IRVINE, California - Boost Mobileâ„¢, a lifestyle-based telecommunications brand that develops and distributes wireless communications products for the youth market, has partnered with Next Estate Communications, America's oldest and largest provider of retailer sold prepaid debit cards and Columbus Bank and Trust Company of Columbus, GA, the issuer of Next Estate's cards, to simplify the process by which its customers pay for wireless service with the launch of the reloadable Boost Mobile Prepaid Visa Card. The Boost Mobile Prepaid Visa Card enables Boost customers to prepay or load funds onto their card that can be accessed for purchase of Re-Boost airtime, in addition to other goods and services.

Boost Mobile's Prepaid Visa Card functions like any Visa debit card, and can be used anywhere Visa debit cards are accepted - at millions of brick-and-mortar and online merchants worldwide. Cardholders can also access their funds through the worldwide Visa/PLUS ATM network. And unlike cash or checks, the Boost Mobile card offers consumers valuable Visa protections, including Visa's Zero Liability policy, which protects consumers against unauthorized purchases in the event the card is lost or stolen.

As an incentive, Boost customers receive 10 percent in Boost Mobile bonus dollars applied to their Boost Mobile prepaid wireless service account for every airtime purchase made with the Boost Mobile prepaid VISA card. Boost Mobile bonus dollars are automatically added to their account every time they make an airtime purchase with their card, and may be used for cellular phone calls, Boost Walkie-Talkie, Boost Wireless Web use, and to purchase Boost LIVE products, such as mobile phone ringtones, games, wallpapers and more.

"With the reloadable Boost Mobile Visa card, our customers have a new way to easily add airtime to their Boost service while enjoying the payment flexibility and convenience that comes with a prepaid card," said Don Girskis, vice president and general manager, Boost Mobile.

The Boost Mobile Visa card is available for purchase by consumers 18 years of age and older. Customers under 18 are required to activate over the phone with a parent or guardian, so they can provide consent. Parents can enroll their teen in the program and can also monitor their teen's spending to help them adhere to the budgets and spending limited by the prepaid amount loaded on the card.

"We're delighted to partner with a wireless innovator like Boost Mobile to provide prepaid debit cards," said Steve Streit, chief executive, Next Estate Communications. "Together our products are giving the youth market freedom to spend and manage their money in a way that fits their lifestyle."

Users may reload funds to the Boost Mobile Prepaid Visa Card through the Green Dot(tm) Financial Network, the largest retail-based cash acceptance network in the U.S. specifically designed for the reloading of prepaid debit cards. The Green Dot Financial Network has thousands of retail locations including Rite Aid, CVS, RadioShack, The Pantry, and others. Consumers may also elect to have any amount of their payroll checks directly deposited onto their prepaid card.

The Boost Mobile Prepaid Visa Card is offered free of charge to all new and existing Boost Mobile subscribers. Beginning in Q1, 2005, all Boost Mobile handsets will contain the free offer. Existing and new subscribers can also go online at www.boostmobile.com/BoostVisaCard to activate a Card; the standard $9.95 activation charge is waived.