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KYOCERA Returns as Premier Sponsor of Virgin Mobile Freefest, Renowned Rockin' Music Festival, for the Fourth Year in a Row
-list festival to include Weezer, Blink-182, Taking Back Sunday, Franz Ferdinand and Public Enemy
San Diego, CA., August 30, 2009 - For four years the Virgin Mobile Festival has been one of the country's premier summer music events. And while the bands and venues have changed over the years, one thing that has not is Kyocera's presence as the festival's premier sponsor. Kyocera reprises its premier sponsorship on August 30 when bands including Weezer, Blink-182, Taking Back Sunday, Franz Ferdinand and Public Enemy headline the fourth-annual Virgin Mobile Festival at Maryland's Merriweather Post Pavilion. Looking to give music fans a break from today's challenging economy, Virgin Mobile USA dubbed this year's event "FreeFest" and made all tickets free. This year's Virgin Mobile FreeFest is highlighting The RE*Generation, Virgin Mobile USA's special program aimed at helping this country's millions of homeless kids and asking festival goers to give back to this cause.*
While the Kyocera ALL Access crewmembers produce their one-hour documentary, their journey will be captured on film in a "making-of-the-documentary" featurette by Dakota Pictures, producers of the hit HBO series "Flight of the Conchords." Both the documentary and the Dakota Pictures featurette will premiere nationwide on The Independent Film Channel (IFC) and all Virgin America Airlines flights beginning in October. IFC reaches 7 million households nationwide and is dedicated to presenting independent films from cinema's most compelling filmmakers and up-and-coming artists.
Kyocera's sponsorship is multi-faceted, with extensive on-site presence at the festival complemented by nationwide programs aimed at empowering music-loving consumers. At the festival, Kyocera will provide a "Lucky Layoff Lounge" and a "Recharge Station," while featuring extensive signage and interactive elements such as a large display to which attendees can send text messages. For fans across the country, Kyocera presented Virgin Mobile's "Book the Band" competition, allowing fans to choose an opening act at FreeFest, and "Kyocera ALL Access," in which 14 aspiring filmmakers were selected to capture the event for behind-the-scenes documentary that will air on the Independent Film Channel (IFC) in October.
"We're thrilled to continue our longstanding partnership with Virgin Mobile and once again show our support of this amazing music festival," said Tom Maguire, head of global marketing at Kyocera Communications Inc. "Between this year's impressive lineup of artists, these great programs we're doing surrounding the event and the support it will generate for homeless youth, this will certainly be an event to remember."
Kyocera's activities leading up to and at FreeFest include:
Kyocera Lucky Layoff Lounge - With unemployment hovering at double-digits, the Lucky Layoff Lounge brings a little karma, good luck and good times to fans. Every 10 minutes a lucky attendee will be chosen to spin the "Wheel of Free!" for a chance at prizes including a free mobile phone with one year of service, Kyocera X-tc M2000 phones from Virgin Mobile, Ikea furnishings, Flying V guitars, backstage tours and more. Numerous other games include the Virgin Free Rock Quiz, where players will use Kyocera X-tc M2000 phones to answer questions and win prizes. A Kyocera Karma Kanister will be in the lounge for anyone who'd like to support Virgin Mobile's The RE*Generation campaign to support homeless youth.
Kyocera Recharge - Kyocera's Recharge Area gives festival-goers the chance to recharge their souls as well as their gadgets. Plug in phones, cameras, or anything that needs juicing up and enjoy the pleasures of this rejuvenating area. Check in with family and friends with free phone calls from Kyocera, chill out in the on-site hammocks or teepees, text your name for some positive predictions from Psychic Susan or belt out your own tunes on the "Kyoke" karaoke stage.
