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Virgin Mobile launches Kyocera X-tc: inexpensive QWERTY for all
Virgin Mobile's found this gem of a low-cost Kyocera set somewhere in the storehouses, dubbed it the X-tc and have started selling it. The X-tc has a slide out QWERTY keypad, 1.3 megapixel camera, Bluetooth, QVGA 262k color display, all manner of mail and messaging, all for $99 -- which includes shipping and activation. Sure, Virgin Mobile has the (ancient) Wild Card, and Ocean 2, but honestly, for the money and the basic good looks, we think this is a steal. So if you're looking for a basic messaging handset and want to stick to, or provide some loved one with service, hit up Virgin Mobile to at least check it out.[Via PhoneScoop]
Kyocera's NS01 wants to reside on your belt
You know -- after gawking at smartphones all day, Kyocera's latest flip phone just looks stunning in its own simplistic way. Sure, there's nothing at all fancy about the NS01 that we mentioned in our KDDI blowout. It just makes / receives calls, sends the occasional text message and displays information on a 2.8-inch QVGA display; heck, even the two megapixel camera doesn't make it extraordinary. Still, the all white design just does it for us, and the included belt strap is simply too cute to ignore. 'Tis a shame we aren't privy to pricing details, but folks over in Japan should be able to snag one soon on KDDI.
KDDI au announces Spring 2009 collection
Japan's KDDI au wows with the timely delivery of one of its signature seasonal line changes. Spring 2009 looks to be off to a stunning start with OLED displays, 8-plus megapixel cameras, one-seg TV, 3D display, and just about every wireless connectivity option we can dream up. As per, these are all candybar-style sets with the notable exception of the sliding Sony Ericsson Cyber-shot S001 (black phone above) and the two-way Hitachi H001 (purple phone) above. We've created a gallery for each so hit the read link for the complete rundown.
Kyocera consolidates handset businesses, cuts 360 jobs in the process
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
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]
Willcom's BAUM and WX340K handsets are clearly delicacies
Only in a market where a diamond-studded mobile sells out in three days during economic turmoil will you find a not-too-riveting handset being served up for brunch. Over at what we can only assume was a lively presser in Japan, Willcom has taken the wraps off of its WX340K flip phone and ultrathin BAUM candybar (both crafted by Kyocera). Outside of style alone, neither phone is all that mesmerizing, with the former packing a 2.7-inch QVGA display, two megapixel camera with AutoFocus, POP / SMPT support and a NetFront browser; the latter simply changes it up with a 2.4-inch LCD. Both critters fully support the FeliCa e-wallet system, though pricing and availability details seem to be missing. More completely odd hands-on shots are in the read link.[Via Engadget Japanese]
Low-end Kyocera S1300 candybar survives the FCC
And by "survive," we mean "survives the awful FCC photography clinic." All kidding aside, the photos this time didn't turn out too bad, but maybe that's because this phone is about as plain as plain can get. In fact, we'd suggest this here candybar is just marginally more sophisticated that those incredibly simplistic senior phones, though it does include a tri-band CDMA radio, GPS, speakerphone and a presumably putrid web browser. It's practically a lock for someone like MetroPCS, but we suppose only time will tell.[Via phonescoop]
KDDI au's fall / winter 2008 lineup
As Japan's CDMA big dog, KDDI au holds a unique spot in the market -- but if you think that means they're light on offerings against the more popular HSPA models supported by NTT DoCoMo and Softbank, you'd be dead wrong. The carrier's latest lineup includes a monster camera-cum-phone-cum-camera from Casio, an AQUOS-branded Sharp that's just about big enough to replace your television (not really though), and updates of older models that are still high-tech enough to make most of us look like neanderthals. Hitachi Wooo W63HIt looks like pretty much any other Japanese flip, but the W63H probably has just about the most gorgeous screen we'll never see. Why? Turns out this sucker packs 3.1 inches of wide VGA OLED bliss, which explains why it's using the same Wooo branding as Hitachi's line of HDTVs. The phone is also capable of smoothing