News

Virgin Mobile USA and MTV Unveil The Slider V5 *MTV Edition Wireless Handset by KYOCERA

First Ever MTV-Branded Handset Features Innovative Form Factor and Amplifies 'Pay As You Go' Wireless Service for the U.S. Youth Market

NEW YORK, NY (November 3, 2003) -- Today, Virgin Mobile USA, LLC ignites its relationships with strategic partner, MTV Networks, and handset provider, Kyocera Wireless Corp., by unveiling the first-ever MTV-branded wireless handset.

The sleek and stylish Slider™ V5 *MTV (StarMTV) Edition handset, made by Kyocera, features a ground-breaking sliding form factor, a unique and visually exciting interface, an exclusive suite of content from MTV, and an array of features attuned to the specific desires and lifestyles of youth. The Slider V5 *MTV Edition handset is now available exclusively from Virgin Mobile through its retailers nationwide.

A Customized Experience from *MTV
Through Virgin Mobile's alliance with MTV, all Virgin Mobile customers in the U.S., its territories and possessions, and Puerto Rico, already receive exclusive access to *MTV content that provides users with mobile "sneak peek" updates on their favorite programs, MTV games, breaking stories from MTV News, video voting, audio postcards from artists and celebrities, personalized ringtones and more. The new Slider V5 *MTV Edition handset features special one-touch access to everything *MTV, including:

• Exclusive Fully-Loaded Features -- Designed by MTV exclusively for the Slider V5, features that include animated screen savers and caller ID cartoons, wallpaper designs, and emoticons to jazz up text messaging, allow users to personalize their phones and messages.
• MTV Ringtones -- MTV has pre-loaded the phone with an array of *MTV ringtones exclusively produced for the Slider V5. Users also get immediate access to additional ringtones from the hottest MTV and MTV2 artists and shows right on the phone or by visiting www.ringtones.mtv.com.
• MTV Content -- One-touch access to *MTV provides users with a slew of MTV content from games including Rock, Paper, Shizzle and mind-teasers like Fanagram and Yearbook Trivia, that allow users to show-off their pop culture knowledge, to audio postcards, where customers can send classic moments from programs like "Real World," "Road Rules" and "Camp Jim" to friends.

"At MTV, we take great pride in having a deep, loyal and interactive connection to our audience. By teaming up the Virgin Mobile and Kyocera, we are bringing our viewers even closer to their favorite artists and content though the wireless platform," said Van Toffler, President of MTV & MTV2. "This new, fully-loaded Slider phone includes features our audience is looking for with ring-tones from the hottest MTV and MTV2 artists, animated caller ID cartoons, screensavers created just for them and emoticons so users can text message one another on a whole new level."

"The introduction of the Slider V5 *MTV Edition handset brings to young consumers the full and unique benefits of our strategic alliance with MTV Networks, and our relationship with Kyocera Wireless," said Dan Schulman, CEO of Virgin Mobile USA. "While our customers have already been tapping into exclusive MTV Networks content through existing Virgin Mobile phones, the Slider V5 *MTV Edition handset will significantly enhance the *MTV experience. And most importantly, the Slider provides our consumers with the ability to tailor their wireless experience to make each V5 handset as relevant as possible to their individual lifestyles."

Mr. Schulman added, "We feel this handset, coupled with Virgin Mobile's Pay As You Go service plan, provides the ideal lifestyle fit for young consumers seeking a smart, innovative alternative to restrictive, contract-based plans."

"Both MTV and Virgin Mobile USA are 'go-to' brands for the youth market, for which Slider V5 was designed, so this is a perfect partnership to help build the Kyocera brand," said Tsuyoshi Mano, president of Kyocera Wireless Corp. "Its stylish design coupled with strong features and a reasonable price point will ensure that the Slider V5 *MTV Edition handset further showcases our ability to deliver innovative technology that makes sense to the consumer."

Eye-Catching Form/Function from Kyocera:
True to its name, the Slider V5 *MTV Edition handset features a distinctive faceplate that "slides up" with the push of a thumb. This unique design is easier to use than flip or "clamshell" phones, but still more compact than traditional "bar" shaped phones. It is currently the only CDMA handset of its kind in the North American market.

The handset comes in gunmetal grey with silver and chrome keys, and sports all the core features demanded by the discerning youth market. These include:

• Brilliant, 65,000 color display
• Polyphonic ringtones
• Ability to incorporate emoticons into text messaging
• Predictive text for text messaging
• Speakerphone
• Voice-activated dialing

The phone also comes standard with a WAP 2.0 browser to access the Web directly from the phone, and BREW 2.0 capabilities, allowing for easy download of games, ringers, contacts and much more. Productivity tools include a scheduler, calculator, alarm clock and stopwatch. The dual-band digital cellular handset incorporates assisted-GPS and CDMA2000 1X technology. The Slider V5 *MTV Edition handset weighs only 3.39 ounces, and measures 8.8 x 4.8 x 2.3 cm closed and 12.2 x 4.8 x 2.3cm open.

The Slider V5 *MTV Edition will be sold through Virgin Mobile retailer partners for a MSRP of $159.00. These stores include Amazon.com, Best Buy, Circuit City, CompUSA, Media Play, Sam Goody, Target Stores, Wal*Mart, Virgin Megastores and select college bookstores. Virgin's prepaid cell phones are also available online at www.virginmobileusa.com and www.shop.mtv.com.

About Virgin Mobile USA, LLC:
Virgin Mobile USA, LLC is the first U.S. wireless service designed exclusively around the needs of the youth market. Since its national launch in July 2002, Virgin Mobile has quickly established itself as one of the fastest-growing wireless players in the U.S. Virgin Mobile offers a flexible Pay As You Go price plan with no contracts to sign and no fine print. Virgin Mobile customers get all the essentials, including long distance, voicemail, caller ID, call waiting, wrapped into their superior airtime rate. They also receive text messaging and directory assistance. In addition, all customers have access to VirginXtras - a host of music, entertainment and fun lifestyle features that add flair and personality to the mobile experience. Virgin Mobile also has a strategic partnership with MTV Networks that includes exclusive content from MTV and VH1 and additional content from Nickelodeon and CMT.

A joint venture between Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Group and Sprint, which operates the largest 100-percent digital, nationwide PCS wireless network in the United States, Virgin Mobile USA is the first mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) in the U.S. Virgin Mobile phones and Top-Up cards are available at Amazon.com, Best Buy, Circuit City, CompUSA, Media Play, Sam Goody, Sprint Stores, Target Stores, Wal*Mart, Virgin Megastores and select college bookstores. Top-Up cards are also available at more than 38,000 locations including Circle K, CVS and 7-Eleven stores. Virgin Mobile products and services are available 24/7 on the Web at www.virginmobileusa.com or through Virgin Mobile Central Intelligence at 1-888-322-1122.

About MTV Networks:
MTV Networks, a unit of Viacom International Inc. (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B), owns and operates the cable television programming services MTV: Music Television, MTV2, Nickelodeon/Nick at Nite, TV Land, VH1, CMT: Country Music Television, and TNN, as well as The Digital Suite from MTV Networks, a package of thirteen digital services, all of which are trademarks of MTV Networks. MTV Networks also operates and offers joint ventures, licensing agreements and syndication deals whereby its programming can be seen worldwide.

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, 2003, Kyocera Corporation's consolidated net sales totaled approximately US$9 billion (JP¥ 1,069,770 million) with net income of approximately US$348 million (JP¥ 41,165 million).

Copyright 2003 by Kyocera Wireless Corp. Kyocera is a registered trademark of Kyocera 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