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KYOCERA “"Smart Sonic Receiver"” Tissue-Conduction Audio Technology for Mobile Devices Recognized as "“Best of What's New"” by Popular Science Magazine

New Innovation to Launch in Kyocera’s U.S. Android Handsets Early in 2013

SAN DIEGO--November 15, 2012--Kyocera Communications Inc.(KCI), provider of Kyocera-branded wireless phones in the Americas,  announced today that its innovative Smart Sonic Receiver tissue-conduction audio technology has been selected to receive the 2012 "Best of What's New" Award by Popular Science magazine. Selected in the Gadgets category, the proprietary Kyocera technology eliminates the need for a traditional speaker in a mobile phone, instead using vibrations to transmit sounds with unparalleled sound quality.   It was launched in Japan earlier this year in a handset called the Kyocera Urbano Progresso.   The technology will be available in select Kyocera Android® mobile phones in the U.S. beginning early in 2013.

Building on Kyocera's 53-year heritage in advanced ceramics, the new technology uses a Kyocera ceramic actuator to turn sounds into vibrations.   It uses twin paths to get sound to the user, creating sound waves in the air like a traditional speaker, while also creating vibrations that are carried by body tissue directly to the eardrum and inner ear.  Placing the phone in contact with the general area of the ear creates clear sound even in very noisy environments like sporting events, concerts, trade shows and more.   As an added benefit, removing the traditional speaker eliminates the need for a speaker cavity in the phone's housing, enabling cleaner aesthetics and enhanced waterproofing capabilities.

Popular Science editors found the technology "worked so well--and so imperceptibly -- that it eliminated the need for a conventional speaker altogether."

"Smartphone technology has improved immensely over the years, with one exception-- sound quality, especially when dealing with overwhelming background noise," said Eric Anderson, general manager and senior vice president of global sales and marketing at Kyocera Communications Inc. "We've all experienced the frustration of being in the middle of an important call and not being able to hear in a noisy environment--even with the speaker maxed out or when using an expensive headset accessory.   Sound from the Smart Sonic Receiver goes directly to the eardrum with crystal clear sound quality and we look forward to bringing this Kyocera innovation to the U.S. market."

Kyocera's Smart Sonic Receiver technology was selected from thousands of new products and innovations by Popular Science editors and contributors to make the top 100 winners across 12 categories for this special annual issue of the magazine, which is on newsstands now.

"For 25 years, Popular Science has honored the innovations that surprise and amaze us-- those that make a positive impact on our world today and challenge our view of what's possible in the future," said Jacob Ward, editor-in-chief, Popular Science. "The Best of What's New Award is the magazine's top honor, and the 100 winners--chosen from among thousands of entrants--each a revolution in its field."

About Best of What's New

Each year, the editors of Popular Science review thousands of products in search of the top 100 tech innovations of the year; breakthrough products and technologies that represent a significant leap in their categories. The winners --the Best of What's New--are awarded inclusion in the much-anticipated December issue of Popular Science, the most widely read issue of the year since the debut of Best of What's New in 1987. Best of What's New awards are presented to 100 new products and technologies in 12 categories: Aerospace, Auto, Engineering, Entertainment, Gadgets, Green, Hardware, Health, Home, Recreation, Security, and Software.

About Popular Science

Founded in 1872, Popular Science is the world's largest science and technology magazine; with a circulation of 1.3 million and 6.8 million monthly readers. Each month, Popular Science reports on the intersection of science and everyday life, with an eye toward what's new and why it matters. Popular Science is published by Bonnier Active Media, a subsidiary of Bonnier Corporation.

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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