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KYOCERA and Movistar Announce New Slider Jet Multimedia EV-DO Cell Phone with High-Speed Internet Connection Capability
KYOCERA Slider Jet KX18 handset offers a 262,000-color TFT screen, an MP3 music player, and a VGA camera; among other high-tech features
Caracas -- (July 20, 2006) -- Kyocera Wireless Corp., a leading global manufacturer of CDMA wireless phones and devices, today announced along with Movistar the introduction of the Kyocera Slider Jet™ KX18 into the Venezuelan market. The new handset is Kyocera's first cell phone designed with 1xEV-DO wireless access for high-speed Internet connection and offers a broad selection of advanced multimedia features.
Julio Jordan, Kyocera's Regional Manager in Venezuela, explained that the phone, which will be marketed exclusively by Movistar, is Kyocera's first EV-DO phone in the domestic market and the first to be sold by Kyocera Wireless outside of the United States. The introduction of the Slider Jet KX18, which follows on the heels of the Kyocera Passport KPC650 wireless PC card, was designed to meet the growing demand for EV-DO technology in Venezuela. "Kyocera is actually the only mobile-phone manufacturer that makes both EV-DO cards and phones. Our goal is to satisfy the needs of both our operators and end users by delivering reliable devices that offer high-speed Internet capabilities, along with the all the other added-value features our mobile phones are known for," said Jordan.
The Slider Jet KX18 not only offers standard voice-service features, but it is also equipped with a WAP 2.0 browser; a 262,000-color TFT screen for viewing high-resolution images and videos; text messaging (SMS) capabilities; Multimedia messaging (MMS); speakerphone for hands-free talking; a built in music player capable of playing MP3, AAC, MP4, 3GP, and M4A formats; a memory-expansion slot for up to 1 GB; and a VGA camera with a dedicated camera key, flash, digital zoom and video recording with playback. The handset also offers BREW 3.1.3 technology, providing users the ability to download their favorite television programs and video clips from the Internet.
"All these features combine to make the Kyocera Slider Jet KX18 a true technological leader in the mobile phone industry. We are proud to make it available to all Venezuelans," stated Jordan.
Roberto Casado, Movistar's Vice President of Marketing, indicated that with the addition of the Slider Jet KX18, the company is significantly expanding its portfolio of high-technology products. "At Movistar, we focus on maintaining our product lines on the cutting edge. We are constantly evaluating the new product options available and choose only the best in the market to meet our marketing strategies. We are pleased to add the Kyocera Slider Jet KX18 to our portfolio, since it provides a great technological offering to the Venezuelan market."
Kyocera's Jordan emphasized that there is a great demand for EV-DO technology in Venezuela and that the company is proactively responding to this demand through its Slider Jet KX18 and its popular wireless card, the Kyocera Passport KPC650.
Jordan explained, "Since the Passport KPC650 wireless card is compatible with EV-DO and CDMA2000 1x service connections, the card is able to reach a speed of 2.4 Mbps on EV-DO networks, with data-transfer speeds of up to 400-700 Kbps, which is up to 40 times faster than a dial-up connection. Its modem offers 2G data transfer at 14.4 kilobytes per second (Kbps) and 3G data transfer for 1xRTT at speeds up to 143 Kbps."
He also pointed that CDMA cellular technology has been growing significantly in the country. In 2005 alone, more than four-and-a-half million CDMA cell phones were sold, and based on forecasts and present levels of penetration, this market is expected to grow to more than 15 million users before the end of 2006. The latest statistical report on the telecommunications sector from Conatel shows that almost 51% of the Venezuelan population already has a cell phone and that CDMA technology (represented by the two main operators, Movistar and Movilnet) has expanded to more than 85% of the market.
The same thing has happened with EV-DO technology. Its growth has been sustained since 2005, and based on this trend, it is estimated that by 2008 there will be about one million users of this technology in Venezuela and more than 6 million will use it throughout Latin America.
Recently, the CDMA Development Group (CDG) reported that 22 operators in 17 countries throughout Latin America and the Caribbean have deployed or built CDMA2000 1xEV-DO networks. The report reads, "Capitalizing on high-speed data-transfer capabilities, operators have introduced a wide range of broadband services for cell-phone users aimed at various market needs, from internet access in unserved areas to the most advanced applications, such as 3D games and TV. Operators are seeing a significant rise in demand for 1xEV-DO services, with a subscriber growth of 40% per quarter."
About Kyocera Wireless Corp.
Kyocera Wireless Corp. is a leading supplier of innovative, feature-rich CDMA wireless devices and accessories for customers worldwide. Kyocera Wireless maintains an operating belief in the genius of simplicity and strives to make the wireless experience as simple and intuitive as humanly possible. The company is a wholly owned subsidiary of Kyocera International Inc., which acquired QUALCOMM Incorporated's CDMA consumer wireless phone business in February 2000. 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. The company entered the Latin American market in 2001. For more information, please visit www.kyocera-wireless.com/latin.
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 telecommunications equipment, semiconductor packages, electronic components, cameras, laser printers, copiers, solar energy systems and industrial ceramics. During the year ended March 31, 2006, Kyocera Corporation's consolidated net sales totaled approximately US$10 billion (JP¥ 1,181,489 million) with net income of approximately US$596 million (JP¥ 69,696 million).
© 2006 Kyocera Wireless Corp. All rights reserved. Kyocera is a registered trademark of Kyocera Corporation. All other trademarks and product names are the property of their respective owners.
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