out one-seg's standard 15fps frame rate to 30fps, features a 5-megapixel camera, and has 600MB of storage space on board. It's available in Garnet Orange (pictured), Sapphire Black, and Opal White. Casio EXILIM W63CALet's jump right into the big guns, shall we? The W63CA matches the W63H's 3.1-inch WVGA OLED display, but ups the imaging ante with a massive 8.1-megapixel (well, 8.09-megapixel, technically) camera that features face-detecting autofocus -- and it's still 1.5mm thinner than the W53CA it replaces. At 17.4mm, it's not setting any records, granted -- but every little bit helps. This one can be had in Shine Pink, Ice White, Titanium Gold, and Metal Green. Sharp AQUOS W64SHIf 3.1 inches isn't quite enough screen for you, step right on up to the AQUOS-branded W64SH from Sharp, offering a full 3.5-inches of wide VGA action with a high-contrast LED backlight -- all told, the largest display ever offered on a KDDI phone. You still make off with a 5.2-megapixel camera, 740MB of onboard memory, and global roaming capability, too. Earth Green, Mars Red, and Galaxy Black (get the theme?) are your color options here. Toshiba W65TIf you tend to roll with the slider crowd and the mighty W64SH is just a little more phone than you need, we might recommend the W65T, Toshiba's entry with a 3.2-megapixel cam, 2.8-inch OLED display (REGZA branded, natch), and a motion sensor that doubles as a pedometer / calorie counter. It can be had in Live Pink, Fresh White, Splash Blue, or Jet Black. Kyocera W65KEven the especially uninteresting phones in the lineup manage to stay interesting by doing things like, say, varying the style of the keypad between colors. Depending on whether you choose the W65K in Clair White, Fleur Pink, or Luxe Silver, you'll get a different texture of shell and a totally different look to the keypad -- techy for white, stylish for pink, and sans for silver. Oh, and the whole package is waterproof, which seems to be a popular differentiator on a few models in Japan. Otherwise, though, you're getting stuck with a 2-megapixel camera and a mere 100MB of memory, so you'd better seriously take advantage of that waterproofness with an occasional toilet or bathtub accident. And if you're curious just how waterproof it is, well, "the unit will retain its functionality as a phone even if blasted with water projected at all angles through 6.3mm nozzles at a flow rate of approximately 12.5 liters/minute for more than 3 minutes from a distance of approximately 3 meters." So there you have it. Sony Ericsson W64SIt kinda irks us that Sony Ericsson can make beautiful CDMA devices for Japan but won't bother to ship a few to the US, where CDMA carriers have been Sony Ericsson-less for years -- but that's just the way the cookie crumbles, we suppose. The W64S offers a 3.2-megapixel camera, 2.7-inch display, GSM global roaming, and "30 different patterns of illumination" on the stylized face. Grab it in Diamond Pink, Snow White, Lattice Black, or Mist Blue. Panasonic W62PKDDI pulls no punches with the W62P -- it's a "fashion accessory" more than it is a monster of Japanese technology, but for some buyers, we're sure that's quite alright. Panasonic's latest flip clocks in at just 12.9mm and offers a 2-megapixel cam, 2.9-inch primary display, and automatic opening with the push of a button (a feature we'd like to see on more flips around the world, actually). It comes in your choice of Candide Pink, Charmant Gold, and Intelligent Purple. Toshiba W64TBorrowing cues from the W62P, the W64T is billed as a "cosmetic phone that sparkles with elegance." Translation: "more show than go." The funky face is accompanied by a 3.2-megapixel cam, 2.8-inch WQVGA display, and the usual array of features like one-seg tuning, navigation, Osaifu-Keitai for NFC payments, and downloadable fonts. Scoop this one up in Shining Pink, Shining Turquoise, or -- you guessed it -- Shining White. Sony Ericsson Full Change reThis is the same re that we saw from the summer collection, they've just added more colors to the palette. Sony Ericsson's fashion-friendly flip is now available in Glossy White, Clean Green, Blooming Pink, Active Orange, Sleek Silver, Deep Red, Lustrous Blue, Silky Lavender (pictured), Mat Black, and Luminous Gold, plus a special James Bond Quantum of Solace edition to tie into the movie's release, which Sony sponsors.
Wind River, Kyocera team to develop embedded Android systems
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.
