Mobility Phones - Mobile Phones

Kyocera Corporation today announced that it has reached a definitive agreement with SANYO Electric Co., Ltd. (”SANYO”) to acquire SANYO’s mobile phone business. The agreement was approved by both companies’ boards of directors today and is planned to become effective April 1, 2008.Kyocera’s goal for the acquisition is to strengthen its global telecommunications equipment business. Under the agreement, Kyocera acquires a comprehensive set of assets from SANYO relating to the research, development, design, materials procurement, manufacture, sales and marketing of CDMA handsets; PHS handsets; PHS base stations; and wireless communications systems; as well as a range of related technologies, intellectual property and patents. The acquisition is forecasted to grow worldwide annual revenues from Kyocera’s global telecommunications equipment business to approximately 400 billion Japanese yen (approximately US$3.7 billion).

“This transaction will yield great synergies and economies of scale in areas such as technology portfolios, R&D, procurement, design, marketing and sales,” said Makoto Kawamura, president of Kyocera Corporation, the group’s global parent. “Furthermore, the Kyocera and SANYO product portfolios are highly complementary, and will allow us to offer a broader lineup of handsets and data devices to all of our carrier customers.”

To ensure a smooth transition in the market, Kyocera plans to offer both Kyocera- and SANYO-branded products in Japan and abroad for the foreseeable future. Kyocera also plans to offer continued employment to all affected SANYO employees, totaling approximately 2,000 workers.

Kyocera will pay cash for the unit. The acquisition price will be determined through finalizing processes after April 1, 2008, based on the unit’s total business value of 50 billion Japanese yen (approximately US$467 million) as agreed upon by Kyocera and SANYO, before subtracting the unit’s notional business cash equivalent on hand and adding/deducting interest-bearing transfer debt and transfer cash equivalents as of April 1, 2008, as well as adjustment items agreed to separately, which could result in a final acquisition price approximating 40 billion Japanese yen (about US$375 million).

In North America, the acquisition will result in the creation of a new wholly-owned Kyocera subsidiary on April 1, 2008 that will assume the operations of the U.S.-based SANYO business units and will commence operations separate from San Diego-based Kyocera Wireless Corp., in order to maintain immediate continuity with its existing distribution network.

Verizon Wireless and Kyocera Wireless Corp. today announced the immediate availability of the KPC680 ExpressCard(TM) with CDMA2000 1x Evolution-Data Optimized (EV-DO) Revision A (Rev. A) technology. The KPC680 ExpressCard is available now through business sales channels and online at www.verizonwireless.com; it will be available in Verizon Wireless Communications Stores, including those in Circuit City, on Nov. 30.The new KPC680 will allow Verizon Wireless customers to have faster access to e-mail, corporate data, the Internet and more. Powered by Verizon Wireless’ wireless broadband network, which runs on EV-DO Rev. A technology, the KPC680 gives customers increased speed, mobility, and security that helps them improve mobile business productivity.

Expanding on Verizon Wireless’ successful 2005 launch of the award-winning Kyocera KPC650 1x EV-DO Rev. 0 PC Card, the new Kyocera KPC680 ExpressCard delivers increased productivity and maximized performance. The KPC680 ExpressCard is optimized for Verizon Wireless’ Rev. A network and operates with the company’s BroadbandAccess service. Providing average download speeds of 600 kilobits per second (kbps) to 1.4 megabits and average upload speeds of 500-800 kbps, BroadbandAccess from Verizon Wireless allows customers in Rev. A coverage areas to download a 1 Megabyte e-mail attachment — the equivalent of a small PowerPoint presentation or a large PDF file — in as few as eight seconds and upload the same-sized file in as few as 13 seconds.

The KPC680 features a breakthrough antenna design that moves the antenna away from the device as it is opened, providing greater sensitivity, dual external antenna ports for signal flexibility, and a compact form factor.