Kyocera ALL Access Rock Documentary - Together with Dreaming Tree Films, Kyocera has chosen 14 young music fans to capture a comprehensive, behind-the-scenes look at the FreeFest that will be turned into a documentary. Their journey will be captured in a "making-of" featurette by Dakota Pictures, producers of the hit HBO series "Flight of the Conchords." Both the documentary and the featurette will debut in October on the Independent Film Channel (IFC), which reaches more than 7 million U.S. homes. They'll capture every pulse-pounding moment - from center stage to back stage, from the tour bus to the mosh pit. They'll go behind the scenes, interview their favorite bands and meet the fans in the audience. Winners also will use Kyocera X-tc M2000 cell phones to post up-to-the-second, behind-the-scenes photos on a real-time festival blog.
Book the Band - For the third straight year, Kyocera and Virgin Mobile USA have let music fans pick an unknown act to appear at the festival via "Book the Band by Virgin Mobile." Birthday Massacre bested four other bands by capturing more than 40 percent of the 700,000 votes cast via text message and online. Additional information about the contest and its winner is available at the Virgin Mobile FreeFest Web site - Virgin Mobile FreeFest 2009. [www.virginmobilefreefest.com]
"Our previous three festivals have been amazing successes and we've enjoyed tremendous support with Kyocera as our premier sponsor since the festival's inception," said Ron Faris, senior director of brand marketing and innovation at Virgin Mobile USA. "But this year looks to be even more impressive with Kyocera's on-site presence and national programs. We appreciate Kyocera and its ongoing commitment to this event."
About Kyocera
Kyocera Communications Inc. (KCI) is the sales, marketing, customer engineering and service headquarters for Kyocera- and Sanyo-branded wireless products and Accessories in the Americas. The company's devices are driving the convergence of telecommunications, broadband and multimedia. KCI was formed in April 2009 through the combination of Kyocera Wireless Corp. and Kyocera Sanyo Telecommunications Inc., two wholly owned subsidiaries of Kyocera International Inc. The former was created when Kyocera purchased QUALCOMM Incorporated's consumer wireless phone business in 2000, while the latter was formed when Kyocera purchased the wireless phone business of Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd. in 2008. Based in San Diego, KCI leverages Japan's history of creating advanced consumer technologies around humanism and respect for the environment and blending them with a Western entrepreneurialism and style, resulting in a unique design language and a natural, user-friendly interface. For more information, please visit www.kyocera-wireless.com
Kyocera Corporation (NYSE:KYO) (TOKYO:6971) (http://global.kyocera.com/), the parent and global headquarters of the Kyocera Group, was founded in 1959 as a producer of fine ceramics (also known as "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, office-document imaging equipment, solar power generating systems, semiconductor packages, electronic components, cutting tools and industrial ceramics. During the year ended March 31, 2009, the company's net sales totaled 1.13 trillion yen (approximately US$11.5 billion). Kyocera marks its 50th anniversary in 2009, and the 40th anniversary of its U.S. operations. It is ranked #418 on Forbes magazine's 2009 "Global 2000" listing of the world's largest publicly traded companies.
About Virgin Mobile USA
Virgin Mobile USA, Inc. [NYSE:VM], through its operating company Virgin Mobile USA, L.P., offers its millions of customers control, flexibility and choice through Virgin Mobile's Plans Without Annual Contracts, with coverage powered by the Nationwide Sprint Network. Virgin Mobile USA also offers unlimited all-in contract plans with advanced devices like the Ocean 2. Its full slate of smart, stylish and affordable handsets are available at approximately 40,000 top retailers nationwide and online at http://www.virginmobileusa.com/, with Top-Up cards available at almost 150,000 locations.
Virgin Mobile USA service recently announced its Pink Slip Protection program, which provides eligible monthly plan customers who lose their jobs and become eligible for state unemployment benefits free service for up to three months.
(1) Subject to certain terms and conditions
* Anyone wishing to support homeless youth and The RE
*Generation can donate $5 to the cause by texting "FREEFEST" to 20222. Standard messaging rates apply.
© 2009 Kyocera. All rights reserved. Kyocera is a registered trademark of Kyocera Corporation.
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