Cellular South, the nation’s largest privately held wireless provider, and Kyocera Wireless Corp. (KWC), a leading global supplier of CDMA wireless devices and accessories, today announced a ground-breaking collaboration to launch a multi-city consumer trial for its new Wireless Wallet technology. Kicking off mid-May 2007 in Memphis, Tenn., and Jackson, Miss., Cellular South’s Wireless Wallet trial is the first of its kind for a U.S. regional carrier – further strengthening the company’s position as a wireless innovator driving m-commerce adoption.
Cellular South and Kyocera Wireless will begin the first-ever community-wide Wireless Wallet trial that allows participants the opportunity to use the technology at multiple retail locations in multiple trial cities. Participants will be equipped with a Wireless Wallet-enabled Kyocera cell phone – giving them a new, high-tech kind of purchasing power. The phone acts as a digital credit card that allows Cellular South customers to make payments and purchases by simply tapping it against a NFC-enabled wireless reader. The company plans to complete the trial by August 2007, with an anticipated widespread consumer roll-out of Wireless Wallet in Q4 2007.
“Cellular South sees an enormous opportunity in m-commerce technology and is committed to driving Wireless Wallet adoption throughout our service area,” said Greg Latour, senior vice president of technology development for Cellular South. “Kyocera has proven to be a great supplier in the past by delivering the devices and technology customers demand. We are looking forward to working with them again to make the Wireless Wallet consumer trial an overwhelming success.”
The prototype Kyocera Wireless handset employs the latest in Near Field Communication (NFC) technology to enable the Wireless Wallet functionality. It also serves as a fully functional mobile phone, offering a full suite of voice and data features via Cellular South’s CDMA2000 1xEV-DO cellular network. The companies, which have a long-standing business relationship, are working closely on a commercial handset strategy to support the Q4 consumer launch.
“To be entrusted as the exclusive handset supplier for this trial by Cellular South is a great honor for Kyocera Wireless,” said Dave Carey, vice president of strategic planning at Kyocera Wireless Corp. “NFC technology is a huge growth area in the U.S. wireless market and Kyocera is standing ready with the vision, the technology expertise and the compelling handsets to support its adoption by our valued customers like Cellular South.”
For more information about Cellular South’s premier wireless service, visit www.CellularSouth.com. For more information about Kyocera Wireless mobile devices, visit www.kyocera-wireless.com.
About Cellular South
Cellular South is the largest privately held wireless provider in the U.S. The company is focused on providing the best service possible through its nationwide wireless voice and data network, award-winning customer care, state-of-the-art wireless devices, and commitment to the communities it serves. Cellular South was recently honored with the 2005 Wireless Week Excellence Award, 2006 Newcomen Award, and a concurrent resolution from the Mississippi Legislature commending the executives and employees of Cellular South for the company’s extraordinary efforts in Hurricane Katrina’s wake. For more information, visit www.cellularsouth.com.
About Kyocera Wireless Corp.
Kyocera Wireless Corp. is a leading supplier of innovative, feature-rich CDMA wireless devices and accessories for customers worldwide. Kyocera Wireless maintains an operating belief in the genius of simplicity and strives to make the wireless experience as simple and intuitive as humanly possible. The company is a wholly owned subsidiary of Kyocera International Inc., which acquired QUALCOMM Incorporated’s CDMA consumer wireless phone business in February 2000. Based in San Diego, the company is ISO-14001 and ISO-9001 certified and has won city, state and federal awards for its environmentally friendly manufacturing and recycling practices. For more information, please visit www.kyocera-wireless.com.
Kyocera Corporation, the parent and global headquarters of the Kyocera Group, was founded in 1959 as a producer of 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, semiconductor packages, electronic components, cameras, laser printers, copiers, solar energy systems and industrial ceramics. During the year ended March 31, 2006, Kyocera Corporation’s consolidated net sales totaled approximately US$10 billion (JP YEN 1,181,489 million) with net income of approximately US$596 million (JP YEN 69,696 million).
