News

Kyocera and Wildseed announce partnership to bring new wireless phone concept and Smart Skins to the "young and fun" market

Kyocera Wireless Corp. to bring together wireless phone and entertainment features using Wildseed's Smart Skin™ intelligent faceplates and Smart Screen™ application framework

KIRKLAND, Wash. and SAN DIEGO - Oct. 14, 2002 - Kyocera Wireless Corp., a leading CDMA wireless handset manufacturer, and Wildseed Ltd., a software company pioneering Smart Skin intelligent faceplates and Smart Screen application framework, today announced a partnership to launch a new wireless phone aimed at the "young and fun" segment of teens and young adults in early 2003. Combining the best of wireless telephony and entertainment, the new phone will use Smart Skins and Smart Screens to make the user experience customizable and changeable.

Internally code-named D2 (said Delta2), the key consumer appeal of the new phone concept will be its ability to be changed with Smart Skin intelligent faceplates. Far more than just changeable faceplates, Smart Skins will change the exterior style of D2 and also deliver new assets such as ringtones, video clips, pictures, games and Web links, all related to the Smart Skin's theme. The concept represents the convergence of entertainment and telephony, with features including a color screen, FM radio and keypad music visualizer, and a rich two-way messaging interface that operates via existing carrier infrastructure and resembles PC-based instant messaging applications.

Together, the companies represent a joining of hardware and software expertise. Wireless carriers want to strengthen their product portfolios to attract and retain subscribers from a variety of demographic segments. Youths represent a high-priority growth market for carriers, given their considerable disposable income and track record as early adopters of new technologies.

"Kyocera pioneered convergence in the wireless market with our QCP 6035 smartphone and raised the bar in the category with our newly announced 7135 smartphone, both of which elegantly married the best of wireless telephony and handheld computing," said Skip Speaks, president and CEO at Kyocera Wireless Corp. "With D2 and Smart Skins, we will continue to push the boundaries of wireless convergence by integrating the best of wireless telephony and handheld entertainment. It is further evidence of our dedication to the youth, which began with our exclusive agreement to provide customized phones for Virgin Mobile USA."

The Smart Screen application framework, which will reside on the new handset, is software that enables a DUI (dynamic user interface) that makes the phone's screen and custom applications morph to match the exterior design of the changeable Smart Skin on the phone. Smart Screens effectively and deeply "skin" the whole experience of D2 from colors, background designs and icons to new audio accents. A Smart Skin stylizes the outside of D2 and works together with Smart Screens to stylize the "inside" of the phone as well.

Carriers and retailers will earn recurring revenue from the sale of Smart Skins.

"Kyocera is an ideal partner for Wildseed. Their reputation for high-quality, innovative hardware and well-established channel relationships map perfectly with our ability to create and deliver a fun software experience for consumers packaged in a way they are willing to pay for. Together, Kyocera and Wildseed will help the wireless industry earn profits," said G. Eric Engstrom, CEO of Wildseed.

Kyocera and Wildseed will be demonstrating the D2 concept and Smart Skin prototypes in the Kyocera booth (#1004) at the CTIA Wireless I.T. Show, October 16 to 18 in Las Vegas. The companies also will be presenting together at Mobile Entertainment Summit on October 16th at the Venetian Hotel in Las Vegas, at which Wildseed's Eric Engstrom and Kyocera's Blake Isaacs will participate on a panel called "Capturing the Consumer."




About Wildseed Ltd.
Wildseed is an innovative software company that is pioneering the world's first intelligent faceplates for wireless phones. Smart Skin™ intelligent faceplates stylize both the outside and inside of the phone for an integrated fashion and entertainment experience. Smart Skins package ringtones, video clips, music, pictures, Web links and games. To maximize the experience, the software resident on the phone should support a Dynamic User Interface (DUI). Wildseed's DUI is called Smart Screen™ application framework and it provides the software that makes the phone's screen and custom applications morph to match the exterior design of the changeable Smart Skin on the phone. Smart Skins deliver a new source of recurring revenue for wireless carriers, media companies and retailers.

Wildseed's software is based on Linux and will be available for use in specially designed handsets supporting Qualcomm's CDMA 1XRTT, GSM GPRS and legacy TDMA. Smart Screen software is also compatible with Symbian, Microsoft Stinger and Qualcomm's BREW.

Wildseed has offices in Kirkland, Washington and London, England.

Wildseed, the Wildseed logo, Smart Skin, Delta2, the Delta2 logo and Smart Screen are trademarks of Wildseed Ltd.

For more information, please visit www.Wildseed.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 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).


Kyocera is a registered trademark of Kyocera Corporation. All other trademarks and product names are the property of their respective owners



CONTACTS:
Mary Beth Lowell, Text 100 Public Relations
phone (office) 1-(206) 267-2024
phone (wireless) 1-(206) 931-8367
email: marybethl@text100.com

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