-- SAS provides Nextel with the software solutions for its contact management initiative --

19 April 2005 - SAS, the leader in business intelligence, announced today that Nextel Communications Inc. (NASDAQ:NXTL) has selected SAS^® Marketing Automation and SAS^® Marketing Optimisation to support its overall marketing strategy. These SAS software solutions will enable Nextel to better address the needs of its customers by providing them with timely, targeted information about Nextel's products.

SAS will help Nextel identify the best way to match its customers with the right products and send tailored messages using various marketing channels. SAS Marketing Automation will enable Nextel to connect with customers throughout the entire customer experience, collecting valuable data on message and offer effectiveness. Use of this software solution will result in highly targeted marketing campaigns based on customer knowledge as well as an analysis of the success of each campaign. Additionally, by using SAS Marketing Optimisation, Nextel marketers will better evaluate multiple campaigns simultaneously. This will help Nextel determine which products best suit individual customers, thus enhancing the satisfaction of these customers.

"Nextel, like SAS, is widely recognised for its commitment to its customers. SAS has a proven track record of delivering business value to Nextel and we look forward to helping Nextel strengthen its customer management initiatives," said Andy Bober, director of customer intelligence strategy at SAS. "SAS will provide Nextel a fully integrated environment for its contact management initiative that links targeting and segmentation, campaign planning and execution, and the tracking and analysis of results to Nextel's overall marketing strategy."

About Nextel

Nextel Communications, a FORTUNE 200 company based in Reston, Va., is a leading provider of fully integrated wireless communications services and has built the largest guaranteed all-digital wireless network in the country covering thousands of communities across the United States. Today 95 percent of FORTUNE 500(R) companies are Nextel customers. Nextel and Nextel Partners, Inc. currently serve 297 of the top 300 U.S. markets where approximately 262 million people live or work.

For further information, please contact Tara McGivern on:
Tel:01-6136406 or e-mail tara.mcgivern@irl.sas.com
For more information on SAS, please visit www.sas.com/ireland

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