SAN DIEGO & Toronto - May 22, 2013 - Public Mobile and Kyocera Communications, Inc. today announced the launch of Kyocera Kona, an attractive and compact flip phone designed with affordability and simplicity in mind. Priced at $69, Kona has a spacious keypad with large, separated keys and large font options for rapid texting. Kona is available at all Public Mobile retail locations.
"While the latest high-end smartphones are popular, there are still many Canadians who want an affordable phone for calls and texting," said Mike Stanford, senior vice president of marketing at Public Mobile. "With Kyocera Kona we can provide this underserved demographic with an attractive device that provides the familiarity of a flip phone without breaking the bank."
According to IDC Research, 2013 is the first year that smartphone sales will outpace feature-phone sales globally†. This means, however, that almost half of the phones being bought around the world this year will remain flip phones and other non-smartphone devices for people who crave simplicity and affordability.
"We know there is still an extremely strong market for a well-equipped, price-driven feature phone," said Eric Anderson, senior vice president and general manager of global sales and marketing at Kyocera Communications. "Kyocera focuses its core values into market needs that may be overlooked - such as waterproofing, QWERTY keypads and ultra-affordable feature phones - and delivers attractive, high-quality devices to meet those needs, such as the Kyocera Kona for classic flip phone enthusiasts."
Public Mobile's unlimited service plans start at just $19 per month for unlimited province-wide calling or $25 for unlimited Canada-wide calling and unlimited global text.
Kyocera Kona is a CDMA2000® 1X-Advanced flip phone featuring a 2.4-inch QVGA TFT LCD internal color display as well as a 1.44" TFT LCD color external display. Capturing life's candid moments is a snap with Kona's 2MP camera with zoom. Calls can be safely taken over Bluetooth® wireless technology or via the 3.5mm headset jack. With an 870mAh Li-Ion battery, Kona is a compact 3.94 x 2.05 x 0.68 in. and weighs only 3.7 ounces.
For more information about Kyocera Kona, visit /kona-phone-public-mobile.
About Public Mobile
Formed in 2008, Public Mobile provides unlimited talk, text, Android data services and Siren music to value conscious customers in Ontario and Quebec. There are no contracts, no credit checks and no surprises. Public Mobile launched its network service in May 2010 in Toronto and in June 2010 in Montreal. Public Mobile is building its network from Windsor to Quebec City. Public Mobile's license covers an area reaching 19 million Canadians. More information about Public Mobile can be found at www.publicmobile.ca
About Kyocera Communications Inc.
Kyocera Communications Inc. is the headquarters for Kyocera wireless devices in the Americas. Designed with durability, dependability, and long-term value as priorities, Kyocera mobile phones help people feel comfortable with new technology and use it to connect, perform and outsmart life's challenges. At the heart of Kyocera's products is a belief that one size doesn't fit all and that people should do more with phones instead of being confused by them or having to alter their lifestyles to accommodate them. For more information, follow the company at www.facebook.com/KyoceraMobile or www.twitter.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 (or "advanced") ceramics. Kyocera specializes in combining these engineered materials with metals and integrating them with other technologies, such as solar power generating systems, printers, copiers, mobile phones, electronic components, semiconductor packages, cutting tools and industrial components. During the year ended March 31, 2013, the company's net sales totaled 1.28 trillion yen (approx. USD13.6 billion).
†IDC Research - http://www.idc.com/getdoc.jsp?containerId=prUS23982813#.UUM-zxyG2Sp
© 2013 Kyocera. All rights reserved. Kyocera is a registered trademark of Kyocera Corporation. CDMA2000 is a registered trademark of the Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA-USA). Bluetooth mark is owned by the Bluetooth SIG Inc. and any use of such mark is under license. All other marks are properties of their respective owners.
Public Mobile
Lisa Papas
phone: 416.710.4432
e-mail: lisa.papas@publicmobile.ca
Kyocera Communications, Inc.
John Chier
phone: 858.882.3543
e-mail: john.chier@kyocera.com