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Microtel Electronica and KYOCERA Wireless Collaborate for a New Concept in Payphone
New Wireless Payphones offer Coinless, Cardless Convenience at a Fraction of the Cost of Traditional Payphones
SAN DIEGO and CARACAS, VENEZUELA -- (September 12, 2006) -- Kyocera Wireless Corp., a leading global manufacturer of CDMA wireless handsets and devices, and Microtel Electronica, a leading telecommunications equipment manufacturer in Venezuela, today announced their collaboration on a new CDMA wireless payphone that makes calling less expensive and more convenient than ever before in restaurants, malls and other public locations. Easy and convenient to install and relocate, the payphones eschew hard wiring by using the award-winning Kyocera 200 Module to connect via CDMA wireless networks. Targeted for Latin American and Caribbean countries, the Microtel wireless payphone is first approved for use in Venezuela with wireless service provider Movistar.
"With the Kyocera 200 Module integrated into our wireless payphones, we are revolutionizing the public phone market with a new level of convenience and economy for users," said Nelson Martinez, president, Microtel Electronica S.A. "Consumers no longer need to dig for change if a cell phone is not handy or if the battery is depleted, and they aren't saddled with exorbitant estimated costs either. And for business owners, the phones offer another source of income as well as a way to attract new customers."
The Microtel Electronica phones use the CDMA Kyocera 200 Module to enable voice communications while downloading airtime rates and calculating the cost of calls based on their length. As soon as a call is completed, the payphone sends immediate notification of the cost to the payphone owner, who in turn charges the customer. The payphone owner receives a monthly bill from the carrier just like a regular cell phone bill. With new wireless payphones in place, businesses can offer public phone services at a fraction of the cost of traditional coin-operated payphones along with the convenience of adding the charge to a customer's bill or collecting cash and providing change. On average, the new phones generate approximately $500(US) worth of wireless phone calls per month, adding an additional revenue stream for phone owners and wireless carriers alike.
"The Kyocera 200 Module-powered Microtel Electronica payphone is a smart investment for any business owner who wants to improve customer service and profitability," said Dean Fledderjohn, general manager of the M2M division at Kyocera Wireless Corp. "Easy to install and use, the wireless payphones provide obvious benefits to consumers and businesses. They are also popular with wireless carriers, who benefit from increased network use while not incurring costs to maintain the phones because they are owned by the businesses."
For more information on Microtel Electronica products and solutions, please call: + 58-212-284-1722, email: nelson@microtelelectronica.com or visit www.microtelelectronica.com.
About the Kyocera 200 Module
The Kyocera 200 Module is designed to enable M2M and telemetry applications such as AVL, Fleet Management, SCADA, asset tracking, remote metering or security, wireless vending, exception reporting and wireless point-of-sale. The module is equipped with CDMA tri-mode capability (including AMPS), A-GPS position location capability and support for IS-2000 data rates (153KBps on forward and reverse links). Other features and functions include two-way Short Messaging Service (SMS) capabilities; simple and mobile IP; CDMA UDP Passive Server; TCP/IP protocol stack; AT command interface; socket interface, dual UARTs; analog audio; GPS and RF connectors; high-speed packet and circuit-switched data; and support for both 13k QCELP and EVRC vocoders.
Known for its strong carrier relationships, helpful developer tools and excellent customer service, Kyocera Wireless offers periodic developer conferences to assist module adopters and support wireless integration into OEM products and systems. A developer's kit and programming tools are available for purchase by module customers. For additional information, please visit www.kyocera-wireless.com/m2m-business.
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. For more information, please visit www.kyocera-wireless.com.
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).
About Microtel Electronica S.A.
Founded in 1977, Microtel Electronica is the leading designer and manufacturer of telecommunications equipment in Venezuela and specializes in conventional telephone terminal equipment such as public telephones, tariff-telephones, fixed cellular units and other related products.
© Kyocera Wireless Corp. All rights reserved. Kyocera is a registered trademark of Kyocera Corporation. All other marks are properties of their respective owners.
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