Kyocera -- Engadget

Kyocera posts

Kyocera shows off preposterous, beautiful EOS folding OLED phone concept

by Paul Miller, posted Apr 16th 2009 at 6:22PM

We're big fans of reality and feasibility, we swear, but something like this "EOS" concept phone Kyocera was showing off at CTIA is just too good to pass up. The handset folds up into what could roughly be described as a wallet shape, but folds out into two configurations: portrait QWERTY mode (pictured), and full-on widescreen OLED display (after the break). Samsung was showing similar screen-folding folding abilities, but a much less impressive handset, at CES. Things get even wilder, tough, with Kyocera envisioning shape memory keys that can morph flat when not in use, and a kinetic charging method based on piezoelectric generators and Mary Poppins. Sure, our great grandkids are going to have a good laugh at us for thinking this is lovable, but they always were a bunch of theoretical brats. Kyocera plans on implementing some of the concept ideas into its "near future" lineup of devices. We'll see how that pans out.

[Via Inhabitat, photo courtesy of Jeffrey Sass]

Continue reading Kyocera shows off preposterous, beautiful EOS folding OLED phone concept

Sanyo's QWERTY-packin' SCP-2700 lands on Sprint

by Darren Murph, posted Mar 31st 2009 at 2:48PM

Not that we're blindsided by its official introduction or anything, but it's still good to see Sanyo's SCP-2700 in one clear, crisp, cohesive press photo. Available exclusively on Sprint, the QWERTY-equipped handset boasts a 1.3 megapixel camera, Sprint Navigation, threaded text messaging support and Bluetooth. Prospective buyers will need to choose between Impulsive Pink (with a subtle floral overlay) and Deep Blue (which has a tactile square designer pattern on its back), but considering that you've got until May 10th to decide, we'd say there's no real hurry. Oh, and pricing? $29.99 after a $50 mail-in rebate and signing away your cellular soul for two long, painful years.

ITT sues Verizon, phone makers aplenty over GPS patent

by Donald Melanson, posted Mar 25th 2009 at 3:56PM

This one's pretty light on specifics at the moment, but it looks like manufacturing giant ITT Corp is none too happy with Verizon and a whole host of cellphone manufacturers including the likes of Motorola, Nokia, LG, and Kyocera, and it's now gone so far as to sue the whole lot over alleged patent infringement. Apparently, ITT thinks that the group of companies all violated one of its GPS patents that relates to position information being transmitted in urban areas with line-of-sight obstructions. As a result of that alleged wrong doing, ITT says it has been "irreparably harmed," and that it "has suffered, and will continue to suffer substantial damages." To remedy that situation, ITT is asking for a jury trial, unspecified royalties, and a permanent injunction against all of the defendants, although it is being kind enough to allow for an exemption for any activities necessary to support 911 emergency functions.

[Thanks, Joel]

Kyocera consolidates handset businesses, cuts 360 jobs in the process

by Donald Melanson, posted Jan 30th 2009 at 6:34PM

It's only been a year since Kyocera snapped up Sanyo's cellphone business in a bid to expand its mobile empire, but it looks like the company is already being forced to reorganize its handset businesses into something leaner and, it hopes, meaner. The biggest shake-up comes in the company's U.S. offices, which will now be focused exclusively sales, support, and business development, leaving all the handset design to be done at its Kyocera Wireless and Sanyo Telecom units in Japan, which themselves will be further consolidated in an effort to "enhance the efficiency and competitiveness of the combined global handset business," according to company President Rodney Lanthorne. All of that will result in the loss of some 360 jobs, most of which will come from Kyocera's operations in San Diego and Chatsworth, California, as well as its subsidiary in Bangalore, India.