Pricing and Availability

The KPC680 ExpressCard is available for $49.99 after a $50 mail-in rebate and new two-year customer agreement. Customers can get BroadbandAccess service for $59.99 monthly access with a new one- or two-year customer agreement. Business customers may contact a Verizon Wireless Business Sales Representative directly at 1-800-VZW-4BIZ.

SANYO Electric Co., Ltd. (SANYO) announces that it has reached a basic agreement to continue further negotiations with Kyocera Corporation (Kyocera) regarding the transfer of SANYO’s mobile phone business, upon resolutions settled in each company’s respective Boards of Directors meetings held today. In accordance with the agreement reached in today’s meetings, SANYO has granted Kyocera priority negotiating rights, and both companies have signed a contract signifying this basic agreement. Details of the agreement are as follows.1. Objective of the Basic Agreement

SANYO, along with the current Mid-term Management Plan (FY2005 - FY2007) announced on November 18, 2005, placed its mobile phone business as a core business. Since that time, the Company has made efforts to implement measures to strengthen the business through reforms to cost structure, such as lowering production costs by moving operations overseas, as well as intensifying competitiveness. However, following the decision to set this as a core business, there has been a rapid change in the business environment, and a fundamental review was undertaken as to how the business fits in with the Company’s entire business portfolio. As a result of this review, SANYO reached a decision that optimization of this business can be achieved not by continuing to develop it as a non-consolidated entity, but by taking necessary steps to strengthen the management base by transferring the business to another company. Under these circumstances, SANYO has granted Kyocera priority negotiating rights, and signed a basic contract with Kyocera agreeing to continued negotiations.

Hereafter, regarding the transfer of the mobile phone business, both companies will have the value of the assets appraised and audited, and will continue to work together negotiating a possible final agreement.

2. Targeted Business Contents

1) Overview: Mobile Phone Business (Excluding Tottori SANYO Electric Co., Ltd. and Telecom SANYO Co., Ltd.), PHS handsets, PHS base station and radio system business (to become WiMAX base station business)

2) Consolidated Sales: Approx 277 billion yen (as of March 31, 2007)

3. Outline of Kyocera Corporation

Company name - Kyocera Corporation

Head Office - Kyoto, Japan

Representative - President Makoto Kawamura

Established - April 1959

Capital - 115,703 million yen (as of March 31, 2007)

Accounting Period - March

Group employees - 20,000 units

Business Contents - Fine ceramic components, electronic devices, various equipment, other various businesses

Consolidated net sales - 1,283,897 million yen (Consolidated/as of March 31, 2007)

4. Effect on Financial Results

Upon reaching a final agreement and amount regarding the transfer of the business, any effect on financial results will be disclosed.

*Please note that there is the possibility that SANYO may decide to explore the option of establishing the mobile phone business as a new independent company. Details on the scheme as regards the transfer of shares, including those of this newly-established company, will be settled upon a forthcoming decision by both companies.

Kyocera Wireless Corp., a leading global manufacturer of CDMA wireless phones and devices, and Cricket Communications, Inc., the operating subsidiary of Leap Wireless International, Inc. (NASDAQ:LEAP - News), and a leading provider of unlimited wireless services, today announced the introduction of the Kyocera Lingo, a versatile clamshell handset with a full QWERTY keypad available for the first time in the U.S.The Lingo features a high-end ergonomic design, opening lengthwise to reveal the keypad ideal for text-messaging fanatics. It also offers a host of other features, including Bluetooth wireless technology, a 1.3 megapixel camera, voice recognition, dual color displays and a loud, clear speakerphone. Productivity tools include a scheduler, calculator, alarm clock, stopwatch, tip calculator, countdown timer, and voice memos.

“The Kyocera Lingo’s QWERTY keypad will be especially attractive to our customers,” said T. Scott Edwards, senior vice president of marketing for Cricket. “Research has shown that 32 percent of Cricket customers send at least one text message per day, compared with 12 percent of non-Cricket customers. Since every Cricket rate plan includes unlimited text and picture messaging, which are essential to our customers, the Lingo is an important addition to our handset lineup.”

