kyocera
Latest
Verizon launches Kyocera KPC680 EV-DO Rev. A ExpressCard
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.
KDDI au's Autumn and Winter 2007 collection
It's that time of year again -- that magical time when Japanese carriers pull out all the stops and deliver a mind-numbing swath of new models at once. KDDI au's rocking seven all-new models for its fall / winter '07 collection, perhaps most notably the Infobar 2 candybar that bubbled out of its ongoing concept design program. All told, we have entries from six manufacturers here spanning the candybar, slider, and clamshell (naturally) form factors, so it pretty much goes without saying that KDDI customers should have no trouble finding the phone of their dreams in this motherlode. Forge on for a closer look at each of the new models.
Kyocera announces KR2 EV-DO router
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
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
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 Lingo clamshell comes to Cricket
Cricket customers can now pick up Kyocera's newest QWERTY-packin' clamshell for around $200, and aside from the slightly unattractive design, you will find quite a lot to keep your thumbs happy. Dubbed a "text messaging machine," the Lingo (also known as the M1000) boasts a standard numeric keypad on the outside and flips open to reveal a QWERTY keyboard. Furthermore, you'll get a 1.3-megapixel camera, Bluetooth, a Li-ion battery good for three hours of yappin' (or 200 hours in standby), voice recognition, dual color displays and a speakerphone to boot. If you're interested, it's available directly from Cricket as we speak.[Via PhoneScoop]
Kyocera's Wild Card for Virgin Mobile does 3G
Bluetooth fever: catch it! Virgin finally caught wind of this newfangled Bluetooth standard with its most recent release, the Super Slice, and we're glad to see the trend continues. Hints of the Switch_Back's replacement -- christened "Wild Card" apparently -- are starting to circulate around Virgin's US site, and fans of the original are probably going to like what they see. The center d-pad placement on the QWERTY keyboard and the smallish innter display both carry over, while Bluetooth is a key add-on. It gets better, though: the Wild Card looks set to possibly become Virgin's first 3G device, with "high-speed data service" specifically mentioned on page 9 of the user's manual. Bleeding edge, eh? What's next, Virgin, a 2 megapixel cam?[Thanks, Mitchell K.]Read - Small picture of the Wild CardRead - Kyocera Wild Card user's manual [Warning: PDF link]
Kyocera gettin' serious about buying Sanyo's mobile biz?
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
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?
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.
Virgin Mobile rolls out MARBL from Kyocera
See, that wasn't such a bad wait, no was it? A few weeks after we told you about the MARBL coming down the pike for Virgin Mobile from frequent partner Kyocera, the cheap flip is now available for public consumption from retailers everywhere. At $30 sans contract (remember, Virgin is a prepaid MVNO), the MARBL doesn't offer terribly much in the way of features, but it does manage to pack a speakerphone, internal antenna, and color display -- and hey, it doesn't look half bad. Just as long as you're cool with the name, Motorola, we are, too.
Kyocera Bluetooth Music Gateway streams jams from your mobile
Kyocera's Bluetooth Music Gateway most definitely isn't the first of its kind, but the dashing musical liaison is indeed adding a hint of differentiation to the streaming Bluetooth middleman category. Encased in a sleek black / metallic gray enclosure "about the size of a deck of playing cards," the three-ounce BT-enabled device receives streaming tunes via your A2DP-capable cellphone, DAP, or PMP, and then channels the audio to your home stereo via a pair of stereo RCA cables. Furthermore, users with an AVRCP device can enjoy volume / track control right from their mobile, removing the need for a separate remote control and furthering its overall appeal -- and before the non-Bluetooth users go crying foul, Kyocera's also offering up an optional $34.99 adapter that converts any 3.5-millimeter stereo jack into a Bluetooth transmitter. The Bluetooth Music Gateway should be landing sometime in the April timeframe, and you'll be looking at $99.99 with the Wireless Audio Adapter thrown in, or $79.99 without. [Via Slashphone]
Kyocera introduces 5 new handsets at CTIA
Kyocera, the well-known CDMA handset specialist, has busted out a slew of new handsets today at CTIA. "Typical clamshell" and "variation on the theme" seem to be the orders of the day, with Kyocera only bringing one non-flip out to play. From left to right, at the top of the list is the E5000 (check that sweet-looking hinge) featuring a 1.3 megapixel cam, EV-DO, Bluetooth with A2DP support, and touch sensitive keys on the face to access your tunes. Next up, the M1000; this side flipper opens to reveal a QWERTY keypad, has dual displays, Bluetooth 1.2, and voice digit dialing. The E2000 brings the music-centric features with memory expansion to 2GB, front-mounted music controls for quick access, a 1.3 megapixel shooter, all packed in a styling piano-black enclosure. The E1000 brings most of the same features as its sibling, the E2000, but lacks the EV-DO love and the expandable memory slot. Rounding out this year's offering is the lowly S1000, this diminutive candy bar boasts 3 hour talk time, a straightforward keypad for texting, and weighs in at only 76 grams. Alright, we admit, we're suitably impressed with Kyocera's portfolio at a show where most of the heavy-hitters seem to have already emptied the bank of new releases for the year -- keep it coming, folks.[Via Phone Scoop]
Virgin Mobile adding another cheap flip, "Marbl"
The Oystr looks poised to give way to the Marbl in the "what $30 will buy you" department on Virgin Mobile -- the US' prepaid Virgin Mobile, that is, not its DVB-H-havin' cousin across the pond. The Kyocera-sourced clamshell follows Virgin's typical keep-it-simple strategy with a minimal internal display and clean exterior (read: no cam or external display to be found). That said, the phone doesn't look half bad -- and seeing how this is prepaid, that $30 is going to get you this thing outright. No word on an exact release date, but Virgin's site lists it at "Coming Soon" and -- in our experience, at least -- waits are measured in days once a carrier admits that they're going to launch a model.[Thanks, Charlene]
Kyocera also felled by faulty CCDs
Oh noes! It seems Kyocera has failed to escape the CCD fate that has recently befallen eight of Sony's Cyber-shots and four of Nikon's Coolpix cameras. Kyocera has just announced that its Finecam M400R, M410R and SL400R cameras, released in March 2004, are all at risk for CCD defects and failures. In response, Kyocera is providing free repairs to any such cameras until March 2010, and is also offering free checkups to such affected models. Kyocera isn't saying who's responsible for the CCD manufacturer, but the similarities to the problems and causes in the cases of Nikon and Sony mean its most likely the same CCDs: defective Sony manufacturing strikes once again.
Willcom rolls out WX321J, WX320K
It may not exactly be a 9-phone spectacular, but Japan's Willcom certainly doesn't want to get left out of the launch party, and they're parading a pair of new handsets to prove it. The WX321J candybar from JRC looks like the more interesting of the two, offering up biometric security, NetFront, microSD expansion, a 1.3 megapixel cam, and a QVGA display. 'Course, Kyocera's WX320K wins in the looks department on account of its color selection; it's no slouch on the spec sheet, either, toting the same camera and QVGA display but swapping out NetFront for Opera. And no, unless you live in Japan, you can't have either.[Via Engadget Japanese - WX321J, WX320K]Read - WX321JRead - WX320K
More details on Kyocera's K323 for Verizon
Not everything can be cutting edge now-a-days and maybe the LG VX8600 just isn't your cup of tea. No worries, we've got you covered; here comes the the Kyocera K323. Feature-packed it's not, but the clamshell can still hang with the best of the (low tier) lineup with an all-digital dual band radio, VGA camera with flash, 65k inside color screen, speakerphone, Bluetooth (no OBEX profiles folks), and support for VZnavigator. Look for it sometime mid-January for a reasonable $220 at full retail, $150 on a one year, and $100 on a two year contract before the mail in rebate of $50. Check after the break for a posterior shot!
HP and Flextronics team up to deliver higher quality cameraphones
It's no surprise that cameraphones are emerging as some folks' point-and-shoot of choice, and we've already seen LG and Schneider-Kreuznach team up to deliver higher quality shots from your multi-functional mobile, but now HP and Flextronics are trying the knot in order to allow users to capture photos "with the same high quality they achieve from their digital still cameras." The five-year deal gives Flextronics -- makers of Kyocera, Sony Ericsson, and Motorola handsets -- exclusive use of HP's image processing technology in return for an undisclosed royalty. The same technology used in HP's long-standing lineup of Photosmart digicams will soon be hitting the depths of your pocket, and promises to produce "significantly improved results" over current options, delivering shots that are "good enough to print." Although we're not sure if these forthcoming modules can outsnap the 10-megapixel SCH-B600, we're all well aware by now that megapixels aren't everything.[Via CNET]
Moto Q in Black hits the Great White North
Well folks, it appears that our friends to the north have greased Motorola's palms with a few extra loonies, eh. Indeed, the northerly division of Motorola will be the first company to launch the new Moto Q in Black, available exclusively from Bell Canada. This new piece of ebony elegance comes with all the same features you'd expect from the previous Q: EV-DO, 2.4-inch screen, 65,000 colors, 64MB RAM / 128MB ROM, and a 1.3 megapixel camera. It's basically the same as the old Q, except that it's black (duh), with a soft touch finish. It's available for C$150 ($132) with a new voice plan, and minimum C$60 ($53) data package on a three-year contract. To our American countrymen and countrywomen who are already making a run for the border, a word of advice: that same trick with the loonies probably won't work with US Customs when you try to smuggle it into the lower 48. Instead, just sit tight and wait until this handset hits Verizon -- sometime soon, we hope.
Verizon to add two more on the low end
Pantech PN-310 not doing anything for you? It looks like Verizon's got a couple more in the pipeline (including yet another from Pantech) that might be more to your liking. First up is the Pantech PN-300 (pictured above), an ultra basic, cameraless clamshell whose only real claim to fame might be that it's just a little easier to look at -- in our humblest of opinions -- than the PN-310. Next up is the Kyocera K323 (pictured after the break), a phone we've known about for a while that takes one small step up the food chain from the PN-300 by adding a VGA cam, Bluetooth, and an internal antenna. Our sources tell us the PN-300's launch is imminent, while we still might be in for a little wait on the K323. Believe us, we're not getting too worked up about it.[Thanks, anonymous tipster]
