or BEBE for Spanish) receive three free SMS text messages
each week with health information timed to their due date or baby's
date of birth. These messages focus on a variety of topics critical
to maternal and child health, including birth defects prevention,
immunization, nutrition, seasonal flu, mental health, oral health
and safe sleep. Text4baby messages also connect women to prenatal
and infant care services and other resources. About the National
Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition The National Healthy
Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition (HMHB) is the only coalition of
its kind which acts as a catalyst for change by creating
partnerships among community groups, nonprofit organizations,
professional associations, businesses and government agencies. The
Coalition promotes optimal health for mothers and babies, and works
to strengthen families and build healthy communities. About
MetroPCS Communications, Inc. Dallas-based MetroPCS Communications,
Inc. (NYSE:PCS) is a provider of unlimited wireless communications
service for a flat rate with no signed contract. MetroPCS is the
fifth largest facilities-based wireless carrier in the United
States based on number of subscribers served and has access to
licenses covering a population of approximately 143 million people
in many of the largest metropolitan areas in the United States. As
of December 31, 2009, MetroPCS had over 6.6 million subscribers.
For more information, please visit http://www.metropcs.com/.
DATASOURCE: MetroPCS Communications, Inc. CONTACT: Drew Crowell of
GolinHarris, +1-972-341-2581, , for MetroPCS Communications, Inc
Web Site: http://www.text4baby.org/ http://http//www.metropcs.com
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