SAN DIEGO & Quebec - August 14, 2015 - Kyocera Communications, Inc. today announced its DuraForce ultra-rugged, waterproof 4G LTE Android™ smartphone is now available at TELUS, Canada's fastest-growing national telecommunications company, which provides wireless service to more than 8.4 million people across Canada. The Military Standard 810G- and IP68-certified DuraForce enables workers and active consumers to do more with their smartphones-on the most demanding jobsite or skiing down the steep slopes of one of Canada's many winter resorts. The device will be available at TELUS for $50 with select 2-year TELUS business and consumer rate plans or $530 outright.
DuraForce is IP68-certified, meaning it is dustproof, waterproof and can be submerged in up to 1.8 metres of water for up to 30 minutes. With a reinforced housing and Military Standard 810G protection against dust, shock, vibration, temperature extremes, blowing rain, low pressure/high altitudes, solar radiation, salt fog, humidity and water immersion, DuraForce can go more places and withstand extreme environments and accidents. DuraForce's durability withstands toughest treatment, as evidenced by Bear Grylls, Kyocera's lead product tester, adventure-survivalist and star of the new series "Running Wild with Bear Grylls." Watch Bear put DuraForce to the ultimate test at http://bit.ly/1wwk7D9.
DuraForce gives customers quick and reliable connection to an individual or group instantly through Push To Talk (PTT) with just a push of a button. DuraForce is designed with a large, tactile side button that makes PTT calls easy, even while wearing gloves. It comes equipped with extra-loud dual front speakers and can accommodate an external PTT remote speaker microphone accessory.
"By teaming up with TELUS, Kyocera offers even more customers in the Canadian market a reliable, ultra-rugged, affordable smartphone designed to meet the demands of everyday-to-extreme lifestyles," said Chuck Becher, vice president and general manager of sales and marketing at Kyocera Communications. "DuraForce is designed for people who need a phone to survive in rugged and rough environments, like those in the oil and gas industry, or anyone who wants to take on the toughest winter sports and not worry about breaking their phones on a major spill. DuraForce is intended to allow users the freedom to work and play as hard as they want."
DuraForce is certified for use in hazardous work environments where concentrations of flammable gases, vapors, or mists are not normally present in an explosive concentration but may materialize, making it an ideal smartphone for industries such as Oil Exploration and Production, Utilities, Chemical Production, Airport Refueling, Pharmaceutical/Paint Industries and Natural Gas Pipeline/Production Centers. (Hazardous Locations: Non-incendive, Class I, Division 2)
DuraForce features the Android™ KitKat 4.4.2 operating system and a Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 400 with 1.4GHz Quad-core CPU. The phone's 16GB of ROM can be augmented via an external microSD™ card slot that supports cards up to 32GB. It has a high-capacity 3100mAh Lithium Ion battery that is well suited to long days on the job or on the go, along with a 4.5" 720p HD impact-resistant touchscreen that can be used while wearing gloves1, with wet hands or when the screen is wet. The touchscreen immediately recognizes the input method, whether by glove or bare hand, and automatically adjusts the sensitivity level.
DuraForce is the ideal device for workers in industries such as agriculture, construction, oil and gas, security, transportation, hospitality, home healthcare as well as mechanics, plumbers, landscapers and anyone who requires a smartphone that is tough enough to withstand the roughest work situations. And consumers - whether outdoor adventurers or those in Canada's coldest climates will appreciate a device that's tough enough to overcome life's challenges, yet sleek enough to fit conveniently in a pocket.
For more information, please visit http://www.kyoceramobile.com/duraforce/
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 facebook.com/KyoceraMobile or twitter.com/kyoceramobile.
Kyocera Corporation (NYSE:KYO) (TOKYO:6971) (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 integrating them with other technologies, Kyocera has become a leading supplier of solar power generating systems, mobile phones, printers, copiers, electronic components, semiconductor packages, cutting tools and industrial components. During the year ended March 31, 2015, the company's net sales totaled 1.53 trillion yen (approx. USD12.7 billion). Kyocera appears on the latest listing of the "Top 100 Global Innovators" by Thomson Reuters, and is ranked #531 on Forbes magazine's 2014 "Global 2000" listing of the world's largest publicly traded companies.
1Recognizes touch input while wearing gloves up to 3mm thick, the material, texture and thickness of the glove as well as how it fits your hand will impact performance. Individual results may vary.
Kyocera Communications, Inc.
John Chier
phone: 858.882.3543
e-mail: john.chier@kyocera.com
Echo Media Group for Kyocera
Sabrina Suarez
phone: 714.573.0899 x227
e-mail: kyocera@echomediapr.com