When it comes to data the Lingo is more than capable. It supports Cricket’s Mobile Web, which allows customers to browse news, entertainment and sports; chat; and personalize their handsets with the latest ringtones and graphics. The Lingo will also allow customers to download games with Cricket Games & Apps.

“The Kyocera Lingo is an attractive solution for Cricket customers who love to send text or instant messages and want to get a unique QWERTY-enabled phone without breaking the bank,” said Tom Maguire, vice president of global marketing at Kyocera Wireless Corp. “With its hidden QWERTY keypad, the Lingo strikes a perfect balance between style, functionality and affordability. We are excited to make Lingo’s simplified texting capabilities available to Cricket customers all across the country.”

The Lingo measures 3.94 in x 1.97 in x 0.79 and weighs 3.5 ounces–with CDMA talk time up to 3.25 hours and standby time up to 150 hours.

The Kyocera Lingo is available at select Cricket retail stores and dealers immediately for $199.99. A complete line of Genuine Accessories by Kyocera(TM) is also available for the Lingo. For more information, visit a local Cricket retail location, or online visit www.mycricket.com or www.kyocera-wireless.com.

“Japan’s Sanyo Electric is entering the final stage of talks with Kyocera to sell its mobile phone operations, sources close to the matter said Friday.”

Kyocera Corporation (President: Makoto Kawamura) announced that it is to commercialize W51K, as a new model for au. The product is adding to au’s new models released today.
W51K is a slim one-seg mobile phone that allows the user to enjoy the one segment broadcasting programs with its 2.7-inch large-screen W-QVGA liquid crystal display and powerful, high-quality sound. A front media key, located on the front of the handset, is for smart-and-easy operation of media functions such as one-seg and LISMO. Additionally, the terminal can use the woofer-equipped desktop charger popular from W41K and W43K, which now also supports powerful and high quality sound of one-seg programs and LISMO video clips.The model is available in three colors: Mirror Orange, Cyano-Blue and Metal Silver. The surface of the terminal has undergone high-intensity color deposition processing to achieve a metallic texture, giving it a premium accent.
W51K debut campaign begins January 16
Customers who purchase W51K and correctly answer a quiz will receive a gift of a 1GB microSD^TM memory card. For details, please see the special W51K site (Japanese language only), http://w51K.jp

Main Features of W51K
1. Support for one-seg mobile digital broadcasting, only 20mm thick
W51K supports one-seg mobile terrestrial digital broadcasting. Its body thick is 20mm, and excels in portability. The model uses a large-screen 2.7-inch W-QVGA liquid crystal display, and can be used as your personal TV whether you are at home or out of the house. The model achieves up to approximately 4 hours and 20 minutes of continuous viewing time^*1. Additionally, up to 10 hours^*2 worth of programming can be recorded on a microSD^TM memory card.
^*1 With DBEX^TM and BBE®M3 off. ^*2 when a 2GB microSD^TM card is used.

2. Equipped with user-friendly front media key
As an original Kyocera function, a front media key is positioned on the front of the W51K terminal in pursuit of user friendliness in order to smoothly operate media functions such as one-seg and LISMO. This feature makes it possible to perform easy operations such as changing one-seg channels and displaying subtitles with the key, even when the unit is closed with the LCD to the front. And when the unit is closed with the LCD to the rear, W51K can be used smartly as, for example, a music player and an EZ news flash browser.

3. Equipped with DBEX^TM and BBE®M3 to enjoy one-seg and LISMO with high-quality audio
W51K is also equipped with DBEX^TM and BBE®M3 for high-quality sound reproduction. The handset achieves natural and listenable high-quality sound with DBEX^TM, and realistic high sound quality with mobile-phone-optimized BBE®M3 audio quality improvement technology developed by BBE Sound, Inc. W51K newly supports one-seg in addition to LISMO, making it possible to enjoy both TV and music with high quality sound.