[Via Phone Scoop]

Hitachi H001 with 3D display leads up KDDI au's Spring 2009 lineup

by Chris Ziegler, posted Jan 29th 2009 at 1:49AM

So KDDI's latest lineup of new phones features the usual array of 8.1 megapixel cameras, wide VGA displays, one-seg TV tuners, and teleporters, but one particular handset stood out: Hitachi's Wooo H001. The dual-hinge flip's claim to fame -- well, besides the bizarre color scheme -- has to be the stereoscopic IPS display that presumably uses the same parallax barrier method shown off by the carrier late last year. The phone will happily serve up 3D-ified versions of various UI elements and mobile TV content, and when you start to get woozy (or Wooozy, as it were), just flip a switch and you're back to the reassuring flatness you're used to. It'll launch in three colors in April, and naturally, you'll have to be in Japan to get it.

[Via Akihabara News]

Wind River, Kyocera team to develop embedded Android systems

by Nilay Patel, posted Oct 22nd 2008 at 2:02PM

Embedded OS vendor Wind River Systems is no stranger to Android -- it's been in the Open Hardware Alliance from the start and we've seen prototype 'droid hardware from the company in the past -- but it looks like it's taking it's first official steps into Google's great wide yonder in partnership with Kyocera to develop a commercial Android reference platform. The two companies are targeting handset manufacturers with their first effort, but it's not totally crazy to expect a wide range of devices will eventually be based on this or similar designs -- we're hearing hints that Android will start showing up in other consumer devices in the next year, and it's certainly a tempting open-source alternative to Windows CE for devices like GPS navigators. That would be a pretty massive shift for the industry -- hopefully we'll see the fruits of this partnership soon.

Willcom picks up a pair of sleek new candybars

by Darren Murph, posted Jan 21st 2008 at 2:50PM

Check it, Willcom faithful. Two new candybar-styled handsets have emerged for your carrier of choice, and we must say, we're pretty envious. Up first is the Kyocera WX330K (or Honey Bee, as we prefer), which checks in at 42- x 120- x 9.9-millimeters, is available in five different hues and features a two-inch QVGA display, Opera 7.2 browser, IrDA and an eye-catching Call button (of all things). Next up is the elusive X Plate, a 64-gram sophisticated toy that boasts a 1.8-inch LCD along with Java and Flash support. Plenty of pics waiting in the links below, so go on, take a peek at what America's missing out on.

Read - Kyocera WX330K
Read - X Plate

Sanyo sells cellphones (by the seashore) to Kyocera

by Thomas Ricker, posted Jan 21st 2008 at 7:00AM

Sanyo just made official what's been rumored since August: the sale of its troubled cellphone division to Kyocera. The deal is set for completion on April 1st at a value of about $350 million. The deal involves about 2,000 employees moving from Sanyo's mobile phone operation to Kyocera where they can reminisce with ex-Qualcommers about the good ol' days.

Verizon launches Kyocera KPC680 EV-DO Rev. A ExpressCard

by Darren Murph, posted Nov 20th 2007 at 7:15PM

Still waiting around to hop on the Rev. A highway? Although last week would've been a swell time to do so, now's not too bad either, and Verizon Wireless customers have yet another option at their fingertips. The Kyocera KPC680 ExpressCard is available now for anyone interested, and enables BroadbandAccess users to reach average download speeds of 600kbps to 1.4Mbps and upload speeds that range from 500kbps to 800kbps when situated in a Rev. A area. Additionally, this thing sports a "breakthrough" (ahem) antenna design that "moves the antenna away from the device as it is opened, providing greater sensitivity, dual external antenna ports for signal flexibility and a compact form factor." Get yours now for just $49.99 after a mail-in rebate and throwing your John Hancock on a two-year agreement.

Kyocera announces KR2 EV-DO router

by Donald Melanson, posted Oct 19th 2007 at 11:31AM

While Kyocera's old KR1 EV-DO router should still get the basic job done just fine, those looking for a few new features may want to consider the company's just-announced KR2 model, which brings the router up to date with some of the latest and greatest specs. Chief among those is support for 802.11n WiFi, as well as support for an expanded range of EV-DO devices, including various PCMCIA cards, ExpressCards, and USB devices. Otherwise you'll get the usual four Ethernet ports to connect the odd non-WiFi device, an "industry leading" firewall, over the air updates, and a fail-over capability that'll automatically kick the EV-DO into gear if your DSL or cable connection drops out. No word on what it'll cost, but it's apparently "coming soon."

