MetroPCS Communications, Inc. 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.

SOURCE MetroPCS Communications, Inc.