SAN FRANCISCO–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Proving that a wireless device can be smart, attractive and unique to each individual, the Android™-powered Sanyo Zio™ will launch with Sprint (NYSE: S) on Oct. 10. At the CTIA Enterprise & Applications trade show today, Sprint and Kyocera Communications Inc., provider of Kyocera- and Sanyo-branded wireless devices, announced the launch of the new smartphone to coincide with the rollout of Sprint ID, a user-friendly new means of personalizing Android devices.
“Each ID offers a variety of unique apps, widgets, wallpapers and ringtones and gives users the opportunity to customize their devices. Pairing Sprint ID with Zio, a robust and easy-to-use Android 2.1 device, offers a rich multimedia experience with a large intuitive touch-screen at an amazing price.”
With a focus on making the Android experience accessible to those looking for a phone priced under $100, Zio will cost just $99.99 with a new two-year service agreement or eligible upgrade and after a $100 mail-in rebate (pricing excludes surcharges and taxes). It will be available in all Sprint retail channels, including www.sprint.com and 1-800-SPRINT1.
Sprint ID allows Zio users to quickly download ID packs that deliver a predefined experience, including applications, widgets, ringtones and wallpapers, all at once. Packs are designed to meet customers’ interests, whether they are sports fans, fitness fanatics, auto enthusiasts or more. The packs could be brand-specific; allow users to easily switch between English or Spanish; or be specifically tailored to the customers’ businesses or lines of work. The marketplace of Sprint ID experiences is growing and customers can have one or up to five on their devices, powered by the Now Network.
”With Sprint ID, Zio introduces a new level of personalization that allows users to completely customize their devices to match their hobbies, interests or personalities,” said Fared Adib, vice president-Product Development, Sprint. “Each ID offers a variety of unique apps, widgets, wallpapers and ringtones and gives users the opportunity to customize their devices. Pairing Sprint ID with Zio, a robust and easy-to-use Android 2.1 device, offers a rich multimedia experience with a large intuitive touch-screen at an amazing price.”
The intelligently sleek device with the customizable Android 2.1 operating system opens new realms of rich multimedia experiences with a 3.5-inch WVGA touch-screen, 3.2 MP camera and 30-frame-per-second video record and playback. The handset’s high-resolution, touch-screen display is like carrying a flatscreen TV that fits in a pocket.
Designed with productivity and entertainment in mind, Zio boasts multiple keyboard options, all with haptic feedback, an accelerometer to rotate between landscape and portrait orientations and an ambient light sensor that automatically adjusts screen brightness to optimize viewing. The easy-to-use trackball also helps users navigate between the seemingly endless features found on Zio, including address book integration with such social apps as Facebook, Twitter and MySpace; GPS functionality and digital compass plus preloaded Google Maps™; media player for streaming videos; full HTML Web browser; and a full library of more than 80,000 widgets and applications available from Android Market™. Zio also features a pre-loaded Exchange Email application that supports corporate Outlook e-mail, calendar, contacts and tasks, while also supporting ActiveSync and enhanced security features.
“We are confident that Zio’s blend of style, functionality and affordability will make the virtually unlimited customization and personalization of Android available to entirely new groups of consumers who were intimidated by the technology or price of previous smartphones,” said Yasuhiro Oishi, vice president of Sales and Marketing at Kyocera Communications Inc. “Zio humanizes the technology and puts the power of Android in a sleek, attractive device.”
As beautiful as it is powerful, Zio is only 0.5 inches thick and weighs only 3.7 ounces, making it one of the thinnest, lightest Android devices on the market. The jet-black exterior is trimmed in silver with a soft-touch back that helps ensure that it won’t slip out of your hands. With 512MB of internal memory, a 2GB microSD memory card (provided in box) and support for up to 32GB microSDHC cards, Zio can handle even the most robust of applications.
Find Your Own “Best of Android” with Sprint ID
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Sprint ID brings together content into themed packs that can be deployed on Zio at the touch of a button. Zio users can load up to five Sprint ID packs on their phones and change themes on a whim as the mood strikes. Specific packs can even be further customized – adding or removing elements to match preferences – while the MyID function allows users to define and create their own application packs.
Zio requires activation on one of Sprint’s Everything Data plans. For just $69.99 Sprint’s Everything Data 450 plan with Any Mobile, AnytimeSM gives customers unlimited text, Web and calling with any mobile in America while on the Nationwide Sprint Network – all for the same price AT&T and Verizon charge for unlimited talk only (excluding Verizon’s Southern California plan; pricing excludes surcharges and taxes).
Sprint Everything Data plans automatically enroll customers in the Sprint Premier loyalty program, for benefits including annual device upgrades on the primary line. Existing Sprint customers can switch to an Everything Data plan without extending their service agreement. New lines of service require a two-year service agreement.
The Sprint Free Guarantee is the only full-money back guarantee on service plans in the wireless industry today, allowing customers to try a new line of service with Sprint for 30 days. If a customer isn’t completely satisfied, they can cancel service and return their device to be reimbursed for the device purchase and activation fee, get the early termination fee waived, get a full refund for monthly service plan recurring charges incurred, and get all associated taxes and fees waived. In addition, Sprint will waive the restocking fee for new customer exchanges as part of this policy. Refund excludes usage not included in the service plan, premium content, third-party billing and international charges.
About Sprint Nextel
Sprint Nextel offers a comprehensive range of wireless and wireline communications services bringing the freedom of mobility to consumers, businesses and government users. Sprint Nextel served more than 48.1 million customers at the end of the second quarter of 2010 and is widely recognized for developing, engineering and deploying innovative technologies, including the first wireless 4G service from a national carrier in the United States; offering industry-leading mobile data services, leading prepaid brands including Virgin Mobile USA, Boost Mobile, Common Cents Mobile and Assurance Wireless; instant national and international push-to-talk capabilities; and a global Tier 1 Internet backbone. With its customer-focused strategy, you can learn more and visit Sprint at www.sprint.com or www.facebook.com/sprint and www.twitter.com/sprint.
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, http://www.kyocera-wireless.com or follow the company on Facebook at www.facebook.com/kyoceramobilephones.
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, office-document imaging equipment, solar power generating systems, semiconductor packages, electronic components, cutting tools and industrial ceramics. During the year ended During the year ended March 31, 2010, the company’s net sales totaled 1.07 trillion yen (approximately US $11.5 billion). Kyocera marked its 50th anniversary in 2009, and the 40th anniversary of its U.S. operations. It is ranked #554 on Forbes magazine’s 2010 “Global 2000″ listing of the world’s largest publicly traded companies.
© 2010 Kyocera. All rights reserved. Kyocera and Zio are a registered trademark of Kyocera Corporation. Android, Google Maps, and Android Market are trademarks of Google Inc. Use of this trademark is subject to Google Permissions. microSD is a trademark of SanDisk Corporation. All other marks are properties of their respective owners.
EDITOR’S NOTE:
To view video of Sprint ID, as well as the entire press kit, visit www.sprint.com/presskits.
For more information about Zio, visit www.ziobykyocera.com. Kyocera’s full line of Kyocera- and Sanyo-branded devices can be seen at www.kyocera-wireless.com.
To view a device demo beginning Friday, Oct. 8, visit www.DailyLounge.com/zio.
