THE NEW VALUE FRONTIER
News » 2002 » Kyocera Wireless Corp. Announces Folding Portable Keyboard for the Kyocera QCP 6035 smartphone

News

Kyocera Wireless Corp. Announces Folding Portable Keyboard for the Kyocera QCP 6035 smartphone

Working on the go is now easier than ever

LAS VEGAS - January 8, 2002 - Kyocera Wireless Corp. today announced the introduction of a full-size, portable folding keyboard for the Kyocera QCP 6035 smartphone. The Kyocera Smartphone Portable Keyboard folds easily for instant mobility, yet expands to a 100 percent full-size keyboard for quick text entry to create and respond to email, type memos, forms, reports, and more. The keyboard will sell for $99 on the Kyocera Wireless Corp. Accessory Store Web site, with availability expected by the end of the first quarter of 2002.

The Kyocera Smartphone Portable Keyboard is the first of its type for converged devices, extending Kyocera's record of innovation in this market segment. Developed in partnership with Think Outside Inc., the keyboard provides the same size, feel and response as the best notebook computer keyboards. When folded, the keyboard fits easily in a pocket, backpack or briefcase. The keyboard allows users to quickly enter text for email messages, memos, reports and many other applications and can be used while making voice calls. Programmable shortcut and command keys also allow users to customize keyboard functionality. The minimal amount of power needed for the keyboard to operate - less than using standard Palm Graffiti for text entry - is provided by the smartphone itself.

"Traveling light and working on the go are now easier than ever with the Kyocera Smartphone Portable Keyboard," said Stan Scheufler, corporate vice president for marketing and product management at Kyocera Wireless Corp. "We listened to our many customers who told us that a keyboard is the one accessory that will allow them to leave their laptops at home and rely solely on the QCP 6035 smartphone to stay in touch while on the road."

The Kyocera QCP 6035 smartphone is a code division multiple access (CDMA) digital wireless handset that combines the power of a Palm OS®-based organizer with voice communications, text messaging, wireless e-mail and Internet access. With the Palm OS v.3.5 and 8MB of memory, the Kyocera QCP 6035 smartphone supports thousands of applications written for the Palm OS platform. The Kyocera QCP 6035 smartphone supports HTML browsers with Secure Socket Layer (SSL) encryption to provide security for confidential data, making the smartphone a robust platform for enterprise applications.

"Think Outside worked with Kyocera to adapt our Stowaway™ Portable Keyboard to the Kyocera smartphone," said George Gerwe, vice president of sales of Think Outside. "As more than one and a half million people worldwide have already discovered, the Stowaway keyboard transforms a handheld into an even more powerful device that can perform many of the functions traditionally done using laptops - but with far greater mobility and a lot less hassle. Now Kyocera smartphone users can enjoy the freedom and flexibility the keyboard provides."

Closed, the Kyocera Smartphone Portable Keyboard measures 3.6 inches by 5.1 inches by 0.8 inches. Open, the keyboard measures 13.8 inches by 5.1 inches by 0.44 inches. Weight of the full-size, standard-layout keyboard is approximately 7.9 ounces. A phone stand with an integrated interface cable connects the QCP 6035 smartphone to the keyboard and weighs approximately 3.2 ounces. A durable neoprene case is included with the keyboard and cable stand, making them easy to store and carry.

The keyboard software is loaded onto the QCP 6035 smartphone via infrared beaming or HotSync from a personal computer. Minimum computer system requirements to load the keyboard software are the Microsoft® Windows® 9x, Windows 2000 or Windows NT® operating systems, or Mac OS 7.53 or higher.

About Think Outside
Think Outside Inc., founded in 1998, invents, engineers and manufactures mobile handheld devices. Its flagship product, the Stowaway Portable Keyboard, is the first and only 100-percent full-size, collapsible keyboard for handheld devices. No compromises were made on the keyboard: It combines all the advantages of mobility plus the tactile feel of the best-quality notebook computer keyboards, delivering exactly what people need for touch typing. The Stowaway keyboard has received numerous awards for its unique design and functionality and is included in the Design Collection of the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York. The privately held Think Outside is headquartered in Carlsbad, Calif. More information on the company and its products can be found at www.thinkoutside.com.

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 the Kyocera Wireless Corp. Web site at http://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 solar energy systems, telecommunications equipment, semiconductor packages, electronic components, cameras, laser printers and copiers. During the year ended March 31, 2001, the companies' net sales totaled 1.285 trillion yen (US$10.2 billion) with net income of 219.5 billion yen (US$1.742 billion). Kyocera Corporation has been recognized by IndustryWeek magazine as one of "The World's 100 Best-Managed Companies."

Kyocera is a registered trademark of Kyocera Corporation. QCP is a trademark of Kyocera Wireless Corp. QUALCOMM is a registered trademark of QUALCOMM Incorporated. Stowaway is a trademark of Think Outside Inc. All other marks are properties of their respective owners.



CONTACTS:
Rick Goetter, Kyocera Wireless Corp.
1-(858) 882-2722 (ph)
1-(858) 882-3650 (fax)
rgoetter@kyocera-wireless.com

John Chier, Fleishman-Hillard for Kyocera Wireless
1-(619) 235-9995 (ph)
chierj@fleishman.com