Mobile phone sales drop 20% in Japan on less bountiful carrier subsidies
It doesn't take a finance major to figure out these two things are correlated, but yes, the fact that NTT DoCoMo saw profits increase some 41% while handset sales across Japan plummeted 20% do in fact have a common link. You see, DoCoMo (among others) has decided to lower rates and reduce subsidies in order to better exploit market conditions; the end result is that consumers are buying new handsets less often, leading to decreased sales for firms like Sharp and Matsushita. Many analysts are suggesting that some of the smaller outfits are likely to band together in an attempt to take on the new market, with IDC analyst Michito Kimura proclaiming that Japan would have "fewer mobile phone makers, fewer handset sales agents and fewer cellphone models." Hard to say if that's a net positive or negative just yet, but it should be interesting to watch, regardless.[Via mocoNews, image courtesy of Flickr]
Virgin Mobile releases TNT! (their exclamation point, not ours)
If the Arc's a little too rich for your blood, Virgin Mobile's gone ahead and released another handset this week that should fit the bill nicely. The TNT! is a Kyocera-sourced flip with a color primary display, banner-style monochrome secondary display, speakerphone, basic web access, and not much else -- but if you're just looking for a way to blow through some of those prepaid minutes you've got lying around, that's pretty much all you need. It's available now for $19.99.[Thanks, Mike]
KDDI au announces Summer 2008 collection
In Japan, carriers tend to release new models in giant, blockbuster batches -- seasonal "collections" that leave the rest of the world green with envy. KDDI au is no exception, having just announced its predictably spectacular Summer 2008 lineup with entrants from Kyocera, Sony Ericsson, Sanyo, Sharp, Toshiba, Casio, and Korea's Pantech. Here's the rundown: Hitachi Wooo W62H. KDDI is emphasizing this one's video and 3D gaming capabilities, both of which are assisted by the presence of a 2-way hinge for flipping out the screen in a landscape orientation. Comes in blue, silver, and black. Sharp W62SH. The FM transmitter's kinda cool, and the three-inch WVGA screen should be perfect for watching Spiderman 2, which comes bundled with the phone. Purple, white, and gold are the color choices. Sanyo W63SA. Global CDMA roaming and an integrated English-Japanese dictionary makes this one a solid choice for world travelers. Get this one in red, silver, or black. Toshiba Sportio. As the name implies, this one's all about burnin' those calories with an integrated calorie counter. The candybar form factor is a refreshing change of pace in the lineup, but too bad about that QVGA display! Five colors to choose from here: orange, black, white, green, and red. Casio G'zOne W62CA. Like its counterparts on Verizon, the W62CA is designed to take a beating without falling apart. It's impact resistant and waterproof, features a compass, thermometer, and GPS, and naturally, one-seg TV. Get it in green, black, or white. Sanyo W64SA. This fashionable flip has some crazy light effects to go along with its crazy selection of colors, but other than that, it seems pretty pedestrian. If you can call a 2.8-inch WVGA display "pedestrian." It's available in pink, white, yellow, and black. Sony Ericsson Full Change re. The WQVGA display is one metric ton of weak sauce, but as the "Full Change" name suggests, five individual pieces can be removed from the front, back, and top of the phone to create a totally customized handset. Shell choices include white, pink, green, orange, and silver. Toshiba W62T. Seriously, what's up with all this WQVGA garbage? The W62T appears destined for the midrange, though the 3.2 megapixel camera ain't bad. Colors for this one are gold, pink, and black. Kyocera W64K. Possibly leading up the bottom end of the collection, the W64K rocks a WQVGA display and a weak 2 megapixel cam. We see "basic capabilities" mentioned a couple times in the translated description for it, so that says pretty much all we need to know. Pink and gold are the only color options here. Kyocera W62K. Whoa, and we thought the W64K was low end! 1.3 megapixel cam, QVGA (yeah, that's right, QVGA, not WQVGA) display. 'Nuff said. Beige, blue, and black are the choices here. Kyocera W63K. The W63K candybar is just 10.8mm thick, but we're still not sure that we can forgive it for a meager 1.3 megapixel camera. Kyocera's seriously dragging here, in case you haven't noticed the trend. Black, burgundy, and beige. Pantech W62PT. The only phone in the lineup sourced from a non-Japanese manufacturer, the Pantech's nothing to get too excited about with a QVGA display, but the presence of quick dial buttons directly below the screen indicates that this one's designed for folks that are looking for a simple, easy-to-use phone that's just enough to make voice calls -- and ironically, it's still better than a good percentage of the phones you'll find elsewhere in the world. It'll come in silver, gold, and pink. Not a bad showing, especially considering that KDDI au stands out as Japan's major CDMA carrier in a country dominated by FOMA. Get 'em while they're hot, folks -- you know it's just a few months before the next collection debuts!
Kyocera cranks with Virgin Mobile Festival Special Edition Wild Card
If, for whatever reason, a Tony Hawk-branded Sidekick LX just isn't your bag, how's about this limited edition alternative? Aside from actually being more than a figment of someone's imagination, Kyocera's $99.99 Virgin Mobile Festival Special Edition Wild Card is definitely in the running for longest mobile name of all time. You'll also find a few musical touches added in, like the 50 free eMusic song downloads (enthralling, we know), graffiti-style Festival graphics, exclusive wallpapers and a one-year subscription to SPIN magazine. Interested consumers can look exclusively at Best Buy for this one until July 31st (unless the 15,000 are snapped up earlier), and make sure you bring it to the Baltimore Festival for gratis access to the Virgin Mobile Guest Lounge -- sure to be stacked wall-to-wall with nerds just like you. One more shot after the jump.
