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Kyocera Rise Brings Affordable Android 4.0, Full QWERTY Keypad to Public Mobile
$149 Rise is Public Mobile's first Android 4.0 "Ice Cream Sandwich" Smartphone and First Android with a Full QWERTY Keypad
Toronto and San Diego - August 18, 2012 - Public Mobile and Kyocera Communications Inc. today announced the immediate availability of the Kyocera Rise, an affordable Android™ smartphone with both a high-resolution touchscreen display and a comfortable slide-out QWERTY keypad. Available for $149, Rise is Public Mobile's first smartphone to offer the Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) operating system and a QWERTY keypad.
Public Mobile's Android service plans start as low as $35 per month with unlimited talk, text, data and Siren Music. Siren Music is Canada's first truly unlimited mobile music experience. It allows users to download music without per-song costs or limits on data usage and is available on the go with no computers, no syncing or extra devices required.
"Kyocera Rise brings together the must-have features in an Android smartphone at an incredible price point," said Mike Stanford, senior vice president - marketing, Public Mobile. "With Public Mobile's unparalleled combination of unlimited music and unlimited data - and the Kyocera Rise Android device - we're offering an unbeatable combination for smartphone and music lovers alike."
Kyocera Rise is the ideal first smartphone for anyone who wants the latest Android features but doesn't want to give up real keys. A survey conducted earlier this year by industry analyst firm Yankee Group revealed that 69 percent of consumers called a QWERTY keypad a "must have" or "nice to have" feature on their mobile devices.
"Many people are excited about touchscreen devices but they're skeptical about giving up their keypads - especially anyone who is confident using a QWERTY device or is making the jump from feature phones to smartphones," said Eric Anderson, senior vice president and general manager of global sales and marketing at Kyocera Communications Inc. "Rise offers the perfect Android solution by keeping those familiar keys available, helping to make a potentially overwhelming experience more comfortable. And with Public Mobile and the Siren Music service, they get a great package at an amazing price."
Kyocera Rise features a 3.5-inch HVGA (480 x 320) IPS touchscreen display and Swype for rapid text entry. Additional features include:
- Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) operating system featuring Google Play™ Store for access to hundreds of thousands of apps
- 1 GHz MSM8655 Qualcomm Snapdragon® processor for fast access to apps and Web surfing
- 3.2 megapixel camera with an LED flash and a 30 frame-per-second camcorder
- "Eco Mode" software to better monitor and conserve battery power
- microSD™ memory card support support for cards up to 32GB
- 1,500 mAh Lithium-ion battery, ensuring long periods of use between charges and up to 8.58 hours of talk time
- A dedicated capacitive menu button for easy access to application-specific features
- Kyocera Rise also connects over Wi-Fi® (802.11 b/g/n) networks, supports Stereo Bluetooth® (2.1 + EDR) wireless technology and includes a high-speed USB 2.0 port
About Public Mobile
Formed in 2008, Public Mobile provides unlimited talk, text, Android data services and Siren music to value conscious customers in Ontario and Quebec. There are no contracts, no credit checks and no surprises. Public Mobile launched its network service in May 2010 in Toronto and in June 2010 in Montreal. Public Mobile is building its network from Windsor to Quebec City. Public Mobile's licence covers an area reaching 19 million Canadians. More information about Public Mobile can be found at www.publicmobile.ca
About Kyocera Communications Inc.
Kyocera Communications Inc. (KCI) is the 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 http://www.kyocera-wireless.com or follow the company on Facebook at www.facebook.com/kyoceramobilephones.
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, printers, copiers, solar power generating systems, electronic components, semiconductor packages, cutting tools and industrial ceramics. During the year ended March 31, 2012, the company's net sales totaled 1.19 trillion yen (approx. USD14.5 billion). The company is ranked #426 on Forbes magazine's 2012 "Global 2000" listing of the world's largest publicly traded companies.
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