News

Kyocera Wireless Corp. Throws KURV at Young Wireless Consumers

Customizable, youth-oriented phone combines entertainment and technology in an entirely unique and changeable form factor

New Orleans - March 17, 2003 - Kyocera Wireless Corp. today announced plans for KURV^TM, a unique new phone that combines the best of entertainment and wireless technologies. Available in the second half of 2003, KURV's name belies a unique ergonomically curved design that is set apart by user-changeable Smart Skin^TM intelligent faceplates that change the look, feel and personality of the phone. Smart Skins personalize the phone's look while changing the user experience through Skin-themed polyphonic ringtones, video clips, pictures, games and Web links.

Loaded with features, KURV will feature a brilliant 65,000-color display, integrated camera, MP3 player, FM radio and a multimedia-messaging platform that resembles PC-based instant messaging. A colorfully back-lit keypad doubles as a music visualizer, pulsing to music's beat. Among KURV's most popular features in user testing is Airtext, a row of lights along the top of the phone that allow the user to enter a message and display it in midair.

"KURV was designed for the lifestyle of today's younger crowd, which wants to combine fun and fashion with uniqueness and self-expression," said Don McGuire, vice president of global marketing at Kyocera Wireless Corp. "Through products like KURV and ongoing relationships with leading youth brands like Virgin Mobile USA, we have gained great insight and a strong focus on serving the rapidly increasing number of young wireless consumers."

For carriers, KURV is a dual-band digital (800, 1900 MHz) CDMA handset with assisted-GPS locator technology and support for BREW^TM. Recurring revenue streams for carriers and retailers are available through the sale of Smart Skins. Kyocera is working with Wildseed Ltd. on the development of KURV, and Wildseed will develop a wide range of Smart Skins.

"The young and fun demographic represents a high-priority growth market for carriers, given its considerable disposable income and track record as an early adopter of new technologies, " said McGuire. "With KURV and Smart Skins, carriers can offer this group more than just a phone, creating additional revenue and reducing churn."

Kyocera will be demonstrating the KURV concept in the Kyocera booth (#5157) at the CTIA Wireless Show, March 17 - 19 in New Orleans.




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. KURV is a trademark of Kyocera Wireless Corp. Smart Skin is a trademark of Wildseed Ltd. BREW is a trademark of QUALCOMM Incorporated. 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

Karen Hayes, Fleishman-Hillard for Kyocera
phone: 1-(619) 237-7719
e-mail: kyocera@fleishman.com