Hands-on with Kyocera's new CDMA and GSM wares
"Kyocera" and "GSM" are two words we're not used to putting in the same sentence, but we're going to have to start warming up to it now that the company has come rolling into CTIA with a full fleet of four GSM devices. Both its GSM and CDMA lineups here range from the very low end to the midrange; nothing terribly exciting, though the E3500 clamshell features a pretty familiar RAZR 2-esque design on the outside (complete with music controls) while managing to push the price point considerably lower -- of course, one only need open it up and glance at the size of the screen to see where the costs were cut.Over on the CDMA side, we handled a limited edition Wild Card for Virgin -- not bad at all -- but the real draw here has to be the Neo E1100 with its "light-pipe" down the front. It's extremely difficult to show it off in pictures, but trust us, it works, and it's bright. Obviously it's a gimmick more than anything else, but rest assured, if your E1100 is sitting across the room on silent, you'll definitely know when you're getting a call.%Gallery-19661%
Kyocera shows off new CDMA, GSM handsets at CTIA
ZTE isn't the only handset maker showing off AWS-friendly mobiles at CTIA, as Kyocera is making a similar splash with three new CDMA devices. Kicking things off is the Neo E1100, which boasts a 2.2-inch QVGA display, Bluetooth 2.0, 1.3-megapixel camera and a hidden OLED for Caller ID. Moving on, we've got the low-end Mako S400 clamshell, which touts a 1.8-inch screen, VGA camera, BT and a "large, graduated keypad." Rounding out the CDMA line is the Adreno S2400, which rocks a clamshell design, 1.8-inch LCD and a few other forgettable inclusions. Over on the GSM side, we're lookin' at the multimedia-lovin' E4600 slider, E3500 clamshell, E2500 candybar and the el cheapo S1600. Be sure and scrutinize those read links for more details on the whole lot, but don't expect to find any pricing info just yet.Read - Kyocera Wireless Reveals Stylish CDMA Handsets at CTIA Wireless 2008Read - Kyocera Wireless Makes Strategic Jump Into GSM Handset Market
Cricket Wireless offers unlimited data for $35 a month, look ma, no cap
Here's a deal that's pretty tough to beat, Cricket is offering unlimited EVDO Rev. 0 data for only $35 -- after discount -- a month. What do you need to get yourself signed up you ask? The Kyocera KPC650 data card which will set you back $59 after various deals and rebates, willingness to shell out $35 beans for all you can chew data, and a willingness to not sign a contract. Fair, no? Of course, the service's footprint is really limited right now, so if you don't live in Nashville, Spokane, the Central Valley of California, Santa Fe / Albuquerque, or Portland, you can ignore this article. If anybody out there is already hooked up with this seemingly reasonable offer, drop us a line and let us know if you've found any snags. Here's hoping the market expands, really soon now.[Via Gearlog]
Kyocera's mobile biz to China: we out, peace
Worn down by a brutally competitive local market dominated by cheaper handsets from both domestic and larger foreign manufacturers, Kyocera's throwing in the towel and leaving the Chinese market behind. President Makoto Kawamura revealed that its Chinese phone business, a joint venture with a local manufacturing firm, has lost between ¥700 and ¥800 million (about $6.55 to $7.49 million) every year since its inception in 2001, so it's giving up to concentrate on the Japanese and North American markets along with its shiny new acquisition from Sanyo. Pulling out ain't cheap, though: the company is ceding 45 percent of its 70 percent joint venture stake back to the manufacturer, the remainder to a Hong Kong-based company, and writing off about ¥850 million ($7.96 million) in debt. Maybe they'd have fared better making fake Touches? We're just throwing out ideas here.
KDDI au announces Spring 2008 collection
Yes, friends, the time has come once again for Japan's carriers to upheave their still-fresh lineups and replace them with even fresher ones. Here we take a look at KDDI au's just-announced Spring '08 collection, including a model with an e-ink display and another with a 3 inch OLED. Wowza! Note that not all of these handsets are new -- some are carryovers from the carrier's Winter '07 collection, so we won't be covering those here. Read on.
Willcom picks up a pair of sleek new candybars
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 WX330KRead - X Plate
Sanyo sells cellphones (by the seashore) to Kyocera
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.
