THE NEW VALUE FRONTIER
News » 2003 » Kyocera Wireless Corp. Introduces 2003 Handset Lineup at CTIA Show

News

Kyocera Wireless Corp. Introduces 2003 Handset Lineup at CTIA Show

North America's leading CDMA handset manufacturer rounds out compelling portfolio with eight new products

New Orleans - March 17, 2003 - Kyocera Wireless Corp., North America's leading manufacturer of CDMA wireless handsets, today unveiled its 2003 product lineup at the industry's CTIA trade show in New Orleans. Eight new handsets, with diverse combinations of form, function and price, round out a product portfolio that already had made Kyocera a world leader in CDMA. New for this year are the fun and hip PhantomTM, BladeTM, and RaveTM Series; the uniquely fashionable SliderTM; two colorful extensions to the full-featured Kyocera 3200 Series; the stylish OpalTM Series series; and the affordable Kyocera K110 Series.

"This is unquestionably the best and most well-rounded product portfolio we've ever offered," said Skip Speaks, president and chief executive officer at Kyocera Wireless Corp. "Kyocera Wireless Corp. has a long-standing reputation as a leader in CDMA technology, and this year we've focused on going beyond that technology leadership to create a line of handsets that will be unique and compelling to consumers. We've listened to both customers and end-users and are confident that this lineup will drive us to new levels of success in 2003."

Phantom, Blade, and Rave Series
The Phantom, Blade, and Rave Series offer three unique personalities with mix-and-match feature sets that enable carriers to design the phone that is right for them. All three handsets feature CDMA2000 1X technology and assisted-GPS. A modular design approach allows each to be ordered as single-mode PCS, dual-mode digital cellular or tri-mode with either grayscale or color displays. All feature contact cartoons, downloadable polyphonic ring tones, screen shades, and an accessory carabiner-like sport clip. Phantom and Rave can be user-customized with masks and faceplates, respectively, while Blade features an edgy design and an illuminated navigation "halo." Blade and Rave also incorporate an integrated flashlight. The Phantom, Blade and Rave series are expected to be available from multiple CDMA carriers beginning this summer.

Kyocera Slider Series
Kyocera's Slider, also known as the Kyocera SE47, is as small as a clamshell phone but easier to use, and is equally styled for the office or the nightclub. A large, 65,000-color display slides up and down to reveal and protect the phone's keypad, making it unlike any CDMA handset on the market today. The full-featured, fashionable design of Slider was based on how people actually use phones. This dual-band digital cellular handset incorporates assisted-GPS and CDMA2000 1X technology. Featuring EMS messaging with graphics, sounds, and different fonts, this phone has a voice of its own. The phone comes standard with a WAP 2.0 browser and BREW 2.0 capabilities. Slider will be available this fall.

Kyocera 3200 Series
Kyocera Wireless is adding two new handsets to its 3200 Series: a color version of the BREW-enabled 3225, called the 3225c, and the rugged new 3245. The Kyocera 3225 and 3225c feature FunLightsTM, programmable strobing lights that surround the phones' displays, while the new Kyocera 3245 offers a more young and sporty design and an optional sport clip accessory. All phones in the 3200 series feature two-way text messaging, speakerphones, a scheduler, games, 25 polyphonic ring tones and vibrating alert, and predictive text-input software for rapid text entry. The 3200 Series features a large, seven-line display that is ideal for gaming, assisted GPS functionality and CDMA2000 1X technology, enabling faster data speeds. The Kyocera 3245 will begin shipping this spring, while the 3225c will begin shipping this summer.

Opal Series
The Kyocera S14 is the first product in Kyocera's line of fashionable Opal Series clamshell phones. The S14 is an ultra-small, feature-rich phone with CDMA2000 1X data capabilities. Designed for style-conscious consumers, the S14 has a brilliant blue backlit display, easy one-handed menu access via navigation keys, and weighs only 3.1 ounces. The phone includes Web access and the ability to send and receive e-mail, voice activated dialing, text messaging, contact directory, 25 ringers including vibrate alert, and four games. The S14 will be available this spring.

Kyocera K110 Series
The Kyocera K112 is the first phone in the Kyocera K110 series. The K112 will be an attractive, feature-rich handset for cost-conscious consumers in international markets. The K112 is a dual-mode digital handset with CDMA2000 1X technology, and is packed with features that cost-conscious phone buyers need. Inside its stylish exterior, the K112 will come equipped with vibrate alert; two-way messaging; productivity tools including a scheduler, calculator, alarm clock, and stopwatch; one-touch voicemail access; contact directory storage; and predictive text-input software. Up to three hours of talk time and 200 hours of standby are packed into this compact, lightweight phone. The Kyocera K112 will begin shipping to international markets this spring.




About Kyocera Wireless Corp.
Kyocera Wireless Corp. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Kyocera International Inc., which acquired QUALCOMM Incorporated's CDMA consumer wireless phone business in February 2000. Kyocera Wireless Corp. is a leading supplier of innovative, feature-rich CDMA handsets and accessories for customers worldwide. 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, 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, 2002, Kyocera Corporation's consolidated net sales totaled US$7.78 billion (JP¥ 1,034,574 million) with net income of US$240.25 million (JP¥ 31,953 million).


2003 Kyocera Wireless Corp. Kyocera is a registered trademark of Kyocera Corporation. Phantom, Rave, Blade, Slider and Opal are trademarks of Kyocera Wireless Corp. All other trademarks and product names are the property of their respective owners



CONTACTS:
John Chier, Kyocera Wireless Corp.
phone 1-(858) 882-3543
e-mail: jchier@kyocera-wireless.com

Kim Coutts, Fleishman-Hillard for Kyocera
phone: 1-(619) 235-9995
e-mail: couttsk@fleishman.com