4. Woofer-equipped desktop charger that supports one-seg
With the earlier released W41K and W43K, Kyocera offered high-quality audio through a woofer-equipped desktop charger. W51K uses a horizontal type charger which can also be used as a one-seg TV stand, and achieved realistic TV and music sound. The charger also enables users to enjoy high-quality audio for LISMO video clips.

5. Support for EZ FeliCa
W51K supports Osaifu-keitai EZ FeliCa. As memory capacity has been increased, users can enjoy enriched services.

6. Convenient graphic stand function when charging
When the unit is set in the desktop charger with the screen to the front in the turn close state, the Flash® data standby display will run, and a clock, calendar, news flashes, or photos will be displayed.

7. Stylish design
By applying high-intensity color deposition processing to the surface of the main body, W51K presents a feeling of activeness like a music player, and presence as a fashion item. Muted colors are used for the interior to allow functions such as one-seg to be used comfortably, and the design is also focused on operability. There are three colors available. Through the combination of bright glossy orange and dark gray, Mirror Orange expresses an active and streetwise sense of playfulness and strength. Cyano-Blue is two-tone with a deep blue and black, a cool color with a sense of speed as if racing through a city. Metal Silver is a mat silver, finished with a high intensity to reproduce the radiance of pure metal, and red accents are used for the key side, expressing a sense of stylishness.

8. Support for LISMO Video Clip to enjoy artist video and music
W51K supports the au LISMO Video Clip data download service. By switching the screen, video clips can also be enjoyed in full-screen.

Other Functions

Using high-speed packet communication, PC Web sites can also be comfortably browsed on the W51K’s wide screen. With the pointer function, website browsing is getting smooth like a PC.

Support for high-speed infrared communication with IrSimple^TM. Large volumes of photo data can be sent to, for example, another mobile phone user or printer at high speed.

Simple function switching is possible such as checking e-mail when viewing one-seg or sending e-mail when browsing with EZ web.

< "Nagamochi mode" allowing for longer use of the mobile>


With the front media key, W51K can also be operated as a digital camera when taking landscape photographs in the turn close state with the liquid crystal display to the front.

The WIN logo is colorfully illuminated with preset colors to notify of incoming calls and email.

Support for various au services
-EZ News Flash
Users can check the latest news and weather information with the W51K’s wide organic EL sub-display when the unit is closed.
-EZ Channel Plus
-EZ Keitai Arrange
-Decoration Mail
-au My Page
-E-shaberi (Picture Talk) Mail
-EZ Navi Walk

Kyocera Corporation (President: Makoto Kawamura) and its group companies are exhibiting at the ITU 2006, held from December 4 to 8 in Hong Kong, with the focus on a display of CDMA mobile handsets. The products in the booth have been selected to present Kyocera’s ‘design concept’ towards the mobile communication terminals.
Since the release of its first mobile phone - the HP-111 (for analog TAC system) - in 1991, Kyocera has put the emphasis firmly on the development of ‘user-friendly’ terminals. “Design for Use is the concept for the development of our mobile phones,” says Yasuyuki Yamamoto, General Manager of Corporate Mobile Communication Equipment Division. “Not only do we pursue elegance and stylishness, but user-friendliness is indispensable if the design is to be genuinely excellent. ‘User-friendliness’ in this sense equates, for example, to swift access to the address book, simple character input and conversion, and comfortable touch of the keys. We always study and value the users’ perspective.”Kyocera is intent on expanding its user base by providing ‘user-friendly’ products while keeping a close eye on market trends and user demands.
For the Japanese market, as a general trend, handsets are becoming larger due to the increasing variety of functions. Two of the terminals offered by Kyocera this year are proud of their lightweight and slim designs in response to user opinions, while being equipped with enriched functions and wide clear displays. The A5521K model released this spring is squeezed into a package of just 18 mm thickness, and the brand-new W44K has drawn the attention of the market for its mere 15 mm depth, making it the thinnest handset designed for au(*). “One of the design keywords for the Japanese market is certainly slim,” added Yamamoto, and that is also the driving concept behind the CDMA450 handset that was introduced in Russia this summer and will be actively developed by the company for other countries in future.San Diego-based Kyocera Wireless Corp. offers a strong line of miniature and cutting-edge terminals mainly for Americas and a part of Asia. K612 (Strobe/Switch_Back) won the hearts and minds of young and trend-conscious users for its unique appearance. The compact and ergonomic sleek clamshell design is suitable for talking, and users can also enjoy smooth message communication using the hidden QWERTY keypad.

(*)as of August 28, 2006, as CMDA 1X WIN model for au.

Taking on the competition this season is Virgin Mobile’s Slider(TM) Sonic by Kyocera Wireless, the first music phone in the wireless provider’s line-up. The Slider Sonic — which comes with a 32MB microSD(TM) memory card, stereo headphones and a USB cable — operates as a phone, MP3 player, video recorder, camera and all-around best mate. With a range of multimedia features and no long-term contract obligations, it is the music phone for teens this holiday season.Get Crunk! It’s All About the Music
A must-have for music lovers, customers will never want to take their hands off this Virgin! Users can download their favorite songs on the Slider Sonic in WMA and MP3 audio formats, record and play back 30-second videos and even check out free embedded videos from Wind-up artists Seether and Submersed. A 512MB microSD (formerly known as TransFlash(TM)) memory card is also available for purchase at select Virgin Mobile retailers, enabling Sonic-users to store up to 128 songs right on the phone.

“Virgin Mobile users are smart, savvy and all about being connected,” said Howard Handler, Chief Marketing Officer of Virgin Mobile USA. “There are two things they don’t leave home without — their mobile phone and their portable music players. With the Slider Sonic we’ve merged music and technology and packaged it in a sophisticated communications device.”

Sonic users will also have exclusive access to extreme sports, animated and Machinima content from Heavy.com, the number one broadband network for 18-34 year olds. Heavy.com programming available for download to the Slider Sonic includes the hit series “The Imperfects,” a new animated series from Marvel and EA; “Pimp My Weapon”; “Behind the Music that Sucks”; and the prankster-sheik extreme sports show “Blisster.”

Don’t Forget to Accessorize
Slider Sonic users can take their gaming to the next level with the ergonomic K500 Gamepad designed by Kyocera Wireless. The gamepad’s easy-to-use keys, comfy grip and portable size mean customers can carry it anywhere. Plus, it won’t drain the phone’s battery life because it’s self-powered by three AAA batteries.

While the Slider Sonic comes out of the box ready to rock on a high- quality stereo headset with hands-free microphone, true audiophiles might opt for the available Kyocera Music Controller. This beauty adds full music controls to the cord and lets users ditch the included stereo ear-buds and plug in any high-end headphones with a standard 3.5mm jack.

A music dock for the Slider Sonic is also available for the music-lovers out there. The dock allows users to connect the phone to a stereo or PC and transfer music and video files over USB — all while recharging the battery. The Slider Sonic can be connected to any standard desktop speakers or headphones with a 3.5mm jack, allowing customers to listen to music in full stereo.

What Else Does this Beauty Offer?
The Slider Sonic is equipped with Virgin XL, a grab bag of mobile content goodies. Customers can instant message friends through the AIM(R) (AOL(R) Instant Messenger(TM)), service, choose from a library of thousands of Superphonic (real-music) Ringtones, identify a song heard on the radio or in a club with Song ID or access exclusive content from *MTV. The perks don’t end there though. Slider Sonic customers also have access to content courtesy of Comedy Central, so they can set up a Joke of the Day, download a “Crank Yankers” ringtone or test their South Park IQs with South Park Brain Probe. Users can even personalize their phone by setting up a Rescue Ring to ditch a lame date or slide out of a sticky situation, download cutting-edge, full- color games, wallpapers and screensavers, or capture shameful and sentimental moments on the video recorder or camera functions.

The chic, compact black handset slides open with the push of a thumb, sports a high quality color display and weighs in at just over 3.8 oz. The Slider Sonic by Kyocera Wireless will be available in October at Virgin Mobile retail partners and retail for $249.99.

About Virgin Mobile USA, LLC:
Launched nationally in July of 2002, Virgin Mobile USA, LLC is the nation’s first mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) and first wireless carrier exclusively focused on the youth market. Virgin Mobile is a joint venture between Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin Group and Sprint, which operates one of the largest 100-percent digital, nationwide PCS wireless networks in the United States. In just two-and-one-half years, more than three million wireless users rejected long-term contracts and took control of their wireless spending with Virgin Mobile’s Pay As You Go service. Virgin Mobile customers have exclusive access to VirginXtras and VirginXL — a suite of music, entertainment and fun lifestyle features, including *MTV mobile content created by our strategic partner MTV: Music Television. In addition, J.D. Power and Associates has recognized Virgin Mobile for providing “An Outstanding Customer Service Experience” under its Certified Call Center Program(SM).

Phones are available at more than 20,000 locations nationwide with Top-Up cards available at more than 60,000 locations nationwide. Virgin Mobile products can also be purchased online at http://www.virginmobileusa.com/ or by calling 888-322-1122.

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 http://www.kyocera-wireless.com/.

The SD Card Association (SDA) today announced the final approval of the microSD specification that is now available for immediate use. The microSD card, the world’s smallest removable storage card provides full compatibility and interoperability with current SD devices. The card is fully compatible with SanDisk’s TransFlash™ cards, over 5 million of which have shipped to date and is supported in 40+ handsets announced by manufacturers such as Motorola, Samsung, LG, Kyocera, and Sagem.In the mobile phone market, a small sized memory card is needed by handset vendors to provide memory expansion with the least impact on overall size. The addition of digital audio and cameras is driving this need for more memory in mobile phones. Conventional memory cards are however too big in dimensions for small mobile phone application. Hence, the SDA, with increasing focus on the mobile phone market has developed a new small sized SD card.

“We welcome the adoption of microSD as the new industry standard for mobile devices,” said Yoram Cedar an SDA board member and senior vice president of engineering and emerging markets at SanDisk. “History has proven that open standards benefit both consumers and manufacturers who prefer a single, broadly supported standard.”

Paul Reinhardt, newly appointed executive director for SDA, said, “Adoption of the microSD card specification is a key part of the SDA’s strategy to address the growing needs of the mobile devices market. As the preferred memory card standard of both the consumer electronics and mobile phone markets, the SDA continues to lead the way in providing the specifications needed to further expand the capabilities of products in these markets.”

The SD Memory Card, along with the miniSD and, now, microSD cards, is the dominant memory format of choice for the wireless communications industry. The format is supported by SDA members Motorola, Nokia, Samsung, Sharp, Panasonic, Toshiba, NEC and other leading marketers of SD and miniSD™-enabled mobile phones around the world.

The full interoperability of the microSD with TransFlash means that the microSD card can be used immediately in the millions of handsets that currently use TransFlash cards. Existing supporters of TransFlash will migrate their products to microSD. In the meantime, TransFlash cards will operate in new microSD hosts and microSD cards will work in existing TransFlash hosts.

About the SDA
The SD Card Association (SDA) is an open industry standards organization established in January 2000 by Matsushita Electric (Panasonic), SanDisk and Toshiba, and is supported by a consortium of over 800 companies. The SDA’s mission is to set industry standards and promote the SD Memory Card’s wide acceptance in a variety of applications. SD Memory Card standards are currently being built into a wide range of new digital products such as cellular phones, audio players, automotive multimedia systems, handheld PCs and digital video and still cameras. By June 30, 2005, SD application products (miniSD host products included) that have been introduced into the global market have totaled 4,066 models from 288 brands. The Association’s web site can be accessed at www.sdcard.org for more information about the SDA. Parties interested in joining the SDA are encouraged to visit the web site or contact Sarah Barbuscia, SDA membership services, at 1-925-275-6615 or sbarbuscia@sdcard.org. Another SDA Web site is www.sdcard.com, which showcases available SD products worldwide and SD interoperability between devices.