Virgin Mobile Signs Kyocera Wireless As Premier Partner For Virgin Festival By Virgin Mobile

Virgin Mobile Signs Kyocera Wireless As Premier Partner For Virgin Festival By Virgin Mobile

Texting Integral To Interactive Entertainment

Solar Powered Chargers Will Help Attendees Keep Their Phones Going

SAN DIEGO and NEW YORK, Sept. 19 /PRNewswire/ -- Kyocera Wireless Corp. (KWC), a leading global supplier of CDMA wireless devices and accessories, and Virgin Mobile USA, the nation's primary wireless youth network, today announced that Kyocera has signed on as the Premier Partner for Virgin Festival By Virgin Mobile, scheduled for September 23 at Baltimore's Pimlico Race Course.

Complementing day-long performances on two stages, headlined by the Red Hot Chili Peppers and The Who, will be a host of engaging interactive activities for the "texting generation," sponsored by Kyocera Wireless. Concertgoers will be able to "Text2Screen," sending texts to friends and all festival attendees via Jumbotrons flanking the stages -- particularly easy for those using the new Kyocera Switch_Back messaging phone. Festival attendees will also be able to participate on-site in various Texting events including competitions and "Text2Win," which makes each person who submits a text or picture message during the Festival eligible to win a range of prizes including Switch_Back phones, food coupons or festival t-shirts.

"Since providing Virgin Mobile's first handsets four years ago, Kyocera Wireless has continued to design products with the style, features and affordability that speak to the Virgin Mobile generation," said Tom Maguire, vice president of global marketing at Kyocera Wireless Corp. "We're excited to be partnering with Virgin Mobile once again to showcase the Switch_Back's Qwerty keyboard and larger-than-life messaging capabilities at what will surely be one of the year's headline music events."

"Being involved with Kyocera Wireless and incorporating their handsets into this event is adding a tremendous element of community and communication to an already amazing day of music," said Howard Handler, chief marketing officer, Virgin Mobile USA. "Virgin Festival By Virgin Mobile is creating an amazing atmosphere for people to take in a diverse array of music and art, as well as text and talk with friends to share the experience as it's happening."

At the Festival, Kyocera users will be able to recharge their phones with solar-powered charging stations operated by Solio Solar. And, throughout the day, Virgin "Angels," introduced at the British festival years ago, will roam the grounds providing additional Switch_Backs, charging facilities, new batteries and assistance for Text2Screen and Pic2Screen.

Virgin Festival by Virgin Mobile will be a music festival amid a full array of vendors and non-profit organizations as well as interactive art installations and performance art. The event was inspired by the Virgin Group's world-renowned UK-based V Festival, established in 1996, which has become the musical embodiment of Virgin's overall fan focus and edgy personality.

Tickets, priced at $97.50 for the full day, are still on sale through Ticketmaster (www.ticketmaster.com or 800-551-SEAT). Price includes 10% Maryland Admission & Amusement Tax and $1.50 for charity. More information about Virgin Festival By Virgin Mobile can be found at www.virginfestival.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.

About Kyocera Corporation

Kyocera Corporation (NYSE:KYO), 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 (1,181,489 million yen) with net income of approximately US$596 million (69,696 million yen).

About Virgin Mobile USA, LLC

Launched nationally in July of 2002, Virgin Mobile USA is the nation's leading wireless youth network, serving more than 4 million customers united by a passion for music and entertainment. Virgin Mobile is a joint venture between Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Group and Sprint Nextel, which operates one of the largest 100-percent digital, nationwide PCS wireless networks in the United States. J.D. Power and Associates has recognized Virgin Mobile as America's top prepaid wireless carrier for Customer Satisfaction Excellence and for providing "An Outstanding Customer Service Experience" under the Certified Call Center Program.(SM) Virgin Mobile customers have access to a service portfolio that includes multiple voice pricing options, a full range of handsets and a broad array of messaging, music and mobile content offerings -- without long-term contracts.

Virgin Mobile phones are available at more than 25,000 stores, with Top-Up cards available at more than 80,000 locations nationwide. Virgin Mobile products can also be purchased online at www.virginmobileusa.com or by calling Virgin Mobile At Your Service (1-888-322-1122).

About Virgin USA:

Virgin USA oversees and is responsible for all expansion of the Virgin brand in North America. With a reputation as one of the most exciting brands in the world, Virgin continues to blast into markets where the customer is being underserved, offering value for money, good quality, innovation, exceptional customer service, fun and a sense of competitive challenge. Existing businesses like Virgin Atlantic, the award-winning transatlantic airline, Virgin Megastores, the iconic & groundbreaking music stores, and Virgin Mobile, the wireless network encouraging youth to live on their own terms, have already laid a powerful footprint in North America. Building upon the success of these businesses, Virgin USA continues to look for opportunities in North America where it can offer something better, fresher and more valuable to consumers.

John Chier Jayne Wallace
Kyocera Wireless Corp. Virgin Mobile USA
Phone: 858-882-3543 Phone: 908-607-4014
E-mail: jchier@kyocera-wireless.com E-mail:
jayne.wallace@virginmobileusa.com

Source: Virgin Mobile USA

CONTACT: John Chier of Kyocera Wireless Corp., Phone: +1-858-882-3543,
E-mail: jchier@kyocera-wireless.com; or Jayne Wallace of Virgin Mobile USA,
Phone: +1-908-607-4014, E-mail: jayne.wallace@virginmobileusa.com

Web site: http://www.virginmobileusa.com/
http://www.virginfestival.com/
http://www.kyocera-wireless.com/

-------
Profile: intent