Virgin Mobile deals the Kyocera Wild Card

by Joshua Topolsky, posted Oct 19th 2007 at 9:53AM

Virgin Mobile is officially dipping its toes into smartphone water with its latest offering, the Kyocera Wild Card. Of course, how deep into that particular pool both companies are going is a question for the ages. The Wild Card isn't exactly the most robust phone you'll ever get your hands on, though the flip-phone does offer a QWERTY keypad, dual screens, a 1.3-megapixel camera, Bluetooth integration, and a WAP browser. The hitch is that you'll have to view that browser on a 128 x 160 screen, which is painfully, embarrassingly small -- though they do throw in Pac-Man and Ms. Pac-Man to keep you distracted. Hey, for a price point of $99, you could do way, way worse. The phone is available now from your friendly neighborhood Virgin Mobile dealer.

Kyocera said to be ever so close to buying Sanyo's cellphone biz

by Donald Melanson, posted Oct 11th 2007 at 11:20AM

Kyocera has already shown it was pretty serious about buying Sanyo's cellphone business, and it now looks like that persistence may be about to pay off, with the two companies reportedly all but set to announce a deal. While the final price has apparently yet to be fixed, Nikkei says Kyocera has offered 70 billion yen (or nearly $600 million) for the business, although that price may wind up being a bit lower after Kyocera has done all its due diligence. As Reuters points out, if the deal goes through, it would make Kyocera the world's seventh-largest cellphone business, up from its current 10th place position. That possibility should become clear soon enough, as the deal could apparently be announced as early as today.

Kyocera gettin' serious about buying Sanyo's mobile biz?

by Darren Murph, posted Sep 14th 2007 at 1:16PM

Sure, it was all fun and games when folks were just tossing about the idea, but it seems that Kyocera may be taking this whole deal a bit more seriously than we previously assumed. Reportedly, "Kyocera [is aiming] to buy Sanyo's cell phone operations for about ¥50 billion ($435 million)," and just in case you still had doubts, these same sources are suggesting that the two are "entering the final stage of talks." Of course, a Kyocera spokeswoman declined to comment on the validity of the claims, but if this deal does indeed get done, it will create "the world's seventh-largest mobile phone maker."

Stade de Suisse becomes "world's largest" solar stadium

by Donald Melanson, posted Aug 22nd 2007 at 12:38PM

Bern's Stade de Suisse stadium was already a pretty impressive example of solar power, with 7,930 solar modules soaking up the rays, but a recent addition of 2,808 more solar modules from Japan's Kyocera looks to have been enough to earn it some new bragging rights as the "world's largest stadium-integrated photovoltaic system." With the new modules up and running, the stadium now boasts an overall power output of 1,346.774 kWp, or 1,134,045 kWh per year, which is apparently the equivalent of 350 four-person households. While that's certainly impressive as far stadiums go, it's far from the largest solar power project around, some of which are even aiming to power entire cities.

[Via MetaEfficient]

Is Sanyo selling off its mobile phone division?

by Joshua Topolsky, posted Aug 13th 2007 at 10:32AM

According to recent rumblings, Sanyo Electric is seriously considering cutting its mobile phone operations loose, and is apparently in talks with a number of competing manufacturers about purchasing the ailing line. At the top of the "interested parties" list are Sharp and Kyocera, well known phone-makers hoping to pick up the company's under-performing slack (which currently constitutes about 15 percent of Sanyo's overall sales). The news comes as little surprise, given the current restructuring scramble Sanyo is attempting after a whopping 72 percent drop in operating profit in recent months. Phone sales for Sanyo are now expected to fall 1.5-1.6 million short, according to the company, which has posted a net loss for the past three years and is rumored to be selling off its semiconductor operations. At this rate, there may be dark days ahead for the Japanese giant.