Sprint Wins Customers

Sprint has won more than 50 large customers that are exiting contracts with troubled rivals. The new business, along with cost-cutting measures, is enough to lift Sprint's profit forecast for earnings per share in the $1.41 to $1.43 range for 2002. Gains in its third quarter, which ends today, are expected to be offset by higher than average turnover in the company's mobile-phone business, the result of deactivating more delinquent customers than expected. Sprint also struck a deal to sell its phone-directory business to R.H. Donnelley Corp. for $2.23 billion.