Cricket Debuts Kyocera Lingo

[Ironwalt]

Press Release Source: Kyocera Wireless Corp.


Cricket Debuts Kyocera Lingo
Monday October 1, 9:00 am ET
-Versatile New Phone Offers QWERTY Keypad and Dual Color Displays; Complements Cricket's Unlimited Messaging Services-


SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Kyocera Wireless Corp., a leading global manufacturer of CDMA wireless phones and devices, and Cricket Communications, Inc., the operating subsidiary of Leap Wireless International, Inc. (NASDAQ:LEAP - News), and a leading provider of unlimited wireless services, today announced the introduction of the Kyocera Lingo, a versatile clamshell handset with a full QWERTY keypad available for the first time in the U.S.

The Lingo features a high-end ergonomic design, opening lengthwise to reveal the keypad ideal for text-messaging fanatics. It also offers a host of other features, including Bluetooth® wireless technology, a 1.3 megapixel camera, voice recognition, dual color displays and a loud, clear speakerphone. Productivity tools include a scheduler, calculator, alarm clock, stopwatch, tip calculator, countdown timer, and voice memos.

"The Kyocera Lingo's QWERTY keypad will be especially attractive to our customers," said T. Scott Edwards, senior vice president of marketing for Cricket. "Research has shown that 32 percent of Cricket customers send at least one text message per day, compared with 12 percent of non-Cricket customers. Since every Cricket rate plan includes unlimited text and picture messaging, which are essential to our customers, the Lingo is an important addition to our handset lineup."

When it comes to data the Lingo is more than capable. It supports Cricket's Mobile Web, which allows customers to browse news, entertainment and sports; chat; and personalize their handsets with the latest ringtones and graphics. The Lingo will also allow customers to download games with Cricket Games & Apps.

"The Kyocera Lingo is an attractive solution for Cricket customers who love to send text or instant messages and want to get a unique QWERTY-enabled phone without breaking the bank," said Tom Maguire, vice president of global marketing at Kyocera Wireless Corp. "With its hidden QWERTY keypad, the Lingo strikes a perfect balance between style, functionality and affordability. We are excited to make Lingo's simplified texting capabilities available to Cricket customers all across the country."

The Lingo measures 3.94 in x 1.97 in x 0.79 and weighs 3.5 ounces--with CDMA talk time up to 3.25 hours and standby time up to 150 hours.

The Kyocera Lingo is available at select Cricket retail stores and dealers immediately for $199.99. A complete line of Genuine Accessories by Kyocera(TM) is also available for the Lingo. For more information, visit a local Cricket retail location, or online visit Wireless Carrier | Cricket Wireless | Home or Kyocera Wireless: Cell phones, wireless accessories, and more.

About Kyocera Wireless Corp.

Kyocera Wireless Corp. is a leading supplier of innovative, feature-rich CDMA wireless devices and accessories for customers worldwide. 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, Kyocera Wireless 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, visit Kyocera Wireless: Cell phones, wireless accessories, and more.

Kyocera Corporation (NYSE:KYO - News), 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, laser printers, copiers, solar energy systems and industrial ceramics. During the year ended March 31, 2007, Kyocera Corporation's consolidated net sales totaled approximately US$10.8 billion (JPYen 1,283,897 million) with net income of approximately US$895 million (JPYen 106,504 million).

About Cricket

Cricket is a simple, affordable wireless service offering consumers and local businesses a flat-rate unlimited service over the latest technology, high-quality, all-digital CDMA2000 1X and 1xEV-DO wireless network. Designed for customers whose basic and advanced wireless needs have not been met by traditional communications companies, Cricket is the pioneer of unlimited services with no long-term commitments or credit checks required. Cricket offers customers access to a variety of the latest devises and feature-rich mobile applications such as unlimited text, instant and picture messaging, Mobile Web, popular games, ringtones and wallpapers. For more information on Cricket, visit Wireless Carrier | Cricket Wireless | Home. Cricket is offered by Leap Wireless International, Inc., headquartered in San Diego, Calif. For more information on Leap, visit Welcome to Leap Wireless.

© 2007 Kyocera Wireless Corp. All rights reserved. Kyocera is a registered trademark of Kyocera Corporation. Genuine Accessories by Kyocera is a trademark of Kyocera Wireless Corp. The Bluetooth trademark and logos are owned by Bluetooth SIG, Inc. and any use of such marks by Kyocera Wireless is under license. All other marks herein are properties of their respective owners.



Contact:
Kyocera Wireless Corp.
John Chier, 858-882-3543
jchier@kyocera-wireless.com
or
Bock Communications
Jessica Levy, 714-292-2990
cricket@bockpr.com
or
Cricket Communications, Inc.
Greg Lund, Media Relations, 858-882-9105
glund@cricketcommunications.com

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Source: Kyocera Wireless Corp.