Sprint PCS to close service centers

KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - Sprint PCS announced Friday that it will close five of its customer service centers, cutting an estimated 3,000 jobs. The wireless carrier cited customers&#39; increased use of automated self-service tools. <br> <br> The cuts represent about 9 percent of PCS&#39; work force and follow the layoffs of 6,000 employees and 1,500 contract workers in recent months. Sprint will keep eight customer service centers open. <br> <br> Centers in Atlanta, Tallahassee, Fla., and Jacksonville, Fla., will be closed April 16. The center in Lawrence, Kan., will be closed May 31 and a center in Irvine, Calif., will close June 28. <br> <br> Sprint spokeswoman Jennifer Walsh said Irvine will lose about 1,100 jobs, Jacksonville, Atlanta and Lawrence will lose about 500 each and Tallahassee will lose about 300. <br> <br> The closings will save PCS an estimated $60 million annually and help Sprint become more efficient in a highly competitive industry, said Charles E. Levine, president of Sprint&#39;s PCS division. <br> <br> Customers can access their accounts, pay their PCS bills, monitor air time and buy phone accessories through the company&#39;s Web site. <br> <br> ``More and more of our customers are using automated self-service functions rather than wanting or taking the time to talk to a customer service advocate,&#39;&#39; said PCS spokesman Dan Wilinsky. ``We are making progress, but we did have to make this move today to improve our competitive position and reduce our costs.&#39;&#39; <br> <br> Sprint is suffering through bleak times in the telecommunication industry. The company&#39;s FON and PCS divisions last week reported a combined net loss of $1.4 billion. <br> <br> Sprint said it will take a one-time charge of $25 million against 2002&#39;s first-quarter earnings related to the cuts. <br> <br> Sprint&#39;s PCS shares fell 93 cents, or 9 percent, to $9.27 on Friday on the New York Stock Exchange.

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