News

Kyocera Wireless Corp. and ePhones Sign Strategic Agreement to Supply QCP 6035 Smartphones Directly to Enterprise Customers

SAN DIEGO AND FREMONT, Calif. - April 26, 2001 - Kyocera Wireless Corp. today announced a strategic agreement to supply ePhones with the Kyocera QCP™ 6035 smartphone. In turn, ePhones will provide software installation, service activation, programming, distribution and customer support for the Kyocera smartphone to enterprise customers. For Kyocera, the agreement creates a new, direct-to-enterprise sales channel and a more rapid route for middleware and applications providers to integrate their solutions into the QCP 6035. This agreement represents the first time a wireless handset manufacturer has created a channel specifically to support enterprise applications.

The Kyocera QCP 6035 smartphone is a 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 smartphone supports thousands of applications written for the Palm OS platform. The Kyocera smartphone supports HTML browsers with Secure Socket Layer (SSL) encryption to provide security for confidential data, making the Kyocera smartphone a robust platform for enterprise applications.

"The Kyocera smartphone is an ideal platform for Palm OS-based wireless applications for the enterprise, such as customer resource management or sales force automation tools," said Masahiro Inoue, president and CEO of Kyocera Wireless Corp. "The strategic agreement with ePhones creates an important new channel for Kyocera to supply smartphones equipped with specific applications to our enterprise customers. In addition, our relationship with ePhones will empower Kyocera to offer co-branded or private-label smartphones to enterprises seeking this type of solution for their own customers."

"Kyocera has taken a leadership role in the wireless industry with its groundbreaking smartphone," said Michael Merrill, chairman and CEO of ePhones. "This relationship between Kyocera and ePhones is unprecedented because it represents a new channel to directly support enterprise clients, helping them effectively deploy wireless applications to their employees and their customers. By providing a high level of customization, service and support, ePhones helps increase usage and adoption of their wireless Internet services."

For Palm application developers, system integrators, wireless middleware providers, value-added resellers and IT consultants, ePhones will serve as a central point of contact for purchasing and provisioning Kyocera smartphones. ePhones also will offer a wide range of services to help accelerate deployment of new wireless applications, including online fulfillment capabilities for developers and system integrators to support their enterprise applications. ePhones' Wireless Platform Engine™ and Flexible Site Interface™ technologies, combined with its multiple carrier relationships and nationwide rate plan database, will enable customers to buy a Kyocera smartphone, select a rate plan and activate the smartphone online through major CDMA carriers.

About Kyocera Wireless Corp.
Kyocera Wireless Corp. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Kyocera International, Inc. (KII), the North American headquarters and holding company of Kyocera Corporation. KII established Kyocera Wireless Corp. after acquiring QUALCOMM Incorporated's CDMA consumer wireless phone business in February 2000. Kyocera Wireless Corp. incorporates QUALCOMM's CDMA technology in the development and manufacture of wireless phones and accessories for customers worldwide. For more information on Kyocera Wireless Corp., please visit our website at http://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, 2000, Kyocera Corporation's consolidated net sales totaled 812 billion yen (US$7.9 billion) with net income of 50 billion yen (US$489 million). Kyocera Corporation has been recognized by IndustryWeek magazine as one of "The World's 100 Best-Managed Companies."

About ePhones
ePhones (www.ephones.com) provides wireless Internet technology, infrastructure and customer support for over 300 companies nationwide. With 12 years experience in the wireless industry and eight years experience supporting wireless data, ePhones helps enterprise customers speed deployment and increase adoption of their wireless applications. ePhones, formerly named Totally Wireless, is backed by Aether Systems (Nasdaq: AETH), U.S. Venture Partners, Alta Partners, and Alta Communications. ePhones is based in Fremont, CA, and is privately held.

Kyocera is a registered trademark of Kyocera Corporation. QCP is a trademark of Kyocera Wireless Corp. QUALCOMM is a registered trademark of QUALCOMM Incorporated. ePhones is a registered trademark and Wireless Platform Engine and Flexible Site Interface are trademarks of ePhones, Inc. Palm OS is a registered trademark and Palm is a trademark of Palm Inc. or its subsidiaries.


CONTACTS:
Rick Goetter, KWC Public Relations
1-(858) 882-2722 (ph) 1-(858) 882-3650 (fax)
e-mail: rgoetter@kyocera-wireless.com

Steve Bain
ePhones
1-(510) 979-3642
steve@ephones.com