January 01, 2006
Cricket Launches the Kyocera Xcursion KX160 Color Cameraphone with Bluetooth Wireless Technology
SAN DIEGO - Kyocera Wireless Corp., a leading global manufacturer of CDMA wireless phones and devices, and Cricket Communications, Inc., a leading provider of unlimited wireless services, today announced the immediate availability and national debut of Kyocera's Xcursion KX160 full-featured cameraphone with Bluetooth® wireless technology to Cricket's lineup of handsets and flexible unlimited rate plans.
In keeping with Kyocera's commitment to ease of use and stylish affordability, the Xcursion KX160 features a VGA camera with flash and digital zoom, dedicated camera button, multi-shot adjustment, auto-focus, self-timer and more, all on large vivid external and internal color displays. Xcursion's Bluetooth capability makes it possible to talk hands-free with Genuine Accessories by KyoceraTM headsets and car kits.
"Xcursion's availability at Cricket is great for customers looking for a really full-featured cameraphone at an affordable price," said Jim Kelly, executive vice president and chief operating officer at Kyocera Wireless Corp. "The built-in Bluetooth wireless technology takes 'on the go' one step further and really allows users to roam free in the wireless world with untethered mobility. Add to that rate plans with unlimited picture messaging offered by Cricket and you've got a fantastic wireless solution!"
"Since many of our customers enjoy the convenience of snapping and exchanging photos, we are very excited to offer Kyocera's Xcursion KX160 cameraphone," said Nitu Arora, vice president, product development at Cricket. "The Xcursion's many features, including a camera phone with Bluetooth wireless technology, large internal color screen and external color display, at such a great price point, makes it a very attractive handset option for Cricket customers. The handset's features and capabilities coupled with Cricket's unlimited picture and text messaging plans, which are priced at a low, flat rate, make this truly a great offering."
For optimal content viewing, the handset features both a large internal color display (128x160 pixels) and a color external display (96x64 pixels) with picture caller ID functionality in a stylish compact design. The handset is also compatible with Cricket's new roaming service, Travel TimeTM, which launched in all markets in June.
Enabled with BREW® 2.1, the CDMA2000® 1X-capable Xcursion KX160 supports Cricket ClicksTM downloadable wallpapers, screensavers, games and ringtones directly over the air to add to those already included on the phone. With a powerful speakerphone, voice-activated dialing and vibrate alert, Xcursion also features a WAP 2.0* Web browser; preloaded polyphonic ring tones, screen savers, and caller alerts; predictive text input for rapid text messaging; MMS messaging with pictures, graphics, sounds and fonts*; a contact directory and volume controls on the side of the phone. Productivity tools include a scheduler, calculator, alarm clock, stopwatch, tip calculator, countdown timer, world clock and voice memos.
The handset measures 1.89 in x 3.54 in x .98 in and weighs 4.1 ounces. It has up to 3.5 hours of talk time and up to 170 hours of standby.
The Kyocera Xcursion is available immediately at Cricket retail locations for an introductory price of $199.99. A complete line of Genuine Accessories by Kyocera is also available for the Xcursion KX160. For more information, please visit a local Cricket retail location, or online visit www.mycricket.com or www.kyocera-wireless.com.
About Kyocera Wireless Corp.
Kyocera Wireless Corp. is a leading supplier of innovative, feature-rich CDMA wireless devices and accessories for customers worldwide. Kyocera Wireless maintains an operating belief in the genius of simplicity and strives to make the wireless experience as simple and intuitive as humanly possible. The company is a wholly owned subsidiary of Kyocera International Inc., which acquired QUALCOMM Incorporated's CDMA consumer wireless phone business in February 2000. Based in San Diego, the company is ISO-14001 and ISO-9001 certified and has won city, state and federal awards for its environmentally friendly manufacturing and recycling practices. For more information, please visit www.kyocera-wireless.com.
Kyocera Corporation (NYSE: KYO), the parent and global headquarters of the Kyocera Group, was founded in 1959 as a producer of advanced ceramics. By combining these engineered materials with metals and plastics, and integrating them with other technologies, Kyocera has become a leading supplier of telecommunications equipment, semiconductor packages, electronic components, cameras, laser printers, copiers, solar energy systems and industrial ceramics. During the year ended March 31, 2005, Kyocera Corporation's consolidated net sales totaled approximately US$11 billion (JP¥ 1,180,655 million) with net income of approximately US$429 million (JP¥ 45,908 million).
About Cricket®
Cricket is a simple and affordable mobile phone service offering customers and local businesses flat-rate, unlimited service over a high-quality, all-digital wireless network. Designed for customers under-served by traditional communications companies, Cricket is the pioneer of unlimited anytime minutes with no long-term commitments or credit check required. Cricket offers customers access to a variety of the latest handsets and feature-rich mobile applications such as unlimited text messaging, unlimited picture messaging, popular games, ringtones and wallpapers. For more information on Cricket visit www.mycricket.com. Cricket is a brand of Leap Wireless International, Inc. [NASDAQ: LEAP], headquartered in San Diego, Calif. For more information on Leap, visit www.leapwireless.com.
* May be subject to additional charges.
# # #
© 2006 Kyocera Wireless Corp. All rights reserved. Kyocera is a registered trademark of Kyocera Corporation. Genuine Accessories by Kyocera is a trademark of Kyocera Wireless Corp. Cricket, Cricket Clicks, and Travel Time are trademarks of Cricket Communications, Inc. CDMA2000 is a trademark of the Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA-USA). BREW is a registered trademark of Qualcomm Inc. All other marks are properties of their respective owners.
In keeping with Kyocera's commitment to ease of use and stylish affordability, the Xcursion KX160 features a VGA camera with flash and digital zoom, dedicated camera button, multi-shot adjustment, auto-focus, self-timer and more, all on large vivid external and internal color displays. Xcursion's Bluetooth capability makes it possible to talk hands-free with Genuine Accessories by KyoceraTM headsets and car kits.
"Xcursion's availability at Cricket is great for customers looking for a really full-featured cameraphone at an affordable price," said Jim Kelly, executive vice president and chief operating officer at Kyocera Wireless Corp. "The built-in Bluetooth wireless technology takes 'on the go' one step further and really allows users to roam free in the wireless world with untethered mobility. Add to that rate plans with unlimited picture messaging offered by Cricket and you've got a fantastic wireless solution!"
"Since many of our customers enjoy the convenience of snapping and exchanging photos, we are very excited to offer Kyocera's Xcursion KX160 cameraphone," said Nitu Arora, vice president, product development at Cricket. "The Xcursion's many features, including a camera phone with Bluetooth wireless technology, large internal color screen and external color display, at such a great price point, makes it a very attractive handset option for Cricket customers. The handset's features and capabilities coupled with Cricket's unlimited picture and text messaging plans, which are priced at a low, flat rate, make this truly a great offering."
For optimal content viewing, the handset features both a large internal color display (128x160 pixels) and a color external display (96x64 pixels) with picture caller ID functionality in a stylish compact design. The handset is also compatible with Cricket's new roaming service, Travel TimeTM, which launched in all markets in June.
Enabled with BREW® 2.1, the CDMA2000® 1X-capable Xcursion KX160 supports Cricket ClicksTM downloadable wallpapers, screensavers, games and ringtones directly over the air to add to those already included on the phone. With a powerful speakerphone, voice-activated dialing and vibrate alert, Xcursion also features a WAP 2.0* Web browser; preloaded polyphonic ring tones, screen savers, and caller alerts; predictive text input for rapid text messaging; MMS messaging with pictures, graphics, sounds and fonts*; a contact directory and volume controls on the side of the phone. Productivity tools include a scheduler, calculator, alarm clock, stopwatch, tip calculator, countdown timer, world clock and voice memos.
The handset measures 1.89 in x 3.54 in x .98 in and weighs 4.1 ounces. It has up to 3.5 hours of talk time and up to 170 hours of standby.
The Kyocera Xcursion is available immediately at Cricket retail locations for an introductory price of $199.99. A complete line of Genuine Accessories by Kyocera is also available for the Xcursion KX160. For more information, please visit a local Cricket retail location, or online visit www.mycricket.com or www.kyocera-wireless.com.
About Kyocera Wireless Corp.
Kyocera Wireless Corp. is a leading supplier of innovative, feature-rich CDMA wireless devices and accessories for customers worldwide. Kyocera Wireless maintains an operating belief in the genius of simplicity and strives to make the wireless experience as simple and intuitive as humanly possible. The company is a wholly owned subsidiary of Kyocera International Inc., which acquired QUALCOMM Incorporated's CDMA consumer wireless phone business in February 2000. Based in San Diego, the company is ISO-14001 and ISO-9001 certified and has won city, state and federal awards for its environmentally friendly manufacturing and recycling practices. For more information, please visit www.kyocera-wireless.com.
Kyocera Corporation (NYSE: KYO), the parent and global headquarters of the Kyocera Group, was founded in 1959 as a producer of advanced ceramics. By combining these engineered materials with metals and plastics, and integrating them with other technologies, Kyocera has become a leading supplier of telecommunications equipment, semiconductor packages, electronic components, cameras, laser printers, copiers, solar energy systems and industrial ceramics. During the year ended March 31, 2005, Kyocera Corporation's consolidated net sales totaled approximately US$11 billion (JP¥ 1,180,655 million) with net income of approximately US$429 million (JP¥ 45,908 million).
About Cricket®
Cricket is a simple and affordable mobile phone service offering customers and local businesses flat-rate, unlimited service over a high-quality, all-digital wireless network. Designed for customers under-served by traditional communications companies, Cricket is the pioneer of unlimited anytime minutes with no long-term commitments or credit check required. Cricket offers customers access to a variety of the latest handsets and feature-rich mobile applications such as unlimited text messaging, unlimited picture messaging, popular games, ringtones and wallpapers. For more information on Cricket visit www.mycricket.com. Cricket is a brand of Leap Wireless International, Inc. [NASDAQ: LEAP], headquartered in San Diego, Calif. For more information on Leap, visit www.leapwireless.com.
* May be subject to additional charges.
# # #
© 2006 Kyocera Wireless Corp. All rights reserved. Kyocera is a registered trademark of Kyocera Corporation. Genuine Accessories by Kyocera is a trademark of Kyocera Wireless Corp. Cricket, Cricket Clicks, and Travel Time are trademarks of Cricket Communications, Inc. CDMA2000 is a trademark of the Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA-USA). BREW is a registered trademark of Qualcomm Inc. All other marks are properties of their respective owners.
