San Diego - January 7, 2013 - Cricket Communications and Kyocera Communications Inc. today announced Cricket's launch of the Kyocera Hydro, a waterproof Android™ 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) smartphone. Priced at $139.99 (MSRP), Hydro is Cricket's first waterproof device designed to meet the everyday needs of real life, providing additional protection and peace of mind for Cricket's contract-free customers. Hydro will be available at Cricket company-owned stores and dealers nationwide and on www.mycricket.com beginning Jan. 25, 2013.
"With mobile devices integrated into all aspects of our customers' lives, it's crucial their phones can hold up to the rigors of busy lifestyles," said Matt Stoiber, senior vice president of devices for Cricket. "Hydro features easy access to Cricket's popular Muve Music service in a sleek, waterproof Ice Cream Sandwich device, and combined with our all-inclusive smartphone plans ensures our no-contract customers enjoy the most desirable features in durable technology."
Leveraging Kyocera's global experience in creating more than 20 waterproof mobile devices to date, the Kyocera Hydro carries IPx5- and IPx7-level protection against water. According to a 2012 study by TNS Global Research, more than 82.5 million handsets in the U.S. had been destroyed by liquid.† Whether caught in a rainstorm or dropped in a sink, Hydro is certified as waterproof against sprayed water (e.g., rain) and immersion in water up to one meter deep for up to 30 minutes.
"Research shows that 70 percent of consumers consider water resistance an important feature in their mobile devices, and that many have experienced a liquid-related accident first hand," said Eric Anderson, senior vice president and general manager of global sales and marketing at Kyocera Communications. "Device durability is particularly critical for value-conscious customers and Hydro helps to ensure that every-day drops and spills don't turn into mobile disasters."
The Kyocera Hydro can be activated on any one of Cricket's three monthly smartphone service-plan options starting at $50 per month. All Cricket plans, including smartphone service plans, feature all-inclusive pricing with no service fees and no overage charges. For customers, that means a predictable monthly bill, regardless of increasing usage, offered at a price point that fits into a value-conscious budget.
With Muve Music from Cricket, customers have millions of songs at their fingertips, will never pay per song and the music service is built in to Cricket's no contract rate plans- so the music is free. Muve Music customers have the added benefit of discovering new music through its monthly artist programs such as Muve First and Muve Headliner, featuring exclusive commentary, music and videos every month from up and coming and top producing artists only available to Muve Music.
Kyocera Hydro features a 3.5-inch HVGA capacitive 480x320 IPS LCD touchscreen display and Swype for rapid text entry. It has a MSM8655 1 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon® processor, 2GB ROM, 512MB RAM memory and supports microSD™ memory cards up to 32GB. Taking pictures and video is a breeze with Hydro's 3.2 megapixel camera with an LED flash and a 30 frame-per-second camcorder, and fast uploading and transferring is enabled via Wi-Fi (b/g/n), Stereo Bluetooth® (2.1 + EDR) wireless technology support and high-speed USB 2.0. Hydro also includes a 3-axis accelerometer, a digital compass, proximity sensor, ambient light sensor and Kyocera's "Eco Mode" software to monitor and conserve battery power. Despite its water resistance, Hydro is a trim 4.53 x 2.44 x 0.50 in. and weighs only 4.16 ounces.
For more information about Cricket's dynamic service and newest device lineup, visit www.mycricket.com. To follow Cricket's recent news and updates online, visit Facebook at www.facebook.com/cricketwireless/ and Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/cricketnation/.
For more information about Kyocera Hydro, visit http://www.kyoceramobile.com/hydro.
About Cricket
Cricket is the pioneer and leader in delivering innovative value-rich prepaid wireless services with no long-term contracts. Cricket offers nationwide wireless voice and mobile data services over high-quality, all-digital 4G LTE and 3G CDMA wireless networks. Cricket's innovative products and services, including the award-winning Muve Music® - the first music service designed for a wireless phone, are available nationwide at Cricket branded retail stores, dealers, national retailers and at www.mycricket.com. For more information about Cricket, please visit www.mycricket.com.
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.kyoceramobile.com or follow the company on Facebook at www.facebook.com/KyoceraMobile.
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.
† More than 82.5 million handsets have been destroyed by water or moisture in the U.S.: January 2012 by TNS Global Research
*70 percent of consumers think water is an important feature in their next phones: September 2011 Wireless Lounge survey
Cricket Communications
Greg Lund
phone: 858.882.9238
e-mail: glund@cricketcommunications.com
Kyocera Communications, Inc.
John Chier
phone: 858.882.3543
e-mail: john.chier@